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Comments
The Chrysler 300M Enthusiasts Club, Inc.
LHS owners, bring those sister cars on over too!!
I have the Taupe interior, and after 2 months and 5,000 miles it still looks great. I like the two-tone motif, and it brightens the interior.
I had the agate interior on the '99 and it showed dust all the time.
Racefan9's 300m -NO LHS, Concord or Intrepid owners welcome SORRY!!!
What about the powered Bazooka's..do you think that it would also be difficult? Is your way better??
Mike
What a great phrase. I also boom boom and zoom zoom regularly, but I went the expensive route. One 12" Boston Acoustics Pro Sub with 150W adds plenty of bass to my M. Sprinkle with a dash of BA Pro 3 way seps and BA Rally 6X9s, then BAM! an Alpine V12 5 Channel amp and BAM BAM! a Kenwood Head Unit and you too can listen to the sweet rockin' sounds.
I am planning on buying a shiny new 2001M sometime in the next month. I haven't talked to the Chrysler dealer yet, so I haven't been able to play around with one yet. I'm planing on getting a dashboard kit later... I'd like to know exactly what does the Luxury option give you? I mean.. what does the Vehicle Information Center do? I can't decide if the Luxury option is worth getting or not.
Also, does anyone know if xenon head lamps are sold aftermarket anywhere? (Otherwise known as high density discharge head lamps)?
Real wood trim in place of the fake stuff
Added wood to the top of the steering wheel
A computer center that adds some things such as a oil/tuneup notification (you set the miles) and a setting that links your seat memory to the remotes. Not sure what else is in there, but standard is outside temp, direction, and a trip computer I think.
Side mirrors that point down a little when you go to back up (help you see the curb).
I confess I got the package because I liked the real wood with the wood-topped steering wheel.
I added the Joshua Tree dash kit and it really richens the interior which, after all, is where you spend your 300M time.
The dipping side mirrors turned out to be more useful than I thought when backing.
Yes, the price is high for what you get, Chrysler should at least have extended the wood trim to the console.
I rationalized my decision by going the monochrome silver paint & wheels, using the money I saved on the chrome wheels to get the Luxury Group. OK, so id doesn't make a lot of sense!
On a separate subject, I got my first order of Zaino <http://www.zainobros.com> recently. Largely on Dustin's recommendation I included Z-10, the leather treatment, in my order. Dustin, you've commented about the "new car smell" from Z-10. Just wanted to let you know that the seat heaters seem to release that aroma a bit more, so even though you may not need the heat down in the South, turn them heaters on and see if you get an aroma boost. You may change your mind about wanting the seat heaters to be optional!
The Z-14 works well on the fake wood trim and the smoked plastic on the stereo and climate control (it masks minor scratches well). It hasn't been warm enough long enough up here for me to try the external products yet.
I was in AZ in July on a mountain and all hell broke loose up there, too. 8000+ feet up, 35 degrees, and hail balls I thought were going to come through the windshield.
Knocked all the desert dust off the car, and left behind no dents.
-m
Thought I'd chime in on the oil/filter/interval discussion. Been using Mobil-1 oil & filter, and changing every 5000 miles, in both my 99 300M and my 94 Dakota. Like the fluidity at low temps in these Wisconsin winters.
On a different note, has anyone else thought about putting wire wheels on the M? Wire wheels have a long traditon in Chrysler history, but I don't know of their existence in the correct sizes. I have the 16" PHP wheels now.
Happy Motoring!
I can perhaps offer some answers to some of the questions being posed.
Mine is solid as a steel brick....no squeaks, rattles, no unfindable noises anywhere. Build quality is great with great materials.
It's kind of strange, I inherited my 300M so I didn't get to pick it out myself. My mirrors DO tilt down in reverse. I was under the impression that this was only available with the lux package.
It's red with the taupe interior. The taupe looks really good. No problems keeping it clean (and smelling good with Zaino).
I've heard the upgraded stereo at my dealer's during a routine oil change stop. I couldn't tell any difference (or sound level) with the upgraded. I would imagine that being in the back seat, it would sound different since that's where the two additional tweeters are added (bringing the speakers from 9 to 11). I didn't notice any appreciable difference with the extra power on the upgrae either. The CD changer is nice, but I don't miss it. I only play one CD at a time anyway.
The '01 is noticeably quieter than it's earlier siblings. I was able to drive a used '99 that my dealer had for sale when I was last there. Don't know the reason (Michelin vs. Goodyear?). Better sound deadening? I really don't know.
I'm getting 28MPG on all highway driving (travelling between 70MPH-80MPH). I haven't done a totally straight "city driving" test, but am getting 21 MPG on a 50/50 mix of city/highway....all on 87 octane.
Whoever thought of putting the audio controls on the backside of the steering wheel is a genious.
All-in-all, not one complaint with my 300M so far. Great car!
To get an idea of what the "cream colored" interior looks like, here's my link:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1158985&a=8520252&f=0
1) I have developed a rattle in the right front door. How have been experiences getting things like this fixed at the dealer? Will they fix it? The car is otherwise drum-tight.
2) At certain points during acceleration, there is a "sucking" or "wheezing" noise coming from the engine area. Can't tell if its the engine or tranny. Anyone experience this?
3) Although I have the PHP, apparently the cruise-control is limited to around 87 miles per hour. This is annoying as hell. Does anyone know if there is a way to defeat the limiter?
4) I want to add a little wood to the dash. I DO NOT want to get a kit that glues on though. Does Mopar sell the wood trim kits from the 2001 models aftermarket? Or someone else? I'd love to add the 2001 steering wheel to my 2000, and few other pieces too.
Thanks all.
You could buy the '01 real wood dash parts from your dealer, but I think you will find the price is astronomical...ditto the steering wheel.
The "glue on" wood trim is actually double sided 3M tape, but it IS permanent. View mine at:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1501794&a=11408326&f=0
Someone on the board posted a link to a company offering real wood trim to cover the factory "plastic wood"
mine kit is from Joshua Tree.
It's called "Meguire's ENDURANCE Tire Protectant Gel"
Be advised there are TWO kinds, regular and wet look.
I personally prefer a black satin finish to the "wet look" which I feel looks cheap.
One caveat: If you drive the car before the protectant dries, centrufugal force may deposit the gel on the sides of your car.
You can minimize this by buffing the tires with a dry piece of cotton towel to eliminate the excess gel.
The product does, as claimed, last much longer than most other tire dressings.
Any ideas??
Easyrider300m
I'm going to the Ocean City, Maryland Auto Show tomorrow and will be exploring some new cars. I'll report back afterwards. Well, better go. I think a storm is headed this way soon. Even a few inches makes me worry a lot because even though I'm experianced in winter driving (former Pennsylvanian), the brain-dead morons here in Delaware cause pile ups even when it rains.
The main reason I wanted to bring it in was for the B schedule recommended differential fluid change. I also wanted to have the tranny fluid changed.
To my surprise the service writer said they have not had requests to change the diff fluid and he said it wasn't necessary. He said it was more important in a 4 wheel drive vehicle. And he said not to worry about the tranny till about 30K. I told him I want to change the tranny fluid anyway and asked what they do during a change. He said they drop the pan, change the filter, and also drain the converter-- so it sounds like a complete fluid change. I didnt think they could drain the converter fluid. Has anyone here had the converter fluid drained during a tranny service? I thought the best they could do was to flush the whole system.
They are also doing a few warranty repairs--engine hiss at 2K rpm's, growling noise on low idle on cold start (accessory belt looseness), and are replacing the dash wood strip due to a small defect.
I also have noticed a rubbing noise when raising and lowering driver's side window as if the strip on door edge at lower part of glass is rubbing. I will see if they can replace the strip. Anyone else have this problem?
They were very accomodating when I told them I need a replacement vehicle to uses while repairs are done.
So far they are acting like a true 5*--hope I feel the same way after the repairs.
Easyrider300M
I thought I read in our owners manual that ours in loaded with a factory synthetic gear lube. I know the manual on my dad's Grand Cherokee says this about the diffs and transfer case. So the factory has a synth lube.
Michael
I'll post more on the show later.
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Now, let's get back to discussing the 300M within the TOU. Thanks.
Pat
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