Chrysler 300M

easyrider300m

I noticed that my window switch on the passenger side is black plastic and the rest of the switches in the car are chrome---dont know if I should complain as I dont know if I should chance them having to take off the door panel---does anyone know if you have to remove panel to replace the switch---also drivers window is still making a clicking noise especially when cold outside---barely noticeable on a warm day. Also mileage leaves a lot to be desired---16.6mpg for 50/50 combined city highway driving. And I drive it "easy".

I also wish they put the battery in the trunk for better weight distribution and easier access. I am one who likes to keep an eye on the terminals and check for corrosion and lube them once in a while. Its tough getting silicone spray on those terminals where they are now. And if I have to tighten or clean them, its a royal pain---what were they thinking?

sdmike2

Are you relying on the computer, or did you pull out the ole' slide rule? I was getting around 18-19 with a lot of local driving where I was going up (4mpg) and down (80mpg) a lot. I'm getting about 22 or 23 now that I've thrown in some highway time.

easyrider300m

my concern with the special is that it may have problems with being too low---I scraped my front airdam so many times, it finally fell off--now if it were even lower, you could catch it on one of those parking bumpers and when you back up, you could tear off the front bumper cover very easily (I speak from experience) . The other day, even with the airdam removed, I caught the bumper cover on a high parking bumper. I had to get out and hold up the lower part of the cover to back out of the parking spot without damaging the cover. I never had these problems with my other cars.

SDmike: I check my mileage using the overhead reading over several tankfuls. I checked it using the calculator/odometer method and it was within a couple of tenths. Maybe its the gas in this area--we have that reformulated gas to cut down on air polution. By the way, I use 89 octane. Is anyone else getting low mpg or is it just me.

ottowrkr

Sdmike2,Denverm, Avalanche165.and all you guys.Yeah Mike , the flag is the least I could do to show my support. Also glad your back up and running . Denverm not only is your M built in Canada ,but we Canadians back you, our American brothers all the way. We feel the pain that your nation feels ,as we also lost many who worked in the twin towers.Every store that I have gone into in the past couple of weeks up here is also trying to help in some way, with monetary collections and other types of donations to help the cause .As I travel to your country many times each year and have gotten to know quite a few Americans ,our countries are very similar in many ways . But I realize that without you ,the U.S as our next door neighbour Canada would not be the country it is today . We owe you many thanks.You guys should see all the U.S flags that are being flown up here ,its quite a site. Avalanche165, they changed the trans controller and the engine controller ,WOW. something must have been really wrong to change both computers. They are called FLASHED because they can be reprogrammed with new software when a new version is released. They must have been fried and could not be re-flashed. So all is well and it shifts SWEET -good. Please post some bigger pics of that beautiful car of yours ,soon So you are going to add the lower cladding to your car ,that should really look good.

Take care you guys

drpixel

Hope you are all well...reporting in from verey near Ground Zero.....the downtown area still filled with police and firemen, EMS folks...many of which are coming into the Bank, as they are supplying them with food and drink--the least we can do...still going through metal detectors here @da Fed...yesterday, the protection officers here had 'an inccident' with an irate construction guy (..doing work INSIDE the building..) who resdented having to take his keys, change, etc. outa da pockets...there were MANY hands reaching/unsnapping holsters...,what a maroon' as Bugs Bunny would say! One of my large format printers 'died' --we think..and am working to resurrect it. This is one of two printers capable of printing 36 inches wide by "x" inches long......I LOVE those printers, man....sniff...
As for milage, easy....I too use the 89 octane, but mileage has been steadily increasing, but no where near the states milage on the sticker. Using the 93 stuff make eMily run like the wind, but don't normally use it.
1 1/2 star dealer has gotten parts in:
a. body monitor module--based on the people who have posted similar 'light show' problems
b. New steering wheel because 'leather' {melted} for want of a better word.
c. Are still trying to isolate problem with AC compresor noise (clunk/thunk) upon turning on AC

They will be fixing scratched doors/plastic piece in front od rear wheel well as soon as my S.O. can get schedule of her physical therapy.....I'm really pi$$ed at these people, as not only did Linda call them and tell'em to park eM between 2 cars, but I told them the same thing when I was there.....sigh....at least damage is below dorr molding, so I told them to paint/fix below the molding as the door curves down towards the road anyway---no one will really notice a difference if paint is 'slightly' off in shade. They're also throwing in a couple of oil changes too....

Free rental car included,too.

Haver a good day,
Doc

denverm

Yeah, I think most all Americans consider our relationship with Canada to be very special, too. Here's an interesting graphic of the worldwide impact of the WTC attack: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/picture/0,,2001320130,00.jpg (sorry if this has been posted before; I'm not keeping track so good lately!)

silverbullet4

Just got a heads up from our VP of Technology. He says a giant solar flare occured at 3 AM last night, causing xray burst of 10,000 times normal. Please let us know if any of you experience any unexplained electronic failures, like computer problems, radio pre-sets messed up, etc. Our guy says to expect communications glitches, slow or disrupted internet traffic. MSN has been up and down for two days now. Found another ominously named virus on a floppy today;
'PWSteal.Trojan'

Otto-thanks for the report on Canadian support for USA in her time of pain. I know that in one of our several fuel crises, Canada quietly provided fuel and bases for our military aircraft to train, at least Reservists on summer drills.

Peace, Silver

avalanche165

WOWSERS! there really must of been something wrong i guess. i just dont get it tho, this couldn't have been from someone slamming into me right? especially from the back. the tech said that can't be it. he said i just got unlucky and bought a glitched first year car. but he assured me it'll be fixed and 5* pulled thru with flying colors for me this time. maybe it was the new rims
ni'll take some much much better pics when i get my digital cam back. those pics are from my 8mm video camera and i just IEEE'ed the video onto computer then took screen shots. low low quality compared to an actual still picture.

avalanche165

easy i dont think it the cars fault on that, stop hitting those parking blocks! lol, jk. but honestly my car is low now and i dont even bottom out on speed bumps. just have to go slow but dont hit anything at all. i was pleasantly surprised. the inch drop onthe special PLUS the sideskirts, now that is gonna look very low and no doubt i think your right it will hit. you got me thinking about if i put those on my car, with my 2" drop i know i'l start slamming stuff. but i'll give it a try anyway

scotian

The window switch, at least on the driver's side, is located in a hard plastic trim piece that lifts directly up and is attached with a couple of tabs. When the monkeys replaced mine, they sliced off a good chunk of door panel, which they will soon replace:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1280646&a=13301166&p=53473415&f=0

You can easily get at the battery's + terminal, at least, from above:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1280646&a=13764864&p=54236781&f=0

sdmike2

Hey guys, here is a cool drawing that BigMike had done of his M. He can give you all the details about having your own done if interested. Click on the small picture below for a MUCH larger one (over 350k).

sdmike2

Hey Mike, I bet the artist just could change one word (Mike's to Red) and the color of the car and he'd have me covered. lol!

bigmike5

Thanks SDMike for posting the drawing for me. If anyone else is interested in personalizing and memorializing their M, just contact Donie Odulio at cydoniapress.com and I am sure that Donie will do a great job for you. His work is very reasonably priced too. His site also has a MOPAR poster [for only $5] of cars he has drawn which is pretty cool.

rogor2k

I'm trying to work a deal with the artist where the Club members could get a discount if enough were interested (probably 25 members minimum to get the discount). Stay tuned for details. I'm definitely in for having mine done.

BTW, he can do other angles too.

avalanche165

bigmike that is phat, seriously i'm lovin it. i am gonna get one made too from him and then take it to a buddy of mine who owns and runs a decal shop...get a huge decal made and put it on the rear windshield. not too shabby eh? well thats the idea, just gotta make sure i dont get the rice burner effect...

bigmike5

Av--I would like to see the one he does of your wheels, with all the special mods, it would be something to see.

sdmike2

Ok, I can see av getting a drawing with a radical hood scoop applied, different rims, and the door handles and side crease shaved, but I doubt that the artist could increase the wheel size or lower the car any more! LOL

sdmike2

anytime.

sdmike2

Big Red...uh...Mike's M

dustinnewton

Hey strangers! I've been gone a while, but I think I have a break for a bit. Been working on my MCSE, doing two jobs at work, PLUS, I will have a new member in my family in the next week. My wife is due any day with our second child. I've missed the board and everyone on it and I'm glad to be back. Now on to my questions, and I apologize in advance if these have been covered, but you kids have been busy and a couple of thousand posts are a lot to go through!! I am looking at changing tires (stupid Goodyear crap) over to the Michelin Pilot XGT V4/Z4 and have found them online for $161 each. Does anyone have this specific model that you used to replace Goodyears? I am also considering the H&R lowering springs from tirerack.com and was curious about anyone's specific experiences with them. I remember a good while back hearing about some comments about the Eibach springs, but I am specifically curious about the H&R model. I am also looting at the Nitto NT-450 Extreme tires (in a 50 series) as well if anyone knows anything about them. Maybe I will get an exhaust system for my birthday!!

rogor2k

Some here have recently been singing the praises of the Yokohama AVID T4 tires. They seem to be very well rated and the customer feedback is good (tirerack.com). They're a little more than half the price of the Pilots. The savings would almost buy your exhaust system. I'm going to look very seriously at both the Yokohamas and the Nittos in just a few more thousand miles. My Goodyears will be worn out before 30K miles.

rstilp

rogor, count me in for a deep slate version of Bigmikes. Hood bra & spoiler as is. PERFECT.

scottjohnson

Took my 300M into the dealer for the flickering lights and the shrinking weatherstrip problem, 3 weeks later hadn't heard that the parts were in. Called only to find out they had only ordered 3 of the 5 parts and had lost my ticked. Raised cain with management and parts were in next day.

Took the car in only to be told later in the day that they had the weatherstrips but not the special clips mentioned in the TSB. Clips ordered and I take the car home.

Two days later, drop the car off for a "no more than 30-minute job". That afternoon get a call that the weatherstripping is the wrong color! They did manage to install a new headlamp switch.

Left the car with them overnight so they could work on it first thing Saturday morning. I call in an they say "Come pick it up in half an hour." Go down 45 minutes later and see two techs walking toward the new car lot with weather strips in hand. Blood pressure hits all-time high. They have the weather strips, but they're all crinkled up. So they decided to cannibalize one of the M's on the lot.

Came back in three hours and was astonished to find the car ready! They had washed it, vacuumed it, and comp'd me an oil change. I was cool enough by then to have a half-hour talk with the service manager and explain my disappointment.

Can you have a negative number of stars when rating your service department?

sdmike2

The monkeys have invaded Scott's dealer as well! Will it never end!?!

ottowrkr

What did he use to remove that switch cover a knife???? That cover just pops off . what a butcher shop.

avalanche165

ahhhhahahahhaahaha

avalanche165

is that how you spell caricature? i emailed the guy and sent him some pics... no reply yet but only been a few hours. i wanna get 2 of those posters, hang one up in my dorm and one in the shop. i got this idea and basically begged him to follow it for me....my car has some good key points for making a caricature, BIG hood scoop, big'ol'rims, lowered, the dark windows, shaved door handles and emblems and all that, and even the painted calipers. (i learned this in graphic design) its so easy to hit up on characteristics like that in a caricature. but anyhow i was asking him to maybe if he can take off teh charger or something off that "garage 1" poster and replace it with my 300m, then print that poster out for me. told him i'd pay extra of course, i hope he can do it that would be awesome to have a 17" x 22" gloss poster with your car on it

jona57

With the sudden cold snap here in the Midwest, my 01M has developed a soft rattling noise from the sunroof area which happens only when driving with the sunshade open and sunroof closed. The noise is related to going over bumps, but is not related to vehicle speed. I have tried to put my hand on various parts while driving, but I cannot seem to find anything that stops this soft noise except closing the sunshade. Anybody have any ideas on this one (besides moving to AZ !)? BTW- I invested in the 01M DC Service Manual, but the illustrations of the sunroof & sunshade are pretty rough.

beach15

We have an M identical to yours and I'd love to get rid of those stupid Goodyears myself. If they're not making the car shake or wiggle on a perfect new road, they're making the steering wheel vibrate, or, most of all, is the deafening tire roar and noise on the road. I'm just trying to live with them until they start looking like the need to be pitched.

As for your questions, I think Av can help you a lot. He uses both Intrax lowering springs and used to have Nitto's on his old Razorstars. From what I remember, he said the tires were great with sharp handling and grip, a silky ride, and greatly reduced noise. As for the springs, I think I'd stay away from the H & R's. A few use or have used them but didn't seem to be very happy. If you remember, jediknight had them briefly but said they really screwed the car up and didn't work well with the non-PHP suspension. As for Intrax, Av has been saying the control of the car is much tighter than before but they still give a great ride.

Anyone else-- If you have experiance with these tires or springs, please post info. for dustin.

dubbed

i would love to have a pic done of my car with the rims too!!! count me in!! as far as the springs go, i had mine on for a while now. the ride is nice except for the vibration when i get on it (accelerate hard). it shakes like crazy. still waitin on the motor mount adapters from h&r. i was wonderig if anyone else is having these problems, let me know.

tom
(dubs)
phtrde1@aol.com
dubson300m@yahoo.com

ps so whats the official count for the phoenix meet?????

ed12

I put Michelin Pilots on my 99 300M with PHP. Very satisfied.

Ed

300michael

The offical count is six (as of yesterday. Two more expressed interest but have not logged on the the site. Tucsongil wanted to come, but have no way of contacting him. If you want to know just go to the http://300Meet.homestead.com/basic.html and check out the book. I hope to go the the homeshow at the fair grounds and look for 300M's go card and tell them about the meet.

easyrider300m

I will probably go with the Yoko's as soon as the badyears bite the dust. Like I mentioned before, I had the V-rated version on my MarkVIII and was very satisfied. Just remember, the V-rated wont fit our cars so only the T-rated are available in our size. T-rated is good for up to 118 mph. If you're into heavy performance such as high speed cornering, you may want a higher performance tire, but for all around driving, very low noise, reasonable handling, reasonable traction in snow, and a very reasonable price, the Yokos are the way to go.

Easyrider300M

300michael

I like my Z rated Bridgestone S-03's for $180 a tire they are excellent. Wet or dry, and they are quiet. Except for rough roads, it sounds like a Lincoln town car. The Yoko's are probably the best bang for the buck, but I want maximum traction.

avalanche165

hey tom you got a 4 wheel alignment after you put the springs on right?

avalanche165

ok ok so its not too good but....gimme some time, this is fun

i was trying bust out the rims but...didnt do it too well..

avalanche165

h&r = blah. i wouldnt do them if i were you. i am having very good experience with these intrax springs. it is a pretty big drop but you will love it. the car rides like an animal now (thats a good thing) i mean i can turn with fury and actually make it. it handles great, cornering ability is greatly increased, and the 300m in general has great conrnering to begin with so you can imagine how good it is now. the tires: i'm very biased, havent done anything with michelins, but the nitto 555 extremes, put 20k miles on them, and most of the time i'm driving like a maniac. much much tread left right, i jsut sold them. road noise less, silky smooth ride, just like beach15 said. they aer superb tires and now they aer marked down as well. nitto is comng out with a new line so the 555's aer being marked down. they are nice tires, i wouldnt of got them for my new rims but....the falkens had a bit better treadwear rating...and with 20's, the last thing i want is to be buying another $400 tire because the tread ran out

silverbee

Got a problem with my 01 when driving it seems to labor every now and then in or out of cruise.The rpm's don't change you can just feel it and the engine sound is different.Also seems to shift unusually often between 45 and 60.don't remember it doing that on my 99Any ideas or anyone else have similar problems?Only got 2500 miles on it is it still learning??Thanks for any input

easyrider300m

radios to receive satellite programming commercial free are now available--Chrylser to offer them in 2003 http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010925/tc/satellite_radio_7.html

easyrider300m

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010926/bs/autos_chrysler_report_dc_1.html

sdmike2

Thanks for the information. Nice to see a new face.

sdmike2

I also have an issue with the car "laboring" a bit, but it's almost always when it's running at low RPMs in a high gear...like in the 40-50mph range in 4th gear. I think this is primarily because the car doesn't really want to start going at under 3000 RPMs (a common issue that many of us here lament). If you tromp it at those levels it will downshift and go. If you just "give it some gas" it doesn't respond very well. However, your comment about not noticing it in your 99 and it "hunting" gives me a little concern. You might want to take the car in and see if your dealer will reprogram your tranny computer. I think others in here have had their program updated and have achieved positive results.

Maybe otto, a poster here that is a real live 300M builder type guy (wink) can help.

drpixel

Greetings, all from drpixel! Sunny day in Noo Yawk, but is over-shadowed by recent events...hope you are all doing well--or as well as people can be under these circumstances.
Went to the 'car' cartoon site, and attempted to get idea of price.... got yahoo 'cannot find page...etc..'.
Can we get a ball park figure of what is considered reasonable -- to compare against a group discount? As a dabbler in the graphics arena, his drawings are very good, and I'm not easily impressed!
Will not make the chatroom 2nite--celebrating 32 year anniversary. Have been busy helping out with 2002 wine production..working on a red zinfindel, and a couple of strange brews.....actually got to make second runs of two types, thus doubling production..!

Doc

fuzzywuzzy

One of my yellow Monza tips is broken. The little resonator piece inside is now in pieces. Rattleing around. I need to replace it. I want to use the same tips. Makes sense to replace both of them. I got them from JC Whitney the last time, but due to an ongoing problem during the summer I WIL NEVER order from them again. I called them anyway & are back ordered. I call summit racing, & they are back ordered. None of the part stores around me have them. Any other places online I could order them from?? Here's a pic:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1280600&a=9485515&p=31139653&Sequence=0&res=high

drpixel

Was the poster/drawing he sent to bigMike, sdmike, boomMike..whomever...mounted in frame, on gloss, etc?....yust curious, yah I am......

Herr Dcktor

intrepidspirit

I posted last week on my Yokohama Avid T4's. I indicated that I was satisfied with all aspects -- noise, handling, etc. Since that time, I have driven my wife's M (with Michelins) and I am now more impressed with my T4's, as they perform every bit as well as the Michelins. At tireack.com the customer survey bears this out by beating the Michelins in every category. Besides they are warranted for 60,000 miles; Michelin for 0. T4's are $88 each, Michelins $137...the price you pay for HR vs. TR rating.

Since I have yet to reach 118 mph (closest was 110), these tires are perfect for me

sdmike2

Here is a source, but I'm not sure how to order on-line (no ORDER buttons, but have a shopping cart...go figure)

http://autosupermart.com/shopcart/pacesetter/exhausttips.htm

scotian

I think the window switch trim plate was removed OK (at least the visible door panel was probably intact -- the holes where the tabs snap in were mangled), but when they pushed it back in, it was too far back and it sliced the panel open and squashed the material down.

scotian

Does anyone know offhand if there are any air sensors attached to the plastic stock air intake, or are they all attached to the TB or inside the engine?

fuzzywuzzy

I'm not for putting tires that are not speed rated for my cars on. I'm not saying you, or anyone will ever have problems, it's just me. I tend to think it's more then just the max speed. It how the heat builds up in them after hard cornering, or just driving normally. I'd rather spend the extra cash, then pay for it down the road.