By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
It's a 20min fix, you need a 15mm socket and rachet to remove the seat and a T-50 Torx bit to remove and replace the bolts. Do it yourself and save yourself a lot of grief.
Steps are simple as follows:
Remove the seat as usual, 2 bolts in front, 2 bolts in rear.
Unplug one small and one large electrical connector.
Remove seat and look for two large T50 Torx head bolts.
Remove and replace with new bolts.
Reinstall seat.
Pics:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/rpowelljr300n/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos/Seat+Movement+Fix
Since I'm posting this I'm back on the net. I got switched today from Comcast@Home to Comcast High Speed Internet. I was down this morning, but found that I'm back on tonight. Speed seems about the same.
These are issued by the manufacturer when the same complaint is receives often enough to prompt a suggested fix. They save the dealer time diagnosing the problem, and instruct on the repair proceedure. They are not a recall, which is issued for safety-related problems.
A dealer will usually perform a TSB fix at no charge if a customer requests it.
A dealer who says he doesn't know what a TSB is should immediatly lose his 5* rating!
How long should it take for the side windows to clear off when they're wet and you can't see through them in the morning from the overnight moisture? Our car sits outside all the time, and even though we let it warm up a good 10-15 minutes before going anywhere in the morning, the windows have never once cleared properly like the windshield and rear window do in just a minute or two. This morning for intstance, started the car at 7:15 and while sitting in the car at 7:40, all the side windows were still covered and we couldn't see through. This was 35 minutes, even after having it the blower on high. Tried to roll the windows down which should clear like it does on any other car we've been in, but that doesn't clear them either.
So, on average, how long should it be taking to de-fog the side windows? Our Voyager did it quickly just like the windshield and the Bu-rod LeSabre too just a few seconds for all the windows. So, what's up?
Also, we've had trouble defogging any of the windows, including the windshield, if they fog up inside from temp. changes. We'd vary the temp, max the blower, but nothing. Should the HVAC system be working like this?
Shouldn't the windows clear off too?
"was snookered by my source-my corporate executive wife sent it to me, so I thought it was genuine information"
First some guy came in and said that he had test drivena Special 300M which did not have dual exhaust... then a few other new people complaining about stuff.
The bolts look the same to me except for the rubber washer. I guess it's intended to keep it from comming loose, although one would think a lock washer would do that. There is also some dried red "loc-tite" on the new bolts. I put my new bolts in and really tightened them down and the rubber virtually squeezed out. Maybe that's too tight, but it doesn't move anymore, so I'm happy.
Pics:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/rpowelljr300n/vwp?.dir=/My+Photos/Seat+Movement+Fix
Hope this helps.
I have noticed some movement only in one corner of the seat about 3 times since. It could be one of the bolts has loosened. I'm going to have them check it out if I EVER get the call that both my window bezels have arrived for replacement. (He told me the rest of the parts would arrive in about 3 days -- this was 3 weeks ago). 'Bout time for me to give him another call!
If you want no wing in the middle, get the 2002 grille which probably swaps right in. I myself do not like the wing eblem as part of a larger chrome piece as it is on the 2002 300M and the back of some minivans.
btw... anyone hiring in the Chicagoland area?
-m
I went through arbitration on ths car and WON!
So to end my ravings I will say to you I am so glad that you bought a good 300m, and I'm sorry to say I DID NOT!
I think most M owners here are pleased, but we all know that there are ALWAYS a few bad apples in every bunch.... It is a shame that your M wasn't up to snuff. It really is a marvelous car. Congrats on winning arbitration.
Geez, and auto dealers wonder why the public has such a low opinion of them. We just bought the evil wife a Lexus RX300 and in limited dealings with the Lexus dealser so far, much different level of service. I may get spoiled! Although I have no real complaints about my ?* dealer.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
CONGRATULATIONS!! You saved yourself YEARS of aggravation, excuses and wasted time in dealing with incompetent, uncaring, we have ALL the answer "5-STAR" dealers! What a JOKE.
fastdriver
The car was to go in today for a few very minor fixes.
1) Fix the broken passenger seat with a new motor.
2) Put a new steering coulmn cover on
3) Fix the wipers that don't work
4) Just a few notes: check the defogger system and see if they can fix the rattle behind the gauges yet
So, what do you think they did!! Nothing!! Oh, well, yeah, they snapped a new plastic steering coulmn cover on (we think!) and supposedly fixed "a loose wire" with the wipers. The seat, well you guessed it! The car went in New Year's Eve. They ordered the seat part. They called last week to say the column cover and seat part were in. Well, this morning they called with the usual. "Oh, we're sorry, we must have ordered the wrong part for the seat. We opened the box and it was for the driver's seat." Oh great, the wonderful 5* screwed up again! They did the same thing last summer for the steering wheel when they forgot to order it, not once, but twice!
So, what did we get? A car with a new steering coulmn cover (never looked to be sure yet) and supposedly a fixed wire for the wipers (who knows?!). Oh yeah, and now, even though they never bothered to check it, the rattle has gotten worse and there's a new one in the driver's door. Now, something is so loose behind the gauges that it even rattles with slight engine vibes when the car is idling! And, the driver's door now has (or had) something vibrating in it that was buzzing about. Such a nice car, but why is it built so poorly?
I know, I know, you say, go to a different dealer. Believe me, if we could, we would! The problem is, the non-5* we bought the car from is 45 minutes away and couldn't fix anything before, and the onle other dealer within driving distance is another 45 minutes in the other direction. This dealer is also large and a supposed 5*, but they happen to have once of the worst ratings as far as service and sales go in the state. So, these are the only two, and we won't go to either.
The dealer that has been working on the car is only 10 minutes up the road and a 5* (supposedly). When we had something for them to fix on the Voyager, they were very nice and did what needed to be done, no questions asked. Now, we've been there I don't know how many times with our supposed "32 grand luxury car" and have had nothing but trouble.
When my mother went to pick the car up again this afternoon, she was not at all happy. And when she isn't happy, you know it! She told them off with the manager standing there and made them aware that she was not pleased with the service. Now, when she was done, the main guy at the desk, Tracy is his name, walked her to her car, appologizing several times. But it didn't work, she told them that she will be contacting DaimlerChrysler regardless of the apologies.
So, I need to know, who's the best to contact to get such issues resolved? This is just one headache after another, and all we want is the car fixed properly and completely for once and all this nonsense to stop!
Triffner and fastdriver, who do we contact?
You must fully understand that the purchase of ANY new car is a proverbial roll of the dice as to it's individual build quality and NO make or model is immune to this. Can't you imagine how surprised owners of the Benz M-class must be? I am sure many bought them fully expecting the brand's legendary service record and they got something very different.
I am not here to say that 5 star service is perfect, they aren't. Here the adage "you get what you pay for" seems to be the rule. I don't get greeted by a service advisor that opens the door for me like my neighbor with a BMW does. I also don't pay $90 for an oil change ($150 with a new filter) or $800 for a brake job either.
My bottom line is this...the service record of the M might not be better than some makes people like to associate with high quality, but if certainly is no worse. I assure you there is a Lexis owner out there that is just as unhappy with the build quality of his particular vehicle as you are with your M.
However, my qualm with what's being written here is with the notion that you only have the right to expect outstanding service if you buy a "premium" brand like BMW or Mercedes. I've owned both and, yes, you do pay more. But, truthfully, not a lot more. I've also owned Toyotas and Volkswagens (two of each brand) and I received highly attentive and professional service when I went to the respective dealerships. So, at least in my experience, it's clearly not solely an issue of price, but one of corporate culture (incidentally, at $33K +, I don't consider my 300M a stripped econobox). If much of what I've read on this board is true, then shame on Chrysler. The management and control systems clearly exist for manufacturers at all levels to ensure high levels of customer service. If they don't deliver, the brand will perish.
Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler's big brother, knows how to do this. Hopefully the Daimler/Mercedes influence will ultimately have a positive effect. There's no excuse for shabby customer service at any price point.
I think the defining moment was with my second BMW. The clearcoat finish literally peeled off the bottom half of the door in a car wash. I took the car in to have it looked at. The service manager motions me over and tells me the clearcoat had come off, then just silence.
I look at him and say "and?". Another pregnant silence from him so finally I have ask him what are you going to do about it? He answers "it has to be repainted" (clearcoated). I look at him and say I figured that part out already so are we going to make an appointment with the body shop to get this done? Ah, oh, yeah, yeah.
My experience with that dealer went down from there. It was the last car I bought from them.
So far the service from current Chrysler dealer has been pretty good, not exceptional, but competent. I confident that if I take something in to get fixed it will get done.