Is that Mckinney Dodge? I ordered an item (the cell phone holder) from www.chrysler-parts.com and received confirmation that the item is being shipped from Mckinney Dodge in Denton (?) TX.
Is that 3GB per month? If so that's a HECK of a lot of hits to your site and/or a REALLY big web page. A normal web page will be under 100k depending heavily on the images (the HTML itself will only be a few k), so that would require about 30,000 page views in a month. That's big traffic for a personal site. However, if your pages are a lot larger you'll get a lot less views for your 3GB. If I remember correctly your home page is full of photos. What you might consider doing is breaking the page up into multiple pages by category, so a visitor isn't downloading every photo every time they hit your page. You might also try optimizing the images on the page to make them smaller. I found I could cut my file sizes in half (about 180k to 90k) using Paintshop Pro's JPEG optimization program. With a lot of pictures on your site that would save a lot of bandwidth. Finally, if your design graphics are eating up a lot of bandwidth you might consider using frames. Then your design only loads once for each session.
Anyway, it's unusual that an ISP will simply shut you down because of the overruns. Normally they will e-mail you a warning and suggest an upgrade of your hosting package, and possibly with multiple violations shut down access to your site once your limits have been met. They shouldn't, however, keep you from accessing your account to make changes. That's what it sounds like they did with you. Strange. I use Yahoo's web hosting for my domain and I don't have any problems. For $14.95 per month I get 100MB of disk space, 10 email accounts, and 15GB of bandwidth per month. For $29.95 you get 30GB of bandwidth. If you're paying $50 a gig you should drop them immediately.
My driver's side front and back window bezels are finally in (and the service manager actually called to tell me..what a suprise!). They had replaced the rear passenger side a couple months ago with no problems. (If you remember, the fit was poor so I talked them into replacing 3 out of the 4 with the newer, improved bezels on warranty). Because the pillar on the driver's door sticks out so far, they decided to have the body shop fix it "just in case there's some other problem." I certainly hope they don't take it joy riding when they pick it up!!
SDMike - Did you say your dealer changed out the spark plus to to Bosch for you? Jack Powell wouldn't do it...said they can't use anything but their own parts. He asked me how much I paid ($6/ea). He said theirs are $18/ea. for platnium (not Bosch) -- wow. I don't think that's they normally put in the M's is it? Seems like quite a mark up to me. I'll just have to take it somewhere else or have my father do it. My husband is not mechanically inclined and is afraid to touch anything on the M.
Speaking of mark ups -- picked up another window visor clip today. Last year it cost $8.50. This year it's up to $10.72. What a ripoff.
Lynn-I spent the weekend camping on the huge "infield" during the annual race. The Rodriguez brothers (Mexico) were driving the new Ferrari Dino sports racers. (circa 1959-1960)
As I remember this course, right after the start there is a sweeping 180 that tests your tire grip. It was all countryside then, and rolling terrain. You had to be careful on one of the downhills and avoid redlining the engine on Porsches. The Little Carousel and Big Carousel caused the suspension to bottom out hard and your head to hit the roof. Fun, fun, fun for 20 year olds. (Ein mal bier, bitte, Fraulein) Silver
Rancho Chrysler/Jeep in Clairmont mesa installed my bosch plugs for me. They charged like $70 for the labor, which they said is standard on any plug job they do (something like 1 1/2 hours at their labor rate). They also charged me something like $8 labor for my oil change. I provided the Mobil 1 oil and filter.
I just dumped the Goodyears on my 2000 with 21K for Michelin MXV4 Pluses to get rid of the vibration. Now the vibration is gone but I have a pull to the left. After 2 allignments still had the pull. The dealer switched the front tires and the pull went away. So they elected to replace the left front tire which is on order. This is very frustrating. At least the dealer has been OK. If the pull is to the left can you be certain that the left tire is the problem????
McKinney Dodge does have a dealership in McKinney, not related (at least not obviously) to El Dorado Chrysler. I was unaware that they had a store in Denton though. Denton is about 35 miles west of McKinney. Both McKinney and Denton are North of Dallas. I have had no business dealings with McKinney Dodge. I did go there to look at an Intrepid R/T before I bought my M. The sales guy I talked to seemed honest and straightforward, no high pressure kinda stuff. The 'Trep R/T is a nice car. I considered one strongly, finally decided on the 300M because of the fact that it's a little smaller overall than the Intrepid. The M is plenty big, I really didn't want or need anything larger. Plus, I did like the leather interior, which wasn't available in the 'Trep then. Lynn Flowers McKinney, Texas
Thanks...maybe I'll have them do the plugs if they can do it while I wait. What's with North County as opposed to the San Diego area??? First it was Al & Eds that refused to install the Basslink and now the dealership with the plugs. Either that or you're just a smooth talker...:-) (or maybe is cuz I'm a girl)
for sure, and I hope those neanderthals didn't think they'd get $100 for 6 plugs from you because of that! My guess is that some dealers are "risk averse" and some will take the labor $ whenever they can get it. Make some phone calls first and save yourself some time.
This dealer hasn't tried to rip me off. Well, except for that stupid visor clip. (The parts guy didn't think it was too amusing when I asked where the chrome was...for that price it shoud be chrome).
The service mgr. didn't try to sell their plugs to to me either...just told me how much they charged (I had already bought the Bosch). And I believe this dealership charges a whopping $70/hr. for labor. Funny thing is they have never tried to sell me service on this car. I even mentioned to him once about any service that needed to be done at 36K and (since I'd aready had the tranny done) he said I didn't need anything else right now -- guess they make their $$ on parts.
Is there any way to tell by the date or some coding whether a TSB that was posted prior to your vehicle's manufacture applies? For example, my 2002 was built in January '02, the last TSB I see for 2002 M's is dated Oct 2001.
Thanks!
(It's not that cold here in Connecticut! Spring is coming!)
I had purchased a 2002 driver (not the 300M special one) side mirror on Ebay. I wanted one really bad. Now I just have to find the passanger side one. Thinking of painting it to match the car. If I ever sell this car, its going to be hard to tell what it is. My 99, 00, 01, and 02 300M.
Who here remembers that it used to take about 10 minutes and a socket wrench to change all 8 plugs on virtually any V-8 engine? If you can, then you must be my age! LOL
It costs $20 and they give you 50Megs of memory and 3 gigs of bandwith. My websites are up to 40megs which probably explans the problem. The site still works, although I can not edit it until tommorrow. I will do as suggested and condense the pictures down, and get rid of any dupication. Lately I have been averaging about 800 hits a month. I may have to ask Brent to take my page off the featured site on the club page:)
I am new to the group and I have a question concerning the size of the gas tank. I have a 2001 300m with 8K miles. In my manual, it says the 300m hold 17 gals of gas. Whenever I go to fill up the most I have ever put in my car is 13 gallons. Does everyone else have the same problem?
Guys, check it out! Here's the new Pro-Am Edition 300M! It's just a standard M, but painted Graphite, with the Taupe & Slate interior, Satin Silver interior trim, and golf clubs and a trunk organizer. Or, as it reads from Chrysler:
300M Pro-Am Edition Standard Features Include:
Pro-Am Edition Package:
Exclusive Graphite Metallic paint
Premium leather, eight-way power bucket seats with unique two-tone deep slate/light taupe trim
Special satin silver trim on instrument panel and doors
Distinctive Pro-Am badge on exterior
Custom embroidered floor mats with Pro-Am badge
Complete set of TaylorMade® model 360 irons and pitching wedge
Custom-made Chrysler 9 1/2-inch Staff golf bag
Special cargo/golf club trunk organizer
Golf accessories shipped separately following purchase
Sounds nice to me (father works at a golf course)! Here's the link:
Got mine today. Black on gold for my sandstone M. The etching is a bit messy, as shown in the close-up picture, but overall they're worth the $16. Should have a picture of it installed tomorrow.
Ordered my visor plaque on Mon. received them Thur. (black on gold) etching came out O.K.
Going to St. Louis today for a retirement dinner and on to Wichta, Ks. Sun. Will be there till Fri. (Feb 24 thru 28) Any ICT 300m people want to get together?
Yeah, I agree with you guys that the Pro-Am is kind of blah, but I like the Graphite color and more so the Slate & Taupe interior (like the Special) with the silver accents. Lose the golf crap, and this should just be a standard 300M to begin with. Offer the Graphite as a new color and the interior as a new option for all 300M's.
Have any of you added the Mopar Transmission Defoamer to your car? I was reading about it, and it supposed to give crisper shifts. I spoke with my Dodge dealership, and they said they would add it if I wanted it.
never heard of this one. We have not built any yet . Guess DC is trying to make special packages to sell cars. If it sells cars and keeps me working ,all I can say is GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
In 99 they started off with a good base car. But instead of making good improvements they kind of neglected it. Too bad the Special didn't live up to the earler hype it was given. Pro Am is more fluff then substance. With the cars coming out in the next few years, that are going to be in the 300hp+ performance area. The new 300N varients are going to have a real run for there money.
A local speed shop owner here in Charlotte, NC told me that an air-charger on a fuel injected car is a waste of money, but on cars with carb's it is a nice HP inprovement. I am considering between the drop in and cone filter system. Which one do you guys have and what in your opinion is the best way to go.?
I can still change all 8 on my boat in 15 - 20 minutes, provided they haven't gotten rusty or siezed - its the only thing I have that I still know how to work on. It even has an old prestolite points and condensor distributor. I couldn't even FIND the plugs on my M when I first got it - and after finding them, took it to the dealer to have a set of Plus4s installed. I have literally never touched the engine in mine except to install the K & N - there's not much there I even recognize and nothing I'm brave enough to work on. I don't much like the dependence on computers and the dealer, but the car is powerful, relatively economical, clean, and reliable. When I compare it to my boat with a 89 351 Ford with the traditional Holley 650, I don't miss the black smoke on start-up, the gas sheen on the water, the puff of smoke when the accellerator pump kicks in, 15 gph at cruise, or the constant maintenance required. Old things are fun, but I can't quarrel with the efficiency of the new.
I got my car back from the dealer yesterday after they had the body shop replace the window bezel on the front driver's side. Am I happy with it? Yes and no. They did a nice job of fitting the bezel and now the pillars are even (the front pillar used to stick out about 1/8"). What I'm not happy about is the mess they left the car in. There is glue everywhere on the inside trim around the window and even on my side mirror. Fingerprints and gunk around all 4 windows (still wondering why) and I can't even begin to figure out why there's a footprint on the inside door panel on the passenger side. It's going to take me about an hour to clean it up. When the dealer replaced the rear bezel for me themselves a couple months ago...at least they left it fairly clean.
But my main issue is the door panel on the drivers side. They obviously removed it. I didn't notice until I got hom but when I open the door it now makes sort of a popping noise when it releases. By looking at the door panel I see a gap...it's not fitted against the door liike it should be. And of course, as most of you have experienced when the dealers romove the panel, they screwed all the bottom screws in too tight and cracked it around all of them. I really don't want to make anything worse by taking it back. Can any of you guys who have removed your door panels give me some tips on what to check to fix it myself. It's basically just not seated in properly on the side of the door opening. Maybe they missed a clamp or something? How do I remove it?
On a good note though...I had my ew chrome shift knob waiting for me when I got home!
Just went down to dealer yesterday. We had new Michelins put on 3 weeks ago. Like I said 3 out of 4 bad. Test drove my car and the new ones are no better. The vibration still there and the pull to the left. While we were there they pulled off wheels and put 16 inch Goodyear tires and different wheels on for us to try. It drove alittle better. The shimmy (back and forth of the steering wheel) was not as bad but the vibration still there. This Dodge mechanic isnt going crazy yet. Super guy, he says he's gonna fix this car. Chrysler guy coming out next week to look at it. They had it now for 13 days. We'll see.
The drop in is easer to install, and will grab cooler outside air. The cone has a larger surface area, making it easer to pull in air. As long as you use a factory built filter (K&N and S&B are included) then you will not void any warranties. Just use a filter designed for it's intended purpoise.
It's Jack Powell. They had a body shop pick it up and do the work this time. All in all JP has been decent but definitely not 5 star. I think I'll take it somewhere else next time I need work done. The body shop...I need to find out where they took it cuz that's one place you definitely want to avoid. They're sloppy.
Just finished washing the car and getting ready to put a coat of Z5 on it. I think I figured out why there was gunk all over the passenger side windows. I think they replaced the rubber weather stripping that runs along the top/inside on both sides. I have no idea why, but suspect maybe the screwed up the one on the driver's side and replaced them all so I wouldn't notice??? They used to have a slightly white look to them especially along the top because of accidental contact with Zaino on occasion. Now they look brand new.
All the screws are now cracked -- of course. How to I check for the brackets?? do I unscrew the bottom screws and pry the panel off? Any other screws I need to undo?
Been busy so been catching up on the boards for the past 2 hours. Here's my input. scotian: re: digital camera..I have a Nikon Cool Pix 775 $350 2.1 megapixel. Its awesome. Small light-weight and idiot proof..a must for me.
drpixel :glenn...thanks for the welcome call. Made me feel very welcomed. Will try and make it into the chat room this week.
sdmike2: nice cabinets..hafta go with wife on this one..they look good..thinkin' bout some for myself.
grunshev : metallic window tint...doesn't that interfere with your radio reception?
bigmike5: spoiler..liked the one I saw that was almost flush to the trunk with no light..
Also found out that I am a little heavy on the gas pedal..Got a warning tsk tsk...and a finger wagging..no no. ..85mph a little to fast for highway city driving..yes sir officer sir..will slow down...te hehe...got me a fancy radar detector..will keep in touch...
There must be a huge problem with the internet as I can't get to major sites like Lycos or Bigfoot. Many other servers seem to be affected as well. Even parts of Yahoo are down. Anyone else experiencing this problem?
Lately, I've also noticed something screwed uo with the internet. I just thought it to be our computer (that's as posessed as the M). Good (well not really) to know that it's just not me.
Did the weekly washing today and noticed more with the car. Not only is the weatherstripping on this car shrunken, but the one on the left rear door is the worst and slides around when you touch it. I pulled on one end to make it fit, and it fell out of the other side and out of the top. Glorious piece of quality we got here!
All the others are just shrunk and stick down in the upper b-pillar corner. These were supposedly fixed back in August, but still look terrible. I can't wait for something else to fall apart. We're not going to even bother taking it to the dealer again for something like this, the heck with it! If it starts to leak, then maybe, but if not, we'll let them fall off completely.
Here's the current issues: -Trunk leak, has gone away for quite a while but it'll be back again. -IP rattle: It was chattering constantly today, just from the slight tire vibration! -As mentioned already, a vibration in the front end, seems to be mainly the right side wheel. -Weatherstripping shrunk. -Wipers still do not work. I'm not sure why, but the other day she said they wouldn't go up or come down. Like the door seals, screw it!
Oh, such a great engineering masterpiece! I truly hope that the 300N comes out properly designed and put-together the first time around. Maybe if they figure out that it's better to spend a little more $, they can avoid having such a high bill for warranty work, arbitrations, and buybacks. Also with this car, try to do some beneficial updates through the model-life.
Yes things are good. We actually worked production Sat. Have not done this in a very long time. Heard we will be doing this for another month or so. Orders are getting stronger for us. Glad to hear the Special is doing good. Saw my first one on the street the other day, all covered in salt YUK!!. We have no snow ,and it rained for a day and a half this week. Maybe spring is near. Mike , I agree they really needed to improve each year and add new things . All they did was sit idle and add a few items. I like what they did to the Special , but did they go far enough ,NO. Making it 300H.P would have been were I started . Hopefully our next cars (LX) go a step further .
I sure needed that 300 HP yesterday. Sun was out and roads were dry for first time since forever. Nondescript black Neon pulls up acting racy at a light. With studied contempt I gave him a go and he blew my doors off! Guess I've lost the old street racer skills. While the thing looked stock, it sure didn't sound stock as it went by! Won't do that again.
Comments
Anyway, it's unusual that an ISP will simply shut you down because of the overruns. Normally they will e-mail you a warning and suggest an upgrade of your hosting package, and possibly with multiple violations shut down access to your site once your limits have been met. They shouldn't, however, keep you from accessing your account to make changes. That's what it sounds like they did with you. Strange. I use Yahoo's web hosting for my domain and I don't have any problems. For $14.95 per month I get 100MB of disk space, 10 email accounts, and 15GB of bandwidth per month. For $29.95 you get 30GB of bandwidth. If you're paying $50 a gig you should drop them immediately.
SDMike - Did you say your dealer changed out the spark plus to to Bosch for you? Jack Powell wouldn't do it...said they can't use anything but their own parts. He asked me how much I paid ($6/ea). He said theirs are $18/ea. for platnium (not Bosch) -- wow. I don't think that's they normally put in the M's is it? Seems like quite a mark up to me. I'll just have to take it somewhere else or have my father do it. My husband is not mechanically inclined and is afraid to touch anything on the M.
Speaking of mark ups -- picked up another window visor clip today. Last year it cost $8.50. This year it's up to $10.72. What a ripoff.
As I remember this course, right after the start there is a sweeping 180 that tests your tire grip. It was all countryside then, and rolling terrain. You had to be careful on one of the downhills and avoid redlining the engine on Porsches. The Little Carousel and Big Carousel caused the suspension to bottom out hard and your head to hit the roof. Fun, fun, fun for 20 year olds. (Ein mal bier, bitte, Fraulein)
Silver
I have had no business dealings with McKinney Dodge. I did go there to look at an Intrepid R/T before I bought my M. The sales guy I talked to seemed honest and straightforward, no high pressure kinda stuff.
The 'Trep R/T is a nice car. I considered one strongly, finally decided on the 300M because of the fact that it's a little smaller overall than the Intrepid. The M is plenty big, I really didn't want or need anything larger. Plus, I did like the leather interior, which wasn't available in the 'Trep then.
Lynn Flowers
McKinney, Texas
The service mgr. didn't try to sell their plugs to to me either...just told me how much they charged (I had already bought the Bosch). And I believe this dealership charges a whopping $70/hr. for labor. Funny thing is they have never tried to sell me service on this car. I even mentioned to him once about any service that needed to be done at 36K and (since I'd aready had the tranny done) he said I didn't need anything else right now -- guess they make their $$ on parts.
Thanks!
(It's not that cold here in Connecticut! Spring is coming!)
Is there anything special? I see nothing major!
If I ever sell this car, its going to be hard to tell what it is. My 99, 00, 01, and 02 300M.
My websites are up to 40megs which probably explans the problem. The site still works, although I can not edit it until tommorrow. I will do as suggested and condense the pictures down, and get rid of any dupication. Lately I have been averaging about 800 hits a month. I may have to ask Brent to take my page off the featured site on the club page:)
300M Pro-Am Edition Standard Features Include:
Pro-Am Edition Package:
Exclusive Graphite Metallic paint
Premium leather, eight-way power bucket seats with unique two-tone deep slate/light taupe trim
Special satin silver trim on instrument panel and doors
Distinctive Pro-Am badge on exterior
Custom embroidered floor mats with Pro-Am badge
Complete set of TaylorMade® model 360 irons and pitching wedge
Custom-made Chrysler 9 1/2-inch Staff golf bag
Special cargo/golf club trunk organizer
Golf accessories shipped separately following purchase
Sounds nice to me (father works at a golf course)! Here's the link:
http://www.chrysler.com/300m/models/300m_pro_am_edition.html
http://www.ritchiefamily.com/car/visorplate/
http://www.ritchiefamily.com/sdmeet.htm
Going to St. Louis today for a retirement dinner and on to Wichta, Ks. Sun. Will be there till Fri. (Feb 24 thru 28) Any ICT 300m people want to get together?
Will be using my Lap Top.
The color of the car, in and out, might be interesting though.
Why bother pumping out new 300M variants if they don't have 300hp?
So long!
I am considering between the drop in and cone filter system. Which one do you guys have and what in your opinion is the best way to go.?
Does the air charger default your warranty?
I don't much like the dependence on computers and the dealer, but the car is powerful, relatively economical, clean, and reliable. When I compare it to my boat with a 89 351 Ford with the traditional Holley 650, I don't miss the black smoke on start-up, the gas sheen on the water, the puff of smoke when the accellerator pump kicks in, 15 gph at cruise, or the constant maintenance required. Old things are fun, but I can't quarrel with the efficiency of the new.
But my main issue is the door panel on the drivers side. They obviously removed it. I didn't notice until I got hom but when I open the door it now makes sort of a popping noise when it releases. By looking at the door panel I see a gap...it's not fitted against the door liike it should be. And of course, as most of you have experienced when the dealers romove the panel, they screwed all the bottom screws in too tight and cracked it around all of them. I really don't want to make anything worse by taking it back. Can any of you guys who have removed your door panels give me some tips on what to check to fix it myself. It's basically just not seated in properly on the side of the door opening. Maybe they missed a clamp or something? How do I remove it?
On a good note though...I had my ew chrome shift knob waiting for me when I got home!
Just finished washing the car and getting ready to put a coat of Z5 on it. I think I figured out why there was gunk all over the passenger side windows. I think they replaced the rubber weather stripping that runs along the top/inside on both sides. I have no idea why, but suspect maybe the screwed up the one on the driver's side and replaced them all so I wouldn't notice??? They used to have a slightly white look to them especially along the top because of accidental contact with Zaino on occasion. Now they look brand new.
scotian: re: digital camera..I have a Nikon Cool Pix 775 $350 2.1 megapixel. Its awesome. Small light-weight and idiot proof..a must for me.
drpixel :glenn...thanks for the welcome call. Made me feel very welcomed. Will try and make it into the chat room this week.
sdmike2: nice cabinets..hafta go with wife on this one..they look good..thinkin' bout some for myself.
grunshev : metallic window tint...doesn't that interfere with your radio reception?
bigmike5: spoiler..liked the one I saw that was almost flush to the trunk with no light..
Also found out that I am a little heavy on the gas pedal..Got a warning tsk tsk...and a finger wagging..no no. ..85mph a little to fast for highway city driving..yes sir officer sir..will slow down...te hehe...got me a fancy radar detector..will keep in touch...
http://www.kwmuth.com/TechSupport/PDFs/21000190.pdf
Hope this helps.
All the others are just shrunk and stick down in the upper b-pillar corner. These were supposedly fixed back in August, but still look terrible. I can't wait for something else to fall apart. We're not going to even bother taking it to the dealer again for something like this, the heck with it! If it starts to leak, then maybe, but if not, we'll let them fall off completely.
Here's the current issues:
-Trunk leak, has gone away for quite a while but it'll be back again.
-IP rattle: It was chattering constantly today, just from the slight tire vibration!
-As mentioned already, a vibration in the front end, seems to be mainly the right side wheel.
-Weatherstripping shrunk.
-Wipers still do not work. I'm not sure why, but the other day she said they wouldn't go up or come down. Like the door seals, screw it!
Oh, such a great engineering masterpiece! I truly hope that the 300N comes out properly designed and put-together the first time around. Maybe if they figure out that it's better to spend a little more $, they can avoid having such a high bill for warranty work, arbitrations, and buybacks. Also with this car, try to do some beneficial updates through the model-life.
Good bye!
Mike , I agree they really needed to improve each year and add new things . All they did was sit idle and add a few items. I like what they did to the Special , but did they go far enough ,NO. Making it 300H.P would have been were I started . Hopefully our next cars (LX) go a step further .