Chrysler 300M

99_300m_ric_va

I got that english burl kit installed and it looks great. Awesome Choice. I opted not to install the oval pieces around the outside two vents and the pieces around the window switches. I thought they looked funny and left too much plastic exposed. I love the molded pieces, especially the COMPLETE clock piece.

Here's the link on my pics. I have since ordered the 2000 shifter console with the leather boot and added the pieces around the radio and shifter. They are the only two flat pieces I used from the kit. The wood kit was for 2000+ not 1999, plus I wanted to upgrade shifter anyway.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1539430&a=12245146&f=0

99_300m_ric_va

In Richmond, we have a place called "The Dent Wizard" that does paintless dent removal. Minimum charge in $99. It works ok. They removed a dent from my mom's 2000 Concorde. If I look real close I can still see it. Not bad, it was nice ding before.

jgoodson

Scotian, I am ignorant about this type repair. How does it work? Does it get out the dings?
Thanks in advance!

99_300m_ric_va

Do you have pics of the weatherstrip shrinkage, so I can see what you mean. I think my 99 is fine, but I want to be sure before mine goes out of warranty.

99_300m_ric_va

Well, I broke down and went to the 5* dealer for the first time (33,000 miles) to get a few annoyances dealt with before I go out of warranty. I had my 4 window motors replaced, driver side window regulator adjusted and my wiper control switch replaced.

I complained about the sticking windows and creaking driver door when window is fully closed. They volunteered the TSB that recommends replacing the motors. All is now well with the window(s). Not sure it has anything to do with the sticking to the weatherstripping though.

Next, I was having a problem when I first turn on the intermittent wipers. They would seem to be stuck and then after a few seconds, they would sweep 3 times like it was trying to catch up on missed intervals and then act normal for a while and maybe do it again. If I switched to low or high setting for a few seconds, then back to intermittent it was ok. I remember someone here said they were having this problem and had the wiper motor replaced. Dealer tech said my switch was shorting out. The service manual has a procedure to test for shorts and valid resistance in all intermittent positions and if any test fails, fix is to replace the switch. I guess they fixed it, because wipers work flawless again.

Back to the sticking weatherstripping. My windows get a line on the inside of the glass where it contacts the weatherstripping. I looked at my mom's 2000 Concorde thouroughly and she does not have this or do her windows ever stick. I wonder if the weatherstripping changed in 2000. Can anyone confirm this? Is this related to the shrinkage?

brianw300

Unfortunately I have no pix (no digital camera - yet), but I can tell you where it is. On the car (not the door), the pillar between the front and back doors where it meets the roof. The stripping is pulled out of the corners. I can stick my pinky between the stripping and the metal of the car in the corner. Hope that helps.

sdmike2

Great pictures on the wood trim. I have to admit, I don't like the trim around the shifter and radio/climate control area. Too much for me. I like how you have it set up in the pictures. I have a question though... I've got the luxury group with the real wood dash trim and steering wheel. Does the company that you got the kit from sell luxury group add-ons, like the clock/vent piece? If I go with another type of kit it wouldn't match my steering wheel. Also, where did you get these?

-M

drpixel

fellow 300m owner, webMMMaster for the Chrysler 300m Enthusiasts Club. 'graphics guy', and other duties as required! Congrat's on your upcoming blessed event (getting M-i-fied, that is...). You'll love this car--as many of us here will testifiy to!

I see that youre from Noo Yawk...I work in the city, downtown very close to Wall Street, but I live in Joisey. I have eMily (Bright Silver Metallic, Non PHP, hole in roof, shiny rims, smokers group, full size spare...) since June 8 last year. About 7K miles on her--as a commuter I do NOT drive into Noo Yawk. The S.O. has claimed eMily for her own..sigh. I do get to drive--ocasionally, anyway..on the weekends. Look forward to seeing you joining this thing of ours..the best little Chrysler 300m Club anywhere. You can email me directly to

glenn.beye@ny.rb.org

if you so desire.

In other news, I've celebrated my 52nd birthday this Saturday, and Linda--my S.O. has given me a new computer (..yes, Roger.. I'll be retiring the boat anchor soon...) as soon as I can make up my mind as to what exactly I want. Minimum requires are: 128MB ram, 60GB HD, 17' monitor, CR-RW, 48X CD/DVD player, wheel mouse, maybe a new printer...(Tim Allen sound heard here...). Can't hardly wait!

BTW, my Mom's doing better, but she needs to learn to have more patience--open heart surgery takes a long, LONG time to recuperate from. She still thinks she's 49--whch is kind of hard since I'm 52 (now)!

Regards to all,

drpixel/Glenn

Regards to you Joey300m and all my friends

drpixel

the best little Chrysler 300m Club anywhere.

Sorry for the missing link

drpixel

malyel

I had a chance to see how the Garmin Street Pilot 3 would look in my 300m. I took some pictures so if anyone is interested how it looks before buying the unit. I got a chance to play around with it and was impressed with the level of detail this unit had. Included on the maps are local restaurants, banks, gas stations, churches, hospitals, etc... It seems like a very nice unit.

http://images.prosperpoint.com/38/2919-470.jpg

http://images.prosperpoint.com/38/2919-471.jpg

rklass

Mike, Joshua Tree, woodtrim.com, has a wood dash kit to match the '01 Luxury Group trim.

Here are pix installed on my car:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1501794&a=11408326&f=0

The pieces are flat, but don't let that fool you, they conform to the curved surfaces beautifully.

This kit is new, so I suggest phoning Mike Smith, the owner, to be sure you get the right kit. Quality is excellent, the wood is real, and he is usually running a sale at $216 plus freight.

fuzzywuzzy

seems kinda big to put on the dash, wouldn't it block some of your view, just not for me I guess.

malyel

I only had a few minutes to play around with the location of the gps but I found that where I had it in the pictures would probably not be where I mounted it. I found that further down the dash gave me the best view of the road and gps together. I am 6'5 so I find that even with it on the dash above the clock I had plenty of visiblity.

easyrider300m

is the Pilot easy to program---seeing there is no keyboard it must take awhile to input the street names--is it hard wired or battery operated. what is the cost?

300michael

Can the unit be mounted to the roof near the trip computer? I am looking into one also, but it needs to be romoveable (in case I opt for a 2002 300M. Chrysler now has the NavMate, for $1500. and for starting at $2300 I can get the Alpine unit. What I am thinking of is installing a Kenwood indash CD/DVD TV Turner along with the Alpine Nav system the whole unit with install where the CD stereo is located now. The problem is the two units would have to go into the 1.5 space now occupied by the stereo. This means cutting the face plate and altering it. What I have to do is ask the dealer if I can change out the stereo and shifter face plates to the new (02) and put the 02 plates in my 99 if I trade it in. The end result is I want the system to be built in and out of the way when not in use.

300michael

I was looking through a Intrepid brochere when I noticed (page 6) that they put dyno testing results for all the engines. they showed the graphs for the 3.5, 3.2, 2.7, and the 2.7 w/AIM engines. Will have to do some research on the 2.7 AIM (Active Intake Manifold) engine to find out what is involved to boost the extra power out put, over the standard 2.7 engine.

jedi_knight

Put the new springs on the M to the test this morning, handles great through the curves and generally on the open road, however when you have rising and decending pavement things get interesting. Coming down off one of the many high spots in the road, the M bottoms out against the bump stops inside the springs on the strut shaft. My initial thoughts are to either trim the stops or remove them, trim and install a more progressive stop. Also now that the M is lower, the distance it lifts when cresting a hill or bump at speed is greater, I think the damping on the struts is too light and may contribute to the bottoming out on the stops. Sounds like its time to get creative with tuning the suspension. Perhaps I'll give So-Cal a call and see how they handled the bottoming.

Keith

sdmike2

I gave Big Red a nice bath yesterday and this morning I awake to rain. It's not the rain per se, it's the dirt it throws up on the roads. I have a nice "mud highlight" to my inferno red paint job now. Sheesh. I also bought a hood cover today at the local 5*. I want to get a think coat of zaino on to protect the finish under the cover, so I'll post pictures next weekend.

Quick question...has anyone found somewhere to get a nice 300M license plate holder? I hate being a rolling advertisement for a dealer.

-Mike

sdmike2

I really like the look of the lowered M. Any idea how the lowered ride and handling compare to the stock PHG? I don't remember if you had PHG or not, or if you have ever driven one. I pushed Big Red (with PHG) through a turn today that nearly made me wet myself. She didn't complain at all. I wouldn't want to sacrifice that handling just for looks.

-M

sdmike2

that's "thick" coat of Zaino in my previous post, not "think". I know Zaino is good, but I'm pretty sure it's not capable of rational thought.

sleepymw

where i got the 300m license frame for the car but i think i just put in license frame or auto accessory in altavista and started to search. i also got a nice 300M keychain too.

sorry couldn't be of any help, but since i'm lurking now a days figured i'd poke my head through.

still waiting for a nice day to spring clean

rogor2k

This link is conveniently located in the links section of the Chrysler 300M Enthusiasts Club web site, at www.300mclub.org.


The link is: http://www.autoattire.com/chrysler_vehicles.htm


Dont forget, just a few more days to save $5 on your first year dues. Meet us in Monterey in August.

lalarry

Is this the frame you're looking for?:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1579064&a=12010004&p=43345765&f=0

If so, I got it off of amazon.com

Good Luck!

rogor2k

Every new 300M Enthusiasts Club member gets one.

Check it out:
Chrysler 300M Enthusiasts Club window decal

sdmike2

Rogor - cool decal. I plan to sign up as soon as I get a few minutes. Thanks for the link.

lalarry - yep, that's the one. Thanks for the lead too.

Mike

race9fan

is that it, just a stinkin' window decal. i guess you get what you pay for huh??? i would rather buy an extra bottle of Z-6 at least i don't have to go around selling it to dealers to get a return on investment, all i have to do is rub it on my m and wow instant gratification.

Race

jedi_knight

I do not have the PHG but I test drove one, wish I had bought it instead of the regular model. If I recall the PHG is firmer than mine is now, this is probably due to the heavier valving in the struts but it did not bottom out on the bump stops since the ride height is the same as the non-PHG cars. What I don't believe is that just swapping out the springs is the end all, true it gives you more control through the corners and is well mannered on the open road, its when you really push it in varied terrain that it gets interesting. I have looked high and low for alternate struts, Koni, Bilstein, KYB and Tokico......nada thing is out there. My only other option would be to order the PHG struts from the dealer which I'm sure cost an arm and a leg. This would address the body lift when cresting a hill or hump and may even reduce the bottoming out on the stops since they are valved for more damping..........

sdmike2

That is IF they would even sell them to you. Who knows. Thanks for the response.

Just ordered two chrome 300M license plate frames for $29.95 each. CA makes you have front AND back plates so they can take pictures of you running yellow lights through the intersections.

rklass

still waiting for a nice day to spring clean

Why waste a nice Spring day? Clean up the car on a RAINY day! Lord knows we have had plenty of those lately!

lalarry

from the 300M Enthusiasts Club today. Now I've just got to find a good place to put it so it "won't roll down into the window channel". No problems with my window motors, and I don't want to push my luck! Nice decal though!

sdmike2

The membership form doesn't list the mailing address. Either post it here or email me at mritchie@vicinity.com.

Thanks

sdmike2

You'll notice that I've now moved to the Bahamas.

beach15

After the recent announcement of Photopoint charging to post photos, I looked for a new site. I deleted all of my photopoint albums and now use webshots.com. It's sort of similar to photopoint and does basically the same stuff. It is free no matter how many albums you create or pictures you upload and your first 25 prints are free (or at least I think they are from what it says). If your interested go to

http://www.webshots.com

My M pictures can be found at

http://community.webshots.com/album/12315199AybBnpLRmW

If you don't want to have to pay for posting pictures, this is a great site.

lalarry

We're having some strange weather here in SoCal today. Driving home from downtown LA, I drove from bright sun, to torrential downpour, back into dry sunny road. Well, I wasn't about to let my freshly Zaino'd M stay wet, so smooth as glass, effortlessley kicking it up to 90 did the same trick as those big blowers do at the carwash. Will the thrill of this automobile ever cease?

fastdriver

I just posted some pics of my new ride at YAHOO. It's free too. Think you can have up to 30 MB for free. Pretty easy. Just remember to name your pics BEFORE you upload them because I don't think you can do it after.

PICS POSTED!!! Just in time too! You should see how pitch BLACK it is out right now. Fast moving thunderstorm and rain coming through any minute.

1. Click on fastdriver's new car on the left.

2. Click on pic 1

3. Click on View Slideshow

4. SLOW it down to take a GOOD look! LOL...

You can even make the pics bigger!

http://y42.photos.yahoo.com/

Rain already started! CL in the garage! ;-))

fastdriver

thill381

Thanks for the photos, I agree w/ you on the outer vents and doors. I will post some pictures once I get them.

intrepidspirit

Over the past few weeks, I have posted a couple of times about my search for a new vehicle for my wife. She wanted an LHS, but there were very few at the lots and no deals. We toyed with the idea of that tremendous Jaguar S-type lease ($1,000 down, $499/month) but the mileage limitation was a problem.

On Sunday, I found a loss-leader, bait and switch ad that was too good to be true, but I called anyway. They did the normal "check to see if its still available" routine so they could get my number and when they called back, it was still available! We got to the dealer as soon as we could and we are now a 2-300M (or is that a 600M) family! For the record, this was the deal:

New 2001 (71 miles) Cinnamon Glaze/Agate 300M
1 Option (full size spare) -- just what we wanted!
MSRP -- $30,545
Purchase Price -- $24,888
Total discount off MSRP -- $5,657!

This is the first time I have seen a legitimate "loss sale" ad on a 300M in Southern California, but I knew if I was patient, in this economy, it would happen!

I was surprised, Cinnamon Glaze goes very well with Inferno Red -- they look great in the driveway together....

Roger, I was wondering if there is a special rate for husband and wife memberships in the 300M Enthusiasts Club...

les14

Has anyone had success installing a computer chip to enhance the 300M performance? If so, where can I get information on it? Also, any suggestions regarding replacing the stock muffler to increase horsepower.

thill381

Someone requested photos of the shrinking trim, so I have posted mine which is being replaced as soon as the back ordered parts arrive. I also posted a close up picture of my exhaust tips and and the muffler.

*http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1623482&a=12413329&f=0*

beach15

My weatherstripping looks like that on 3 doors but hangs down even farther on the driver's door and you can see daylight coming through. I still have yet to make an appointment to get it fixed but I should sometime along with the gauge cluster rattle (now that I have an idea myself of where it is coming from.

intrepidspirit- How do you like the new 2001 cinnamon/agate (dark slate gray) 300M? Is it any different than your other M.

intrepidspirit

The major difference is color (vs. my 2000 Inferno Red/agate). The chrome trim looks good with the cinnamon -- I don't think it would look good with inferno red. The new car seems quietier -- probably more insulation and the michelins rather than goodyears. Also, her ATC works better than mine -- mine is always too cold even though I had the sensor adjusted.

All in all, the cars look very different from each other -- the Inferno red looks sporty and the cinnamon glaze looks elegant. My wife always thought the 300m looked too sporty and masculine for her, but she loves it in cinnamon!

Evandermel

Just reviewed Chrysler's March 01 sales numbers, and am surprised.

300M is down 46% (huh?) vs. March 2000. Despite $2K national rebates, invoice or better pricing by dealers in the northeast, and various regional incentives.

One would anticipate a 10 - 15% drop with the softer economy, but the other 30 - 35% is from what?

Not sure I have the answer, but the price that Intrepidspirit quotes is pretty routine in the northeast. Getting a new 300M at Hyundai XG300 prices is a pretty good deal.

Chrysler, it is going to take more than 47 hp in '02 to get sales back.

Erik V.

fastdriver

The link above to my new Zaino pics is incorrect. It should be:

http://photos.yahoo.com/fastdriver2_99

Intrepidspirit-

TWO!! You are brave! ;-))) Good luck.

fastdriver

malyel

It does not come with any keyboard but it does have a pc cable and it seemed very easy to use. All you have to do is move an arrow on the screen via keypad on the front and it will tell you what the adress is. You can zoom in and out and when you find where you want to go press a button and it will route you there. All the maps and data are provided by Navtech which provide the info for all the Nav systems in other cars. I was most impressed when it had a restaurant that was less than a year old on a map.
The system cost $770 not including some accesories. I would guess a complete system with total country coverage would cost around $1,000. It's the perfect system if you want to be able to move the nav system between cars or if you do a bunch of business travel and rent cars.

fastdriver

The link above to my new Zaino pics is incorrect. It should be:

http://photos.yahoo.com/fastdriver2_99

Intrepidspirit-

TWO!! You are brave! ;-))) Good luck.

fastdriver

race9fan

i take it you checked out the paint job this time??? what a deal!!! it would be fine with us if you dropped the intrepid now ))

Race

sdmike2

Congrats on the deal! I got just under $5,000 off MSRP (paid $29,700 for a $34,580 MSRP), but you sure got the deal of the year so far. As for your comment about the Inferno red and chrome not looking good together, I beg to differ. The chrome trim accents the chrome wheels, exhaust and headlight trim very nicely. here are some pics of Big Red:
Big Red Pictures

sdmike2

I did the same thing today, but when I got home I found that I had dried the yuk on my car and had to wash it anyway (even under the threat of more rain I couldn't let her stay that dirty). I got ready to put my hood cover on, but there was a BIG warning that you can't leave a wet hood cover on the car because it will damage the paint....making it "cloudy". Referred to a TSB about it that I'm going to have to find and read. I'll wait until we switch into normal weather before putting it on..

-M

dustinnewton

Good job on the deal man! If you got that car for that price here, they'd arrest you for robbing the dealer!!! Everyone has several cars here in the south, so dealers don't give in much because they know they're gonna get you sooner or later!!

sdmike2

If a lot of potential 300M owners are waiting until the '02, which may is looking like it will be a significantly different offering. I could see how that could damage sales.