Hi Everyone... I seem to recall someone posting who works at the Dc factory. Hoping he'll see this posting and maybe have an answer. I was wondering if the 300M Special Struts will bolt into a 99 M. My car doesnt have the handling group and I want the stiffest struts available. Are the M Special struts the same as the regular 300M with the performance group struts?
I work at the plant. The Special struts are bolt in replacments for any LH car.But like lonestarsled states, why pay big $$ for a OEM when aftermarket are probably cheaper and have better or the same quality ride.I can not even imagine what a dealer would want for a set of Special struts.
Just for a joke someone call a local dealer and ask . Then post.
What do you all think the price would be? Post with your guess.
tirerack.com has the gas charged gr-2 struts for the 2nd gen platform for $67 for the fronts and $63 for the rears. I can't imagine DC's price would be any lower than $150 each.
double sided tape for the wing tips and shoe goo for the emblem (to glue the center papst ribbon) in (which I took out to see if I could make a key hole cover out of it.).
Of course they have you sign away all rights their lawyers would not even let you near the cars without doing so. They even made us leave the tent when it started to lightening during orientation. My son and I walked around outside and a twenty something drove over to tell us we had to sit in our cars, told her I was old enough to know when to come in in the rain. During orientation the told us we could drive everything but the Viper. I shouted out that GM had brought us twenty new Vettes last year to play with, his response was "GM has a lot more money" and "I am sending two people to ride with you" Pretty funny after the near miss. As far as restrictions if you ask the guy with you he will tell you no to power braking, no to low gear, drive only, no to traction control off. My son asked I didn't :>)) It had rained while we were in the parking lot so I was able to get a lot of wheel spin, the kid with me was not happy said he could get fired I doubt it. The length of course limits how fast you can go, they have radar at end of accel run best speed I saw watching only a few drivers was high 30's mph.
I got to have the wrong wing.It looks like it is for the grill cause it has nubs on it.I will take it back and get the part no. you posted.Thanks Too bad about the accident car was looking good. BOB
I want to put my radar detector above my review mirror, so it is more discrete. The problem now is the power cord hanging down to the power source. How can route the cord to hide it? Can it get power from some where besides the plug in at the bottom of the center console?
you can wire it to the rear view mirror... There is a switched 12 Volts there... Ive ben using it for about 2 years without a problem... If you want I can take a picture of which pins on the connector tomorrow
Glad you made the post about the wing. Got me to thinking. I may have to talk to the body shop about reusing the part or ordering another. Since the wing was not a 300M part I wonder what they had planned to do about reinstalling or replacing it. [reglue??] It did not cross my mind to tell them it was a part from another Chrysler product. I also have to measure the bumper cover with the template Roger gave me for the dual exhaust cut. I just remembered that the Audiovox Rear Object Sensing System [ROSS]I have under there has a small sensing unit box attached in that area, and I've got to make sure that the cut for the duals on the facia has room. Otherwise the ROSS box will have to be remounted. I was thinking that if the body shop had to repaint it all anyway that maybe the duals should be done now, and then when they repaint, reinstall and restripe the trunk and bumper cover everything will be done at the same time. I will get on that project tomorrow. I will probably try to go with the HUJO design SD Mike used if the muffler shop promises me the noise level won't be much higher. Now which is louder--Magnaflow or Flowmaster? And then the tips are another issue to be solved. I liked the style SD Mike used, but I will have to see whats available with resonators and in stainless that will fit the openings.
That would help. I would need some pretty detailed instructions on how to do that, as I am not at all electrically inclined. How do you connect the detector the pins on the board?
The Flowmaster is the loudest muffler you could use. I have the exact set up as SDMike - we used a Magnaflow collector to replace the stock and the Dynomax Super Turbo Muffler. Most people use either the Dynomax, the Rhino or the Flowmaster with the Dynomax being the quietest and the Rhino in the middle.
What type of tips did you select? I like the ones that looked like Mikes, and also like John Wyche's Ractive ones to some extent. Did you go to Ed Hanson too? Did the place where you got em' have similar available, or did you have to order them? I was kinda hoping to just walk into a shop and do it all in one fell swoop, but maybe everything will have to be ordered, even by the muffler shop. Did you add an extra collector to keep the noise level lower on the 99M? Who did the cutout work for your bumper?
I kinda like the T564 model on the site you posted. If that would fit I think that is where I want to go. I'll print out the page to take with me to the muffler shop. Thanks.
On further review, the T813 looks like it would work and it has a resonator which I think is also supposed to help cut the noise.
I'm definatley becoming a Chrysler addict. Bought my M in November of last year, got my daughter to lease a 2002 Sebring in May and yesterday bought my wife a 2001 Neon with 5000 miles on it. ( She only drives around town and puts less than 3 k on it a year so no M for her) I understand that the owner of the 5* delarship has instructed his staff to bow every time I walk in there now
When I gave you a ride back to the hotel did you think mine was loud??All I have is a small turbo muffler after the collector muffler and the monza tips.No resonators.That way she is clean all the way around the gas tank on both sides and out to the tips.Has a nice purr but doesn"t drone you out on the freeway.(decisions decisions) Good Luck
Yes I also had mine done at Ed Hansons. They did the cut outs for us making a pattern with cardboard and finished the edges of both with black door edging. Looks nice.
I have the Ractive T815's which are similar the Wyche's except they are straight not slanted up. They look great on the M and would be the way to go if you don't want to be as "radical" and you can make them look as aggressive as you want depending on how far outside the bumper you have them installed. I ordered them through the site I posted above and took them with me for the install. Most muffler places don't have a hugh selection.
And no I didn't add an extra collector, just the one Magnaflow. It sounds perfect, not too loud inside at all but enough to know it's there. Glennbp has the Flowmaster with the stock collector and his sounds great but I was afraid it would be too loud inside with the lesser sound proofing on the 99.
The Truckaddons.com site lists the openings of the Ractive tips as 1/4 (at least the ones I got), but they are actually 1/2 inch. They will fit no problem. Even if they are a little smaller than the pipe, they can usually stretch them to fit.
At my work we have a coffee cart and I usually park in one of the parking spots right in front of it. The coffee cart girl is always telling me how much she admires my car. The other day she asked me how much they cost as she really wants one...just based on how mine looks. I told her they average around $31K thinking she would wince at that (after all she is a coffee cart girl). She says, 'wow, that's a lot cheaper than my Infinity was' and points to it parked near mine (about 4 years old...one of those "fancy" Maximas). She says she's going to trade it in on an M.
The 2003 300M Special comes standard with the 17" wheels, as we all know. The ones that are equipped with the 18's have a N/C option called:"Ultimate Performance Tire and Wheel Group" which includes the "Engine controller-High Speed". Does this mean that the 2003 Specials with the 17's do NOT have the higher performance computer???????????? Inquiring minds want to know.
You are right on about the advertising. We gave the plant manager an earfull about that, when he mentioned the low volume and the 2 week shutdowns in each of the next 3 months.
{Rant Mode ON!} If someone from Chrysler is reading this. Advertise the LH sedans more and you will sell more cars. Even dealer sales people don't know as much as we do half the time, because we have had some club members buy their car and not know the Special even existed until they heard it here. Advertise these things, stir some interest in the public. Do it already! {Rant Mode OFF!}
From my 16th birthday in 1974, I have driven nothing but Chrysler products. In order:
1966 Plymouth Barracuda
1971 Plymouth GTX
1970 Dodge Challenger
1979 Dodge D50 pickup
1982 Plymouth Turisimo
1985 Dodge Shelby Charger
1990 Dodge Avenger
2001 Chrysler 300M
They all gave excellent service with the exception of the Turismo. Mechanically it was fine, but lots of little odds and ends broke, burned out, quit, etc. The 300M, by far, is the best of the bunch. I do not know what will be next, but rest assured it will be a Chrysler product.
No, your M did not sound loud inside on the ride back to the hotel, but I have one of the 99s and Ottowrkr once told us that after the initial build year they added a lot of sound deadener--apparently never realizing it was probably the lousy Badyears--so the later year models are supposedly a lot quieter in the cabin. I had the Ziebart sound deadener done shortly after I got the car and so maybe it is close to where your's started out for noise level. Anyway, I am going ahead on the duals. My wife says I never hear or listen to what she is saying to me, so now I will have an excuse.
My 2001 M has a vibration noise in the information console in the center of the roof above the windshield. It usually happens when I'm driving over concrete pavement, but can also happen elsewhere. The vibration stops when I put my hand firmly on the front "lens" of the console (you know, where the LED readout is). I had my dealer look at this a while back and he stopped it temporarily by putting some type of padding or cushion in there somewhere, but the noise is baaack. Anyone else had to deal with this?
Based on what I've heard (various ones in San Diego plus the Carlsbad meet) I believe that the set-up that Blonda and I use is the quietest of the "standard" dual systems. The combination of the magnaflow and dynomax mufflers seems to deaden the sound more than the Rhinos and Flowmaster (definately). Glennbp uses the stock collector plus a flowmaster, and I'm not sure if the added volume is JUST because of the flowmaster or if the stock collector is actually noisier than mine as well. Also, if you find that you think it's too noisy you can always have the shop go back under and install a small cylindrical muffler along the stock intermediate pipe to deaden it even more. That's what Ed Hanson said he'd do if my set-up is too loud...which it isn't.
Also, the couple of sets of resonated tips I have heard sounded a bit "hissy" compared to those without the resonators built in. I'd suggest picking your tips for looks, and let the mufflers deal with managing the sound.
Well... the KYB GR2's are coming out of the car tomorrow. I've got a new set of OEM MoPar (made by Tokico) sport suspension strut which would have already been on the car if my car had been equipped with the performance handling group. I got them discounted at a local Phoenix dealer and they'll end up costing me about $100 more than the KYB's for the four of them.
First impressions is that my oem struts with 40k miles were noticably harder to compress than the brand new KYB's. The new chrysler php struts seem as far superior to my old struts as the old ones seemed beyond the new KYB's. Maybe we get what we pay for and oem will be better. I'll find out tomorrow and post results.
By the way... no perceptable vibrations with the H&R spring kit but then they only dropped the car 3/4 inch in front and 1 inch in rear.
Did you install the engine/trans spacers along with your springs? There is some speculation on another "LH" board that the vibration was only characteristic to the '99 models. The half shafts were thought to be a new design beginning w/the '00 model year but nobody has confirmed this.
Hi all. My 2000 M doesn't allow me to turn the fog lights on independantly - I must have the parking lights on also. I think it looks dorky to have all the other lights on also. Has Chrysler made a change in this area on the 2001 or 2002 models? If so, is there any chance of a retrofit? Any ideas?
nope...my 01 is like that. If I want to drive with the fog (driving) lights on I need to turn my parking lights or headlights on too. They work in the auto, on, and parking switch position, but not the "off"
I only slipped in the engine spacers, haven't installed the trans spacer yet. Im not going to use the H&R trans spacer 'cause I dont wanna buy another mount, I made a 9mm ( 3/8 ) spacer out of aluminum that will fit between the x-member and mount instead of the mount and trans
Went to a "recommended" shop yesterday and spoke with the head guy. Showed him the tips I liked from off the net, the twin pipes with the resonators. He said that he doesn't recommend the tips with resonators built in either because the inside area is more likely to rust out. I showed him the HUJO design drawing. He recommended a "Camaro" muffler instead of the Dynomax or Rhino and claims that it will be very quiet, but a slight growl will be included. Said it would be quieter than the Dynomax. Didn't think another collector would be needed. Thought he would probably be able to use the intermediate pipe if it is in good shape. Also, he would not cut on the fascia, and he wanted to do the exhaust work after the body shop fixes the rear end area to protect against any overspray on the stainless tips. He said that making the tips fit 2 1/4, 2 3/16, 2 1/2 etc., would not be a problem. He also thought that the Rear Object Sensing System sensor mounted under the bumper would probably have to be moved. I still have to measure with the template Roger gave me to be sure. I will have to see if my Ziebart neighbor who put it in will move the sensor and make the bumper fascia cut. Or the body shop might be asked to. I am real reluctant to take my Dremel tool and start working on it. Any thoughts on the muffler choice?
At least you can run the "fog" lights with just the parking lights now. In the first gen LH cars you couldn't turn them on unless the low beams were on too so it could be worse.
Hey theres a challenge for a mod! Rewire the DRL module so the fog lights come on instead of the high beams!
these Edmunds guys did a comparo that included 300M Special. They just could not stand to have 300M score better than others. They complained that it lacked luxury features. Are they on drugs?
Well naturally, it lacks an indecipherable AC/Stereo/Navigation interface like iDrive or something like that. No On Star so you can have it automatically unlocked when you accidently lock your keys in it or get yourself lost back in some housing development. Or sophisticated suspension management system that keeps you on the road when you do silly things like take a corner WAY to fast in crappy weather.
I thought the "Camaro" mufflers were the same as or are the Flowmasters?
If I get a chance this weekend, I'll try to get a couple recordings of my duals from the inside of the car for you while driving.. I discovered recently that my digital camera takes 8 second Quick Time movies and the sound quality is pretty good.
The Rhino 921 is actually a Camaro/Firebird muffler, so I don't know how much quieter the muffler the guy is recommending would be.
On the collector muffler, the stock one will work OK, but from the experience of others, it will contribute to the resonance (or drone) of the system around 2K RPM. The Magnaflow #12258 is more of a "Y" connection, whereas the stock collector is more like a "T" connection (more interruption to smooth flow of exhaust gases). The stock intermediate pipe is reusable as long as he cuts it off as close as possible to the transverse muffler inlet.
If you want a quieter system, I would recommend adding a small cylindrical muffler behind the collector. Here is the text I got a while back from Mike Hujo on adding such a muffler. --------------------------------------------- Update: we installed an additional Magnaflow model 10416 muffler (4" diameter x 14" long) just aft of the collector Magnaflow muffler and it "DOES" make a difference (less drone and less exhaust noise). It is about 1/3rd quieter then it was before. As an example, before under hard acceleration the exhaust noise from the rear of the car was louder then the engine noise (intake, valve train and engine/transmission gearing and components) from the front of the car.
Now, with the Magnaflow 10416, it is the other way around (louder from the front end of the car). In addition, the performance (acceleration and gas mileage) does not seem to be effected. Anyhow, there are 2 other models of this muffler (a 16" and 18") which may be a little more quieter if one so desires.
The bottom line is that for $60 and about 2 hours work under the car it was well worth it. However, we do not intend to try to make it any quieter then it is now because it may make the exhaust sound totally unnoticeable (it sounds too good to to make it so quiet that you cannot hear and appreciate it). -----------------------------------------
Comments
Thanks!
http://www.kyb.com/shocks/gr2.html
Just my two cents.
Just for a joke someone call a local dealer and ask . Then post.
What do you all think the price would be? Post with your guess.
The LHS emblem P/N is 04805065AB. It will work, but requires effort to get the curve out of it so it lays flush on the 300M lid.
.
2 days left , bid now
also 4 razorstars
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1859368633
They even made us leave the tent when it started to lightening during orientation. My son and I walked around outside and a twenty something drove over to tell us we had to sit in our cars, told her I was old enough to know when to come in in the rain.
During orientation the told us we could drive everything but the Viper. I shouted out that GM had brought us twenty new Vettes last year to play with, his response was "GM has a lot more money" and "I am sending two people to ride with you" Pretty funny after the near miss.
As far as restrictions if you ask the guy with you he will tell you no to power braking, no to low gear, drive only, no to traction control off.
My son asked I didn't :>))
It had rained while we were in the parking lot so I was able to get a lot of wheel spin, the kid with me was not happy said he could get fired I doubt it.
The length of course limits how fast you can go, they have radar at end of accel run best speed I saw watching only a few drivers was high 30's mph.
Too bad about the accident car was looking good.
BOB
Go here for your stainless tips:
http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/subpages/toucan_tips01.htm
I kinda like the T564 model on the site you posted. If that would fit I think that is where I want to go. I'll print out the page to take with me to the muffler shop. Thanks.
On further review, the T813 looks like it would work and it has a resonator which I think is also supposed to help cut the noise.
I understand that the owner of the 5* delarship has instructed his staff to bow every time I walk in there now
Good Luck
I have the Ractive T815's which are similar the Wyche's except they are straight not slanted up. They look great on the M and would be the way to go if you don't want to be as "radical" and you can make them look as aggressive as you want depending on how far outside the bumper you have them installed. I ordered them through the site I posted above and took them with me for the install. Most muffler places don't have a hugh selection.
And no I didn't add an extra collector, just the one Magnaflow. It sounds perfect, not too loud inside at all but enough to know it's there. Glennbp has the Flowmaster with the stock collector and his sounds great but I was afraid it would be too loud inside with the lesser sound proofing on the 99.
Here's pics of my M with the tips:
http://community.webshots.com/user/blonda81
blonda-The beauty of the M sells itself... . Well it aint doining much selling as we are on the first week of our two week layoff.
2001 Dodge Neon
2000 Chrysler Concorde
1999 Chrysler 300M (mine)
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1994 Dodge Ram (mine)
{Rant Mode ON!}
If someone from Chrysler is reading this. Advertise the LH sedans more and you will sell more cars. Even dealer sales people don't know as much as we do half the time, because we have had some club members buy their car and not know the Special even existed until they heard it here. Advertise these things, stir some interest in the public. Do it already!
{Rant Mode OFF!}
The pics arent comming up at this moment for some reason, but hopefully they will in a little while... Might be a cardomain thing...
Yes they are... Much better in person, camera doesnt do them justice...
Spacers = No Vibration
1966 Plymouth Barracuda
1971 Plymouth GTX
1970 Dodge Challenger
1979 Dodge D50 pickup
1982 Plymouth Turisimo
1985 Dodge Shelby Charger
1990 Dodge Avenger
2001 Chrysler 300M
They all gave excellent service with the exception of the Turismo. Mechanically it was fine, but lots of little odds and ends broke, burned out, quit, etc. The 300M, by far, is the best of the bunch. I do not know what will be next, but rest assured it will be a Chrysler product.
http://dodgeboy.cjb.net
MOPAR or no car!
" I understand that the owner of the 5* delarship has instructed his staff to bow every time I walk in there now
Mmmm......does he have a chiropractor on the payroll?? LOL.....
fastdriver
Also, the couple of sets of resonated tips I have heard sounded a bit "hissy" compared to those without the resonators built in. I'd suggest picking your tips for looks, and let the mufflers deal with managing the sound.
First impressions is that my oem struts with 40k miles were noticably harder to compress than the brand new KYB's. The new chrysler php struts seem as far superior to my old struts as the old ones seemed beyond the new KYB's. Maybe we get what we pay for and oem will be better. I'll find out tomorrow and post results.
By the way... no perceptable vibrations with the H&R spring kit but then they only dropped the car 3/4 inch in front and 1 inch in rear.
Mike
Afew300s
Any ideas?
Hey theres a challenge for a mod! Rewire the DRL module so the fog lights come on instead of the high beams!
Doc, I hope you find new employment quickly. I think everyone here is praying for you.
Otto... I'm sorry to hear about the 2 week layoff. 1 more week to go... right?
Me? Over 13K miles now on our "Special". Not a squeek.
If I get a chance this weekend, I'll try to get a couple recordings of my duals from the inside of the car for you while driving.. I discovered recently that my digital camera takes 8 second Quick Time movies and the sound quality is pretty good.
On the collector muffler, the stock one will work OK, but from the experience of others, it will contribute to the resonance (or drone) of the system around 2K RPM. The Magnaflow #12258 is more of a "Y" connection, whereas the stock collector is more like a "T" connection (more interruption to smooth flow of exhaust gases). The stock intermediate pipe is reusable as long as he cuts it off as close as possible to the transverse muffler inlet.
If you want a quieter system, I would recommend adding a small cylindrical muffler behind the collector. Here is the text I got a while back from Mike Hujo on adding such a muffler.
---------------------------------------------
Update: we installed an additional Magnaflow model 10416 muffler (4" diameter x 14" long) just aft of the collector Magnaflow muffler and it "DOES" make a difference (less drone and less exhaust noise). It is about 1/3rd quieter then it was before. As an example, before under hard acceleration the exhaust noise from the rear of the car was louder then the engine noise (intake, valve train and engine/transmission gearing and components) from the front of the car.
Now, with the Magnaflow 10416, it is the other way around (louder from the front end of the car). In addition, the performance (acceleration and gas mileage) does not seem to be effected. Anyhow, there are 2 other models of this muffler (a 16" and 18") which may be a little more quieter if one so desires.
The bottom line is that for $60 and about 2 hours work under the car it was well worth it. However, we do not intend to try to make it any quieter then it is now because it may make the exhaust sound totally unnoticeable (it sounds too good to to make it so quiet that you cannot hear and appreciate it).
-----------------------------------------
Hope all this info is helpful.
Roger