Chrysler 300M

cmyers300m

I went ahead and bought the MAX xenon halogens, the 9006xs and H3's. The H3's look great, went in easy. BUT MAN, who designed the f#@!!!#@g headlamp assemblies!!!!!! After removing several bolts like the owners manual suggests, I STILL could not remove the lamp assembly to remove the original bulbs!!! I didn't want to break anything or scratch up my paint job so I gave up and put everything back. Is there an easier way to do this????

TO OTTOWKR: Tell the engineers that whoever designed the headlamp assembly should be FIRED!!!
I have owned many cars but i have NEVER encountered a design that was this STUPID!!! Heaven forbid I ever have one burn out. Bet if a dealer changed a headlamp bulb for you he would charge over $100 due to the labor intensive nonsense.

I really want to put in these new bulbs, but it looks like I'll have to take an entire weekend to do it. Sorry, just frustrated.

brimstonsm

cmyers300m,
What year is your car? I have changed my light bulbs several times in my 99M with no problems.
Just asking nothing towards you.

I would like to know did you get your bulbs at
Midnightmoose? And if you did why the Max and not
The eaglite bulbs? I had the Eaglite bulbs in my M.
I was just wondering why you got the Maxes?

cmyers300m

I have a 2001. I can't believe our cars are that different, but I've done lots of mods myself and I don't even consider this to really be a mod. Maybe it's me. I installed my K&N Aircharger and Billet grille with less trouble.

Yes, I bought mine from Midnight Moose. They were super fast in delivery!
I went with the Max because I have read that some people were not happy with Eaglite's, the HID effect was too "blue" looking. I read another M owner, Glen, was really happy with the Max bulbs. The H3's I put in have the exact, in my opinion, hue that true HID's have. That's what I was looking for. I hate the one's that look like x-mas bulbs. I have never seen the Eaglite's in person so I was taking another person's opinion. You said you 'had' them. You didn't like them??

jedi_knight

I have 54k miles on my 01 M, I have had the alignment checked and everything is ok there. When I get on it hard from a stop, it will pull hard to one side or the other. It is very noticible if there is a loss of traction on one side, like going over a botdot or hitting a small indentation in the pavement.

The M will also try and follow the grooves that are left in the pavement by trucks, pulling it from one side to the other. My first thought was rack and pinon or the inner tie rods but those things check out ok, well according to the alignment shop.

Anyone ever had a broken motor mount? What were the symptoms?

Keith

silverbullet4

Actually I was very pleased that your granddaughter came up with the "silver bullet" name (great minds think alike). I don't drive that part of TX (panhandle) so don't know about Trooper coverage there. Back in the oil boom days the Troopers used a Corvette to pursue the nouveau riche playboys in west Texas. I saw it when it was in Houston for a tune-up. It was a rag-top model (about a 1960) with one of those old fashioned long whip antennas on the rear bumper and a small spotlight. Back then they were called "Department of Public Safety" officers. More recently they have painted "State Trooper" on the cars, to help the out of state visitors know who is busting them.

Silver

ruski

when I had my 300M, its steering was easily influenced by the road irregularities. I think it is normal.

Also the pulling under hard acceleration is called torque steer. It is normal in a FWD car.

brimstonsm

yes I had the eaglites in my car. I took them
out because it was hard to see with the bluish
Hue.Don't get me wrong they lite up the signs
And road reflectors real nice.It's just sometimes
On roads were there is not much light thats when
It got hard to see.

I was hopeing the Max bulbs were less blue.Then
The eaglites.I have the H3 Max bulbs. I just wish
There was some way to compare the two.

blonda

What type of tires do you have? The previous set of tires I had on my M were "ultra" high performance and had a very deep tread design (Kumho Ecsta Supras). It would do what you described on accellerating and also braking on uneven pavement. That was one of the main characteristics I didn't like about them at all. They wore out in a year (gladly). Now have I have Michelin Pilot Sport A/S and the car sticks to the road like glue and straight every time.

bigmike5

The ability to change the bulbs over is a subtle DC test. If you can make the change of the lights with no problem at all you are qualified to work on the line at the plant. If you do it with some difficulty you are qualified for a management position at the plant, supervising those who can do it better than you can. If you can't do it at all, you are qualified for either a position in DC vehicle design or the 300M marketing department.

ottowrkr

Right one Bigmike , thats about it.

cmyers300m- yeah I will

Ebay item for sale big $$$ any bidders ???

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33703&item=1873872648&rd=1

cmyers300m

Sorry about all the bi#chin, but I guess I felt 'defeated' by my car. I will make a second attempt this weekend when I have more time. Again, I never thought changing a light bulb would be so time consuming.(Okay, start the light bulb jokes now)LOLOL

dmjohn

My left front window motor worked intermittently for about a week and then stopped altogether.
My questions:
Should I order the TSB and try to do the job myself?
Or should I take it to the 5* dealer?
My warranty has expired.
Has anyone tried to do this in the past?
I would appreciate any comments or information.
Thanks,
Dan

dean58

I have a '02 with some hail dents in the black side door trim pcs that fit between the chrome window surround pcs. I thought the black pcs were separate but instead are attached to the chrome so you have to replace the entire surround. Has someone done this themselves? I have the new pcs and thought before I try to figure it out myself maybe someone could tell me the best procedure. Thanks for any help!!

jedi_knight

I have the "Michelin Pilot's" on it with 18" rims. When I first installed them a little over a year ago the problem was not as pronounced. It has really gotten to the point I hate to drive it as it wanders and darts to the point it is unsafe for anyone but me to drive. Wife won't touch it any more, not sure if thats a good or bad thing.....

brimstonsm

cmyers300m,
To say how hard it was to see sometimes with
The Eaglites.My wife said when riding in the
Car at night it felt like she was wearing
Sunglasses )

dogit2

I have a 2002 Special and late last winter had the opportunity to drive in one of Minnesota's last snow storms. With the stock 18" Michelin Pilots I had on the car, I actually feared for my life. I am not exaggerating. The car had absolutely zero traction and easily slid through snow covered intersections at only 5 mph. During the summer months, the Pilots performed terrific. No complaints there. I ended up buying 16" alloy wheels and Michelin Arctic Alpin winter tires which I have liked a lot so far, though no major snow days here in Minnesota yet.

brimstonsm

Anyone here have this kit or know of someone
that has installed it? in there M

300michael

You have to remove the four top clips, one each about the trun signals, the dreaded wheel well nuts, I used a mirror and a flash light to do this) and the bottom clips. That is the bad news, the good news is it is a snap to go back (pun intented). The two bolts securing each headlamp assembly and turning the locking ring securing the bulbs. I did take off the fasteners securing the bumper to the wheel well liner I could use pop rivets but want something different. It should be a easy day project. I jacked up the front it made seeing the nuts easer to see with out removing the wheels.

300michael

I have coverted 9006 HID bulbs in my M (with the standard assemblies, and am very happy with them. If you have seen my website you will see the difference between the two lighting systems. The eagle light will be an easer install, but the I would check out the ballists. You want the starter and ballists to be one unit. Combined they start (ususally under 2 seconds)quicker and are better. The eagle light uses the second best ballists (Osram, Hella are considered the best).

brimstonsm

Midnight moose also has The Max hid kit and it
Uses the hella ballists.Its a 9006 kit not xs kit.
What kit did you use?

bigmike5

Since there has been a TSB on the window problem for a long time and the problem is even listed as occurring intermittently [i.e., maybe it won't replicate today for you, Mr. Dealer,] I would try to get the dealer to fix it for free, or at least split the cost. Depending on how many *'s your dealer has, he may agree to, or more probably will not. If you decided to try it yourself, the Club Prez, Rogor2K, published a good sequential schematic on taking the door apart that came with the Muth mirror turn signal package he got. He may have put the schematic up on "the other board" but I am not sure. It was a real good "directions" schematic. Now, where the window acuator fits in there, I have no idea.

On the hesitation starting--I was on the Wyckoff Parts site and found that there is also an ignition relay in the mix somewhere. It was $8 on the Wyckoff site. I called my dealer to try to get the Service Manager to order that little part too, in case the starter switch was not the culprit, but haven't heard back from his anwering machine yet. Wyckoff didn't list a part number, just a description of the relay. There were like 10 different individual ones for all the electrical stuff. I lean toward the relay as the problem since it is like a delay or no go, and then suddenly bang it fires. It's like the relay forgot the message and then remembers it.

cmyers300m

I understand the problem with the really blue bulbs. I let you know about the Max 9006XS' after I install them this weekend. One difference is I ordered the 80W ones instead of the normal 55W. Higher wattage=more light, but we'll see. As long as that light is more white than blue, right? I put 55W Max H3's in my fog lights. They seem fine.
I know that 300michael used Hella ballists with 9006's instead of XS. He modified the angled bases to a straight one. Not something I'm willing to do.

300michael - thanks for the info! Hard to believe one has to do this for changing a bulb!

brimstonsm

I had the 80w and the 100w Eaglites for my
Lo's and hi's. And 100w for my H3's. Right now
I'm using the sylvania cool blues in my Lo's

Hey what do think I could send you a Eaglite 9006xs bulb to Compare to a 9006xs Max bulb.

cmyers300m

Well, I live in Ohio. I think the cost of shipping the bulb to me would be as much as buying the Max bulbs yourself to compare. I'm planning on installing them this weekend, which means tearing apart my front end. To be honest, due to the time consuming nature of this I don't plan on doing it again for a while after. Part of that is due to the fact that I have to do this in a garage that is about 35 degrees since it's colder than hell outside. The other part is my wife and I are repainting the entire inside of our home, which has been broken up into several weekends. Believe me, I'd rather be doing mods to my M!!! If I were in sunny California I would be doing mods year round and spending too much money!

silverbullet4

I guess it must be catching, like the flu! This morning my car would not turn over-not even a click. It was wet and cold overnight. All the dash lights and overhead console looks ok. I fiddled with the shifter and it started the next try. Later I had the same problem. I tried to start it several times. Once again I fiddled with the shifter and heard a faint click. Next try it started. I will get the car to Sears for testing the battery. My car was built in March, 2000, so the battery is less than 3 years old.

gibsonc23

I am need of HELP!!!!!! Does anyone have any ideal or creditable info on the 2004 300M/N? When is Chrysler going to drop the Hemi? Are they really going to beef up the 300? I am looking to buy a vette now but don't want to screw myself out of the Hemi.

wencao

car-truck:

http://www.car-truck.com/chryed/buzz/b120302.htm

300M sold well mostly because its great style. If this is the 300N, I would consider to wait for DODGE version(Charger ?) I am too youny too driver this "retro" style car!

You guys at 300M club should send letters to chrysler to let them know that we don't like the style.

drivequalslove

I just had a look at the link (mentioned in the above message).

If this is what Chrysler is going to replace the 300M with, then it is truly a sad day and sad future for Chrysler. That car is really gay looking. Piece of [non-permissible content removed].

I knew something was up when the 300N concept (introduced at the 2000 auto show in Detroit) got swept under the rug. What a gorgeous car that was.

I correctly predicted that the germans, fearing competition with their high-end Mercedes line, would put the breaks on Chrysler as far as styling, power, and luxury are concerned.

I correctly predicted a reduction in the available models (what's the difference between the concorde, sebring, and 300M? Not enough difference to justify having all three models. The LHS has been gone for 2 years now. The germans have imposed a glass ceiling on how far the 300 can go as far as power and luxury.

With the 300 unable to evolve into a true sports-luxury car (as in the 300N concept) it was inevitable that the concorde and sebring would continue to move upward and bump into the 300. Now the concorde will go.

The germans fruitlessly continue to believe that their mid to high-end Mercedes is satisfactory competition to Lexus and Infinity in the North American market. If only they'd unleased the 300N concept car last year. But no. They're too F*cking egotistical. Chrysler is to Mercedes what Plymough was to Chrysler or what Volkswagon is to BMW.

They couldn't build the 300 fast enough a couple of years ago. If it had a RWD V-8 and cost $10k more they still couldn't have built them fast enough.

Looks like I'm not going to be trading in my 2000 300M for a 2004 300N. My next car is going to be a fully restored '70 or '72 Challenger with a 440 in it.

As someone on the old Mopar Mailing list once said -

Life is too short to drive slow, ugly cars...

drpixel

Hello, all..it is 12:20AM on the east coast, and for the past two weeks I have been working on correcting the chatroom problem--which was not allowing anyone into the room. Seems the provider changed port locations from 8000 to 7000 and did not notify people. I apologize for any inconveninece this might have caused any of you. An attempted earlier fix added an additional nickname box in whih to enter a nickname, but the TRUE problem was in the port location. It is functional now and should stsay that way.

Doc

illini4

I don't understand the 300C designation for the next model. 300C was the third model year ('57), not the first. The first model ('55) was simply the Chrysler 300, or C-300. Regardless, this new scheme is just plain dumb.

99_300m_ric_va

I'm not sure I like the abandoning of the 300N name for the next LX car. Also, initial response to the proposed graphic to me is yuck! The Dodge pictures look much better on the front end. Getting rid of everything and only have the 300 in numerous trim styles will probably be confusing. What's next Chrysler following the trend of just calling cars by a letter and the size of the engines (i.e. E320, E500), well considering the new management what do you expect.

I personally would like to the current car built as is with new drive train components. Just add the HEMI and RWD and keep the current cab forward design for pete's sake.

We can only hope this is a campaign of mis-information and they release that 300 Hemi C concept afterall.

pjyoung

Damn, that thing makes the Caddy CTS look good.

bigmike5

Dealer changed out the starter switch and starter relay yesterday. So far, the car starts as it used to without any hesitation. Will see if it continues to perform OK for a few more days before declaring that a "cure" has been achieved. Silver--Go back a few pages and you will find Blowbyu's part list for the starter switch. I don't have the invoice for the repair yet so I don't have the # for the starter relay. Oh, wait, yes I have the starter switch number : 5014176AA. The service manager is going to wait a couple of days to see if the problem is solved before finalizing the invoice. Wyckoff beats the local dealer's parts price by about 35% [$34 vs. $45 for the starter switch] but for the few bucks saved after s/h is put in I just had the dealer use their parts. Amazingly, they had both in stock, which is a first.

On the Buzz rendering of the coming 300. It gets to looking more like a Buick or Avalon every time I see it. If it comes out looking anything like the drawing my next effort will be a used Caddy XLR or the CST V-force model due out in 04 [unless they gouge the price up too far for the 5.7 litre engine.] DC's only hope for me is the 300 Hemi C, or the Crossfire with a much bigger engine and HP than what it is coming out with. Did anyone say Infinity G35 coupe?

pjyoung

When I replace the battery on my 99M, does this mean I'll have to reprogram the homelink system? I've got one of those "roaming" openers and the directions in the manual were not the greatest...I finally found the trick on one iteration of this forum years ago, but I doubt I'll be able to find it again.

blonda

Luckily, the only thing you'll have to reset is the clock. Everything else will be remembered.

bigmike5

Only things I notice on the battery replacement is that the information on the overhead console had to be corrected-reset, and the radio reverted to the am band. I never had to change either clock, course it only took them a couple of minutes to rehook up the new battery, so maybe the clocks are a few minutes off and I never noticed. I'll have to check that later today.

fuzzywuzzy

Just wondering if your tranny is still good in your Acura. After 15K miles, mine still is.

laurasdada

Here in the Boston area, we've gotten ~10" of snow in the past week. With 42,000 miles on my OEM Goodyears on my '99 M, the traction control has come in mighty handy. Hmmmm. Wonder if I need a little more tread? :-)

Good heater in the M and, as always, seat heaters appreciated to take the chill off the leather.
Unfortunately, car is filthy...

samduke

Thank you to kosh_2258 for a reply to my posting.I can't believe that I have the only 300M with foggy headlite lenses on the outside. I bought the car new and have 40k. I do have it washed weekly at an automatic car wash, they said they had never seen the condition. New lenses are $231. each. The car has never been out of Florida. The fog is not even there are some clear spots, but the lense is rough to the touch.

beach15

"CST V-force model due out in 04"?

Just correcting your error that I've seen in another couple of posts, but the car is called the "CTS" and the new Corvette-engined '04 model is that of the "V-series". "CST" & "V-force" simply don't exist.

But in other sense, great choice. There's a former '99 300M owner that I know of on the CTS board who traded it for a new base CTS, and a guy who leased a new CTS Sport after his '99 LHS lease ended. You can hardly go wrong with a Cadillac...

brimstonsm

I think I have the same problem as you.
I got these little pits on my lights and fogs too
kind of makes them look foggy. I'm going to
polish my lenses this weekend. I'm going to use
2000 grit wet dry paper and cleaner polish.I will
let you know how it goes. I have checked a few
web sites about head lights getting foggy and this
is the fix for them.

99_300m_ric_va

Jason,

Was thinking about all of us that used to chat on e-groups this morning. Do you ever hear from Micheal Hujo or Ray McNairy or anyone else? What are they doing? How have you been? Sounds like you are enjoying that Acura. Some of us might have to join you if they don't improve on the sketches of the LX models.

achance

My baby is starting to feel a little "squishy" with a little over 30K on the odometer. Any good experiences with aftermarket shocks out there?

fastdriver

Wow!! Christine was a REAL looker compared to that sketch above. Can you say UGLY?

fuzzywuzzy-

20,600+ miles in 21 months and NO problems whatsoever. Can you say "boring"? LOL...... Tranny fine. No letter yet from Honda! Don't know how people deal with this "perceived reliability"

fastdriver

bmadden1

You are correct about the "perceived reliability"

A co-worker purchased a new 2002 3.2TL 6 weeks ago. Said the salesman sold him on the reliability and service of Acura.

Anyhow, he came into work madder than a hornet last Tuesday. Took the car to dealer because he was having tranny shifting problems and engine service light staying on.

Dealer told him they will need the car for 3 days.
What really has him ticked off is that they put him in a rented Ford Escort! Service Manager told him all of their 73 loaner cars were out.

He just can't get over the fact that a Dealer selling reliable cars needs 73 loaners, and he is stuck in a Escort. Can't wait to get back to work to hear how the story ends.

beach15

I still can't get over the looks of that 300C! That, and the absolutely stupid fact that it will replace both the 300M and the Concorde, making for "cheap" and "luxurious" versions. I'm sorry, but the 300 car should only be in the "luxurious" category, not filling space for another car with a tiny engine and cloth seats. That 2.7 liter really scares me, because having driven a relatives Concorde LX with the engine, I've never been in a car that had so much trouble getting up to speed and felt so wheezy and overtaxed by weight. I can't imagine it moving a heavier, RWD car...

easyrider300m

I'm considering installing a stainless mesh grill in my M. Hopefully fellow M'ers won't consider this like licing my car. I dont want my M to be a called a liceburner. Any opinions on this?

svevar

I recently picked up a 2003 300M brochure from the local five star and found that Chrysler has gone even further with its decontenting. Changes to the `03 M:

4-way power passenger seat (no longer 8-way)
Rear headrests eliminated

What do you all think of decontenting? I'd rather have them raise the price a few hundred bucks a year than start taking out features...

99_300m_ric_va

don't forget club chat at 9pm EST

mrl859

I believe the passenger seat has always been 4-way. At least I know my 2001 was and my 2002 is.