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Comments
My 1999 M with 53K still has no rattles. Solid as a rock. I think it's the luck of the draw on whether you have a rattley M or not. I have also been lucky enough to not experience many of the other problems that were common in 99/00 like the door locks and window motors. I like to think my M was in a good build time frame (Sept 1998) when they had made enough of them to get the parts pieced together correctly, and still using the earlier batches of parts, which can be better quality as vendors will sometimes cut quality for the sake of quantity as time goes along.
I still thank Otto and 300michael for going to the trouble about a year ago to give me instructions on how to get behind the IP and probably fix the rattle. I still have the few printed posts from this board, but I never had a chance to get any further than removing the lower dash panel. Oh well...
Rattles: My '99 is tight as a drum at 67K, except for when I open the moonroof shade I hear a slight noise from the moonroof. It doesnt' bother me, and since it's not functional, haven't bothered to get it fixed. For 67K I think it's quite impressive how tight the car still is. Sorry to the fellow/lady who got a rattler. Perhaps find a good mechanic to check it all out?
or is it painted chrome? Looks nice, if its chrome
how did you do it. I have a billet grill been looking for the lower grill like yours to match.
Thanx for checking my page. Actually it is not real chrome. It is a very easy and cheap mod that I did myself. Go to your local Autoparts store like Pep Boys, and buy those wheel well moldings. Make sure they are the ones with the 3M back adhesive because they tend to stick the best. Make sure you clean the surface and apply it in pretty warm weather.
Good Luck
42 months later, still one of the best looking cars on the road. Still have the oem goodyears which I'll probably replace later this year. Traction in the snow is ok for now, but thank goodness for the traction control! From what I've read here and at tire rack.com, I'll probably go for the YokoOno Avid T4s.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
That's something I could NEVER say about any GM, as much as I wish I didn't have to say it. Last year, we still had the M (2 months after getting it back from the re-construction) and went to the Baltimore Auto Show. I tried out the front and back of just about every vehicle that was open there, and only a few made me comfortable (but one was a $60k Lexus!). We were there most of the day, but when we left and walked back to the parking garage, I still remember how it felt climbing back into the M. Even though the outside needed washed, the minute I touched the leather back seat, I felt at home. There's just something about the car. It's the same thing I remember after driving my grandmother's '99 Olds Intrigue all day two years ago, and then going for a short ride in the 300M downtown. It was like going from a Neon to a Lexus--the 300M had a much higher quality feel. While the Olds drives very sport-oriented (very firm ride and stiff steering) and felt very tight overall, the non-PHP 300M had a plush, luxurious, and soothing feel.
It's only after a few days that the car would start to seem a little ragged, mainly due to the road noise. But still, overall the car always had a quality feel. I'm also very fond of the Intrigue, but to put things in perspective, I've had to re-install things like the radio knobs more than once--enough said. This, however, is not something common to our new Chevy truck. Everything is perfectly alligned, rattle-free, and tough.
Rattles aren't all I used to crack them up to be. Still very annoying and not something I like or want, but just not something I seek out. Guess I've just been more involved with the driving lately and listening to the radio more.
Fastdriver will think I've gone mad, but a used '99 M is actually a car I would consider buying in the next year. Granted, there are many other choices on the list too, but it's on there and that says something coming from me. I LOVE Av, but there are things I also loved about the M that I miss (and some that are annoying still). That is, unless we would happen to hit the Powerball or PCH anytime soon...
Oh boy, maybe I'm just in too good of a mood...or maybe it's time for a doctor's appointment...
The rattles began almost on day one. My wife ended up as primary driver and she has super-sensitive hearing (left mine on a machine gun range in '68). Our M has been to the shop at least a dozen times for various rattles. Still have them in the doors and somewhere in the back. One 10 mile trip down a gravel county road a couple of years ago loosened everything up and the dealers were unable to quiet them all back down. BTW, my new '03 Olds Bravada is still rattle-less after 2-1/2 months and 2,000 miles.
Road noise has also been a distraction, but our recent installation of Yoko YF420s cut that in half. Harsh ride quality is our final remaining gripe w/ the 300. The ride quality only amplifies the rattle situation.
What we still like about the 300M is the external looks, power, interior luxury, comfort, handling, and gas mileage.
I considered buying another 300M in a couple of years, assuming the ride quality, noise isolation, and build quality would improve w/ time. But, w/ DC's new design direction I'll probably go to the '04 Maxima. The new DC design trend is unattractive (yes Queen Truckster is apt) and RWD doesn't cut it west of I-25 in Colorado. The new Maxima stays FWD, claims 0 to 60 in the low 6's, and borrows a lot of the current 300M's profile.
Too bad for DC, I guess our '99 300M will be our first and last DC vehicle.
2001 no PHP, no rattles, no shakes, still a quality automobile after 37,000 miles in one year.
With the current edition of the Sebring and its Dodge platform-mate, I was sorely dissapointed that Chrysler used the Mitsubishi platform (remember they now own most of Mitsu) and even one or two of the Mitsu engines. Does anyone know when those cars will be redesigned, and if it will again be based on Mitsu design? The magnum is probably just too big for me (I don't have kids to cart around), and it would be nice if DC would offer something nice in something just a little smaller. I don't want the cruiser, for one thing because it has no 6 cylinder. Anyone know what the future is for the Ms smaller brethren? Of course, I'm thinking ahead--for the time being I'm very happy w/my 'M.
Beach15--regarding buying a used 'M. I did (it was the 1st used car I ever bought) and have been quite happy with it. If you do, I would recommend bringing it to a CHrysler dealer to check it all out before buying it. I didn't do that, and I found out when the weather got warm that the a/c didn't work. It was fixed under the extended, but it did cost me the $50 deductible and the small inconvenience. Had I had it checked out I imagine they would have caught that.
The LHS wasn't even a consideration because of its styling and looks. However, at the time the auto reviews said the non-PHP and LHS were identical under the skin. On this board I've read otherwise.
Maybe it's just the bad roads around metro-Denver. But, the last Service Manager that road with my wife to see/feel her complaint about jarring ride on city streets, said it was normal for a 300M. He said she would have to go to a $40K BMW to get performance handling and comfortable ride. Alternatively he suggested giving up the performance handling and getting a Dodge Intrepid. We haven't pursued either suggestion.
I wouldn't mind softer shocks/strut cartridges on our 300M. If the LHS does have different ones, would they be swapable to the 300M?
Time for a DR.'S visit! ;-))))))
fastdriver
I love cars & enjoy driving/comparing them. I would keep a dozen different cars if I could just for variety!!! No car is perfect for all applications, but I find my 300M as close to perfection for my daily driving as anything I've driven (in a reasonable price range). I would NEVER describe the ride as harsh-even with the PHG. It is firm and well-controlled but never harsh. A strut/shock replacement may be in order for M's (or any car) with over 35-40K miles (of ave. driving) to maintain the original ride quality- sorry to say that is about all most OEM struts are good for these days.
Personally, I do not buy the 1st model year (or major redesign of an existing model) of any car- foreign or domestic. Most objective sources (e.g. JD Power surveys) indicate the 2nd model year tends to be more reliable & refined than the 1st. The 300M was no exception- (e.g. later years had improved power windows, weatherstrip, better noise insulation, and (my favorite) the Luxury Group real wood trim). I like a new design, but I would rather not be a beta-tester for any carmaker!
Jon
My 99 300M with 52K is still tight as a drum. The NVH improvements are a substantial reason I bought the car. There is an article about all the NVH and other improvements Chrysler put into the design of the 300M - I am sure many on this board have not seen it and it is well worth the read. I'll post it if I can find it. If you punch 300M and "NVH" into google, you may find it right away.
Taking 300M in tonight for safety inspection and have either the A/C idle pulley or the Alternator idle pulley replaced. The whine is starting to really annoy me.
Wife's Sebring LXi purchased new 1/01 just had its heater fail. As we drove it off the lot new one year ago this month, it dropped all its antifreeze as the lower radiator hose wasn't even attached. Well, turns out, they did't put ANY antifreeze back in when they fixed and refilled it, just water!!!! I just sent a note to the dealer owner. It wasn't nice. In fact, it was downright ugly. Chrysler needs to shut them down, they are destroying the brand value.
Search for 300M and read the Technical section.
It looks as bad up there as it usually does in Minnesota in winter, except this year we haven't got any snow!
I could NEVER live there, or anywhere where it snows a lot, because I cannot stand any of our vehicles getting dirty. That, and since I started my own detailing business, I'm absolutely obsessed--dust really bugs me. How do you keep cars from turning to a pile of rust in all that junk!?
My 99 is at 47K and is very clean and solid. No squeaks or rattles (and no decontenting!)
cebteb - I have an LHS and love the styling and looks...it really is a personal "love it or hate it" type of thing! I considered the M, but back when they first came out the PHP 300M models were as rare as hen's teeth, and I viewed them as essestially the same car. I finally decided on the LHS because I have 2 kids and figured the extra 2 inches of rear leg room and the extra few cubic feet of trunk space might come in handy. It has!
Oh...another reason I chose the LHS: A lot of folks don't know this, but the very first M's didn't come with perforated leather seats and didn't have the chrome beveled white gauges...The guages looked like an Intrepid! Early in that first run only the LHS had the cool gauges, and that (plus the extra room) swung my decision to the LHS.
I have also found that I can do 90% of the mods that you M'ers do, and I am a proud member of the 300M club....
Otto - WOW! fugly rims man!
:-)
Thanx for checking and voting my page. I hope u liked it. Anyways, u r right about the centre console being darker than the rest of the interior. U have a very good eye. The reason is because I bought that centre leather gear console from a junkyard, and it was beige. So I just spay painted it black. Wanted something a little different.
Peter
Enjoy the weekend, all!
Beach - thats one really bad problem with living in the great white north. Winter, yuck I hate it. Give a car 10 years up here and not long after you see the rust. Oh well guess that helps keep my job. If cars lasted forever , I would be without one.
pster- yeah robocar , coming to a theater near you
toms99- no kidding , Fugly dont even come close.
Thanks.
OR you can wait until 2005 and God only knows what it will look like by then. If you want power, get a Dodge truck or a souped up Neon. They'll leave the 300M in the dust as of now. ;-))
fastdriver