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Comments
Mine is a 2000 and will turn 100K miles in about a week. I still love it and plan to keep it until I absolutely wear it out. It still runs and looks great and I still enjoy driving it as much as when it was new! Few problems and lots of driving pleasure and reliability. I don't know what I would buy if I had to replace mine. Nothing in the price range interests me very much. I would like to buy another Chrysler product when I do replace my M, but the new 300 is just plain ugly!
I hope your M proves to be as good as mine has been.
Good luck!
Lynn Flowers
McKinney, Texas
Am now gainfully employed--doing what I did at the Bank for so many years....$$$ is good...commute with eMily the tedious 3.7 miles (ypu, 3 POINT 7 miles...) to work. Actually get up now when its daylight, have breakfast with mrs. Pixel who has lost 74 pounds thanks to LA Weight Loss (no plug intended...).
Angel says hello to you all (my all white cat...) and so does eMily. Do NOT miss travelling to NYC....am home now in less than 10 minutes. Would have liked to attended club meet in OC, Maryland, but was away at Stastegic Planning Confrence for new job...was an honor to be asked. Am now Manager there (..whats in a name, anyway...) and am very, VERY happy after so long feeling...NOT happy..
Was good to see some familiar names--I have hit club chatroom several Sunday nights/Wed. nites... to say howdy doo. Oldest daughter getting married Dec. 3rd (a Friday) and am just now getting used to being a parent...I often think --esp. late at night while on line--when did I GET so old?! (chuckle)...I hear the gown is beautiful--Swarovski crystals sewn onto it.... I never thought that my life would get back on track, my friends...but it has and I am thankful.
I just wanted to drop in to say hello, and check out Honda Hybrid for my honey....now that I'm taking eMily to work, she needs a car for flitting around town herself.... you can still email me at my home email address--world love to re-connect with mty friends.....
Regards from drpixel and Angel the wonder cat!
***M content starts here***
I have an intermittant problem with my gas guage. It momentarily swings to empty and the low gas alarm and chime make an appearance. Any ideas about a likely source of the problem??
I cannot attest to the Michelins which I also got on my new M but saw numerous reports, the most recent a few posts above from duffer5 that " The 300M is good in our snow and I have the OEM Michelins --no problem getting around last winter in MD ". Now that is Maryland, not sure where you are ... I am in southern Minnesota but actually we average 40" snow per season here (depth is usually not a problem, cold is and sometimes snow from December is still on the ground in late February
vs my experience living on the East coast where it melts in a week or so). So most reports say these will be good even though I had concerns on the lack of traction aggriveness that could require siping (sp?) to increase the grip. I also was concerned about 17" tire cost at $120-150 a pop, but for $50 total my 5* dealer will give me lifetime 5 wheel 6000 mile rotation and balancing; doing the same my Jeep Gr Cherokee is headed towards a 75000 mi life on its lowly Goodyear Wrangler OEM tires! If applied to even a 4 wheel rotation that would be around 60000 miles and I never got more than 30000 on any new car OEM tires before.
BTW, I put Goodrich TAs (don't recall the speed rating) on my 17 year old "new driver" son's Grand Prix over a year ago and they handled fine in our rural road snow last winter. I read how good they are rated for wear and traction, figured saving one tow out of the ditch on a slippery day alone pays for the extra $15 each tire vs standard AS bargain radials.
Again, good luck and enjoy the 300M!
1) How long does the OEM battery tend to hold up? In that location in the chassis, I would think it might be a bit more vulnerable to water damage. I was thinking of getting a new one with winter coming.
2) How are the front door panels attached to the door assembly? Are they spot-riveted or are screws/nuts and bolts used?
3) Finally, what is the useful shelf life on shocks, struts, etc?
I am at 72K miles and over six years of ownership now, and the shocks are still OK. I do about 25 miles a day to work on moderately good roads at 55 mph. I am going to look hard at replacing them in the spring when I hit 75K. Someone told me that was a good time to look at doing that as a preventive maintenance move. May have to do the tie rods, etc. then too.
Can't answer on the door assembly. No knowledge on that.
My '99 is at 65,000 miles. I'm still using the OEM battery and all appears to be fine. I've been not using the headlights on after shutting down the car feature for a while now to save battery. My car is also garaged. As I'm debating replacing the M in the next 6 months, I' not going to replace the battery (unless I have to!).
I'll ditto BigMike on the suspension bits.
Wonderful car. Still a head turner.
'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...)
I see very little of the enthusiasm that prevailed on this 300M forum during a 5+ year period beginning with the initial posts in 1998. Many of the posts seem to address dissatisfaction with the 300/C.
Maybe our expectations were lower for the 300M as there was no fanfare prior to it's entry on the market. Maybe the 300/C buyers had higher expectations because of all the hype prior to the car hitting the market. Maybe the 300M was, at the time of market entry, a superior car compared to the competition in its class. Maybe the 300C buyers expect a car that looks $20,000 more expensive than it is to have the quality of a higher priced car.
In any event, it is hard to imagine any forum having a more enthusiastic group of posters than this forum has had over the past several years...
No big problems, replaced tires and front brakes at 50K
I have an intermittant flickering of the green LCD displays on odometer, radio settings,heater displays and overhead displays.This does not happen all the time, the LCD's do not flicker on-off, they change in intensity. I notice it at night and perhaps it's my imagination the flicker is set-off by using the windshield wipers?
Has any one experienced this? have the the solution??
My 5* dealer says he's never heard of this problem and claims there is no TSB.
Any help will be appreciated.THANKS
Both my wife and I have experienced this in our past 300M's (2000 and 2001), as well as our current 300M's (2003).
The condition you described may be due to the dash light intensity switch being in between settings. On my 2003, I was able to turn the switch upward to eliminate the problem.
The M has easily been the best car I've owned in 50 years of driving, as well as one of my favorites to drive or just look at. It's been very reliable and required little service (knock wood!).
The only major repair has been a new steering rack and tie rod ends at 70K. I replaced the battery at 70K also as a precaution (I had no battery problems at the time) and also replaced the drive belts and rad hoses. I'm on my 5th set of tires, but I use ultra high performance tires because I like the sharp handling, and they only last about 20K miles.
I still love the car, can find nothing else on the market I can afford that I like as well, and I plan to put another 100K on it if I can.
Long live the 300M (mine at least!)
Lynn Flowers
McKinney, Texas
Did you notice any front end behavior that led to the new rack/rods? Or did the dealer recommend at a service? My '99M with 65K miles feels a little "wobbly" at times through the steering wheel. Newer tires up front, so I don't think that's it. Any advice would be appreciated.
Went to NE Auto Show yesterday. Hopped in and out of G35, TL and MB E a lot. Still haven't driven any, but I think the TL has it over the G35 in interior/exterior styling and interior materials. The E (and for the price, it well should!) was the classiest of the bunch. I found the new Caddy STS underwhelming. Watching Saab convertible top raise and lower was fun as was the trunklid of the Caddy XLR. A handsome car, but like most GMs, questionable interiors. The new Lexus GS was drawing absolutely no attention, but all the Porshces were! The 300C was doing OK, too.
So, I may test drive the G, TL and E by year end. But are any of them a real step up from my M? I'm itching for a new car, a little leary of letting a Chrysler go much past 70k miles, but heartened by posts like Lynn's. Oh, yeah. And it looks like someone took a key to my passenger door. A death penalty offense in my book.
'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...)
The symptom I took my car in for when they replaced the rack and tie rod ends was about an inch of free play in the steering wheel. In other words, I had to turn the wheel about an inch before there was noticeable effect to the car's direction.
The rack was the main problem, I think. I'm not sure there was anything wrong with the tie rod ends. In any event, it steers and handles like new since they were replaced.
By the way, I'm still on the original shocks and struts after 100K miles and it still handles great!
Lynn Flowers
McKinney, Texas
After reading some of the posts here and doing some experimenting myself, I am already looking at the following sources:
1. "chatter" in rear brake pads (noise seems to diminish when brakes are applied)
2. Metal crossbar that the rear seat back tops lock into (covered with cloth, how to get past that and look for places to tighten that up?)
3. I assume there are rear speakers under the back deck and wonder if they might have come loose in their mounts. Fiber covering under the back deck which hides all that seems to be held in place by two pressure clips. Is it a big deal to get those off and get in there to tighten anything up that might be loose?
Would appreciate any other suggestions (even better experience) with this. Any other rear rattle sources that folks have had problems with?
Thanks for your help.
It's been a pretty long time since I've posted here, even though I frequently check the posts. Well, I have 16,000 miles on my 300M already and no problems. I love it. Two weeks ago, I purchased a 2005 Audi A4 1.8T CVT, and it's great. I'm loving it. Even though Audi is quite different from our Chrysler's, I still love the M's design and ride. It's great. It sure has that Bullet Proof feel to it. Anyways, I got a quick question, that both relates to my 300M (done it in the past) and what I just did to the Audi today. Forgot that my car was in D (Drive) and turned car off...Tried to take key out, wouldn't come out, tried turning the car back on, wouldn't turn on. Until I put it in P (Park) then it would let me take the key out and turn on my car. Will/Can turning the car off while in D gear mess or ruin anything car related? Thanks everyone. Take care.
the suspension for loose hardware or bad bushings.
02owner - You said the dealer "tightened the underbody" after your incident. Any idea what they actually tightened that resulted in getting your solid and quiet ride back? Would appreciate any guidance you can give. Thanks.
Still thinking about snow tires on the front, but the impression I'm getting is that the Michelins may be enough.
And for a comment I saw on Michelins in the snow, we had some exchanges on that a month ago and believe it still NO snow, not even a flake in southern Minnesnowta. Nothing on the long range weather.com forecast either through Thanksgiving. It WILL come eventually but we are having a nice Fall, however we did get in the teens last week and a chance to check out the heated seats.
Anyways, I got 350 miles on the Audi and today, had to do an immediate stop from 80 M.P.H. on the freeway due to a pile-up, car stoped fine and I think ABS was engaged. Could this cause harm to the car?
Could this cause harm to a potential brand new 300M?
I can't imagine this could cause damage to your Audi or to a 300M -- except wear down the brake pads somewhat...
Despite having 300+ watts and a subwoofer somewhere, I still don't get the sound of of this system that my upgrade 180 watt Infinity system has on my Grand Cherokee. When I crank that I feel like some of this kids shaking the door going down the street; the 300M's start distorting at super volumes. My son who works at Best Buy suggests upgrading at least the trunk rear deck speakers, however I am just not motivated to dig into that on a new car especially while under the 3 yr warranty.
I did read a posting earlier this summer from a guy who had the middle front speaker blow, which there is a creative easier way to get at than taking out the top of the dash, but it does affect the sound balance probably due to the big dash/window area.
1) I need new tires the current goodyear LS models are no good in snow and make my car wobble like a freight train. I heard BFGoodrich traction T/A's are good in snow any ideas? I was told i was crazy to drive 17 inchers in the snow and 16 would be better.
2) When i release the brake pedal there is a clanging noise under the hood. chrysler says the brake booster needs replacing at a cost of 500. Anybody experience this?
3) When starting the car first thing in the morning when it is cold the there is a ticking noise for the first 10 seconds. Any idea what this would be?
4) The temperature controller makes a buzzing noise when the car is switched off and cold. Chrysler said the unit needs to be replaced. any ideas?
Sorry I can't help on the others, but I will say it would be advisable to stay away from the badyears -- snow or no snow...
2) Check the aftermarket for brake boosters before spending $500 at the dealer.
3) Most cars that use hydraulic valve lifters do this until the engine oil flows up to the heads.
4) The "buzzing" I imagine you're hearing is the Automatic Climate Control sensor unit. It has a small fan the blows air over a sensor that samples the climate conditions inside the car. This way it can continue to do the wonderful job it does of keeping you and your family nice and cozy inside no matter how extreme things are outside.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&cate- gory=6175&item=4507599963&rd=1
Let me know what you get and how they handle as I'd like to file it for the future ... we got a few inches of snow last weekend but used our Jeep vs the M the first day of driving so I did not really get a chance to test the Michelins.