Chrysler 300M

15253555758507

Comments

  • hataxhatax Member Posts: 56
    Yup, I did the same as SDMike and others, I cut the inside of the drivers side opening so that I could put the door edge molding in on it. Worked great, the molding is just a little tough to work on it. the front muffler is stainless (Magnaflow 14258) the rear is aluminized and I'm using the existing pipe from the front muffler back to the rear muffler, then 2 JC Whitney mandral bent pipes to goto the tips.. Gonna have it done near lunch time! Let ya know how much more involved I become with my M afterwards! =)

    Hey, maybe I'll even see a Mustang to wrestle with on the way home. =) It's 35 miles!
  • bullseye3bullseye3 Member Posts: 12
    I am trying to find floormats with the 300m logo for my '01. Can anyone help me in finding these? I would like the restraint system also that is on the OEM driver's side. Thanks
  • mykemmykem Member Posts: 203
    the M is over in IL... I'm about 550 miles north of you now in da valley of silicone.

    the weather is nice... and I wish I had some of these roads out by me for 'testing' the M... yeah testing.. that's what I'd call it.

    -m
  • ajpiiiajpiii Member Posts: 260
    "Or maybe it's those 5* dealers in Taiwan---I hear they dont like Americans--;o) "

    They dont ??? Darn Im heading there next week !
  • 300michael300michael Member Posts: 1,815
    I left the driver side cut out as is. Why mess with success. The passangers side I back cut no trim since you can not see it unless I drive over you. I anything I will use touch up paint on it.
  • sleepymwsleepymw Member Posts: 65
    hahaha, cute... dunno about taiwan's dealers, but i'm a bit ticked off about this one time charge b.s. i'm in buffalo, New york, fyi :P

    in any event, turning on the charm wasn't the issue. yes, i signed for work stating that i'd pay for the brake pads at 90bucks. and you're right, rotors shouldn't wear out that quick, esp. when the brake pads were "like new" as stated on the receipt!

    keep you all posted... which one of you would volunteer to go with me to the dealer to argue the point? may be i need the male charm instead :P
  • sleepymwsleepymw Member Posts: 65
    at chrysler, the dude was like "well, the service shop gave you the rotors and you paid the labor" and i related that why would the rotors get warped like that when the pads are still like new condition? that's when i told him that chrysler need to stop putting in crappy parts that is worn out before the WEARING item such as the brakes are worn.

    uh, now i'm bugged.... well, i'll go in to the dealership soon for the last rubber to be put on the car. then i'll head to the general manager's office and have a bit of a chat.
  • rogor2krogor2k Member Posts: 385
    I did the same thing as 300michael on the cutout. I guarantee you can't see the difference unless you get on your hands and knees and check it out. If I had done the final install myself and had the opportunity to do the drivers side cutout without the muffler installed, I might have done the full cutout on that side too. I just back cut the passenger side and used factory color touchup on what you could still see.
  • dustinnewtondustinnewton Member Posts: 242
    I have been looking for them for about a year with no luck.
  • sibesibe Member Posts: 102
    Perhaps Roger can find out if someone would be willing to make them for the Club? I'm looking as well so if you find any keep me posted. Thanx
    Sibe
  • dustinnewtondustinnewton Member Posts: 242
    Gila films (www.gilafilms.com) has pre-cut tint sheets for the 300M. Only $83.60. Check it out here:


    http://www.gilafilms.com/Customcut/patterns.html

  • murfstermurfster Member Posts: 7
    Been awhile since I posted - and boy, do things look different here at Edmunds!

    ...anyway, back to my topic: I have the '99 PHP and my Michelins are wearing down (40k+ miles).

    In Chryslers curious wisdom, the '99 PHP came with 16" tires/wheels (225/60-16).
    Would it be safe to say I could upgrade them to 17" or even 18" wheel/tire combo?

    One more: If I stayed with the stock 16" wheels, could I replace the 225/60-16 with say: 235/40-16 (or other combinations - 235/45, 235/50, 225/50, etc...)? Basically, I want a wider tire.

    Any help would be appreciated...

    ~M (CM#15)
  • fuzzywuzzyfuzzywuzzy Member Posts: 958
    I also had the 16's on my 00. I switched to 18's with 245-45-18's. You could go wider on the 16's if the width is within specs. If I remember they are 16X7.5 rims. Some wider tires are designed to work on 8" rims, but alot will also fit on 7.5. It depends on the tire. Best to check out the tire brand specs on thier website first. They will have recomendations on rim width.
  • rogor2krogor2k Member Posts: 385
    our SECOND Club meet this summer. We we will be traveling to Motor City USA (Detroit, MI) on the weekend of August 17 thru 19 to join up with the huge congregation of cars and owners participating in the Woodward Dream Cruise 2001.


    The Woodward Dream Cruise is reported to be the biggest single day automobile event in the world. Check out their web site at http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com . Last year an estimated 1.5 million people and 30,000 cars participated. What a great place and time to have a car club meet.


    We're already working on arrangements and hotel room reservations, so stay tuned for more details. This is a weekend you don't want to miss if you're anywhere in the East or Midwest.
  • rogor2krogor2k Member Posts: 385
    Have you ever tried to put the tint film on yourself? I haven't, but I've seen a lot of bad examples of people who have. The rear window in the 300M is huge, and I can see so many ways to go wrong. I had mine tinted professionally and the guy commented on how tough the rear window was to do. I think I'd try self dentistry before I'd tackle that.
  • dustinnewtondustinnewton Member Posts: 242
    Yes, I tinted the windows on my Scirocco back in the mid 80's myself. Limo black tint on a black car! Looked SHARP! The hardest part was cutting the tint to size cleanly. Gila eliminates this headache with the patterns. They have their own liquid, but it's basically cleaning the window, wetting it completely with the liquid (used to be a dishwashing liquid solution), peeling the clear film off of the tint's adhesive, positioning the tint, the using a squeegee to remove the liquid. Leave the windows up 3 days to allow the adhesive to completely dry and voila! Tinted windows. When Alabama outlawed the dark black tint , I had to peel my tint off and replace it with a lighter version. Getting the remnants of the adhesive off the glass wasn't fun. Cutting the film for the hatchback wasn't easy either, and I imagine your guy enjoyed your back window as much! And before anyone else says it, yes you CAN use newspaper to make templates to use to cut the film, but I have never had that much patience!!! Tinting windows isn't difficult, unless they have a top to bottom and left to right curve. That's a challenge. Flat windows or those with a curve only one way are a piece of cake. Black spray paint is pretty easy too!! ;-)
  • sibesibe Member Posts: 102
    Dustin, what about potential air bubbles. The road is full of "do it yourselfers" who tried and it really, as Roger says, looks like cr*p. I would hate to screw that up. Yeah, maybe dentistry...8-)
    Sibe
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    I'm in Sunnyvale (Valley of the Silicon) today too. Hertz (hurts!) gave me a small 2WD SUV wannabe, and the 15 minute drive from the San Jose airport was painful to say the least! I'm spoiled now, even with only 1000 miles on my M. When I turned off the Ford I was expecting the seat to slide back and let me out. :)

    On the exhaust cutouts. It was necessary to snip out the side border area on the original cutout in order to get the edging on...which I wanted because it's almost impossible to make a clean cut on the passenger side.

    Tires.. - My local tire shop had a computer showing the replacement options for my 01 PHG tires (225/55 R17-95V). I don't remember the exact tires, but he said something like a 255/45 was within spec. I decided to wait until I wore out the originals when he gave me a price of over $200 per tire.

    Window Tinting - I'm with Roger. No way am I going to do THIS myself. It's too darned hard for the money saved, and a screwup is WAY too obvious.

    -M
  • scotianscotian Member Posts: 1,064
    A couple of days ago, when I got my car back from my 5*, I noticed a squeal/squeaking noise that seems most likely to occur when I'm driving relatively slow while turning left and the car is slightly bouncing or when on an on/off ramp turning to the right. It doesn't appear to be directly related to applying the brakes, it is more the turning of the steering wheel.

    The 5* had changed my oil and looked at my back suspension for the cause of an intermittant low grumble/grinding noise that was really bad for a while and then mostly disappeared. I really don't know what they could have done to the front of it. When I take it in to have my new weatherstripping installed I'll tell them to fix it.
  • fuzzywuzzyfuzzywuzzy Member Posts: 958
    For only $20 more I got mine done by the pro's who used real quality tint, & I have a liftime warranty on. Even if I scratched it on purpose :) they will replace the tint. That's alot to give up when you do it yourself.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    Anyone know what the tint laws are in California? I thought you couldn't tint the front side windows, but I see some cars have it done.

    -M
  • mykemmykem Member Posts: 203
    http://www.iwfa.com/docs/statelaw.html

    http://www.angelfire.com/nd/tint//laws.html

    I don't know what these mean -- maybe someone else will.

    Remember... You can always tint your front windows -- just expect to get a ticket :)


    -m

  • racefan009racefan009 Member Posts: 47
    i agree with Rogor, what i can't believe i just said that!!! anyway, a high school buddy of mine owns a shop and he has done 4 cars for me, he uses the finest tint available Llumar window film, the back window was a b---- he had to use a heat gun to get the film to bend in the curved parts of the back window...it's too inexpensive to tackle yourself.

    Race's 18% windows m hmm
  • beach15beach15 Member Posts: 1,305
    Does this Letter to the Editor in the June 2001 edition of Automobile magazing look familiar to anyone on this board:
    --------------------------------------------------

    Front-wheel drivers
    I was pleased to see Robert Cumberford acknowledge the virtues of front-wheel-drive. I thought for a while that you guys were going to complain because the new Mini isn't rear wheel drive. When flogging over our local back roads where you never know what conditions are ahead, I'll take my 300M over any rear-wheel-drive sedan.
    As for front-wheel-drive in competition, a front-wheel-drive Cadillac won the luxury-sedan class in the last Pikes Peak hill-climb. That is certainly first-line competition. If Cadillac does regress to rear-drive, it will be a shame, but it will just emphasize the old adage: Be careful what you ask for, you might regret it.

    --------------------------------------------------

    Any takers? This letter sounds like something that might be written by a 300M lover.
  • 99_300m_ric_va99_300m_ric_va Member Posts: 377
    A local Richmond, Va Tint shop did mine for $175 All my windows and sunroof, except front windsheild of course.

    50% front windows (Va law), 35% rear windows (Va law), 7% Sunroof (no law). I got the metalized film, not the dyed on the windows. Dyed film on the sunroof, as the metalized was not available in the very low light levels. Dyed film fades after a few years, metalized is guaranteed for life of car. At least this is what the tint guys told me.

    Anyway, Looks great, worth the money to have it done right, if you ask me.

    I too see the home jobs and man what bunch of crap with air bubbles it usually is.

    Do not use Ammonia based glass cleaners, i.e. Windex. That's what makes it turn purple. Use glass cleaner safe for tinted windows. It'E,ï(ailable all over the place, local auto parts, Wal-Mart, etc.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    beach15-

    You KNOW it wasn't me! LOL....

    fastdriver
  • dkrhardydkrhardy Member Posts: 134
    R/T guy here! I live on Guam, always very warm and sunny. I've had my car windows tinted at the same shop and they use 3M tint and warranty them for the life of the car, as long as I own it anyway. We can't use the reflective so we use a dark tint except on the front door windows where they must use a medium tint. They use heat to get the tint to conform to the shape of all the windows, so that monster back window goes on as one piece so there are no lines. I, like others here, believe that a good shop doing the work is worth the extra money. Good job and a warranty to boot. I've done tinting on a few cars, had good luck, but it's just not worth the headaches. dkrhardy
  • dustinnewtondustinnewton Member Posts: 242
    Sibe-If you wet the window thoroughly, the air bubbles just squeegee right out. If you mess up, you just remove it, re wet the film and the window, and try again. I tinted my Scirocco in about 30 minutes. It's not hard or complicated, in spite of what you hear here. There was a type of tint that was manufactured in the 80's by Llumar (Courtalds) that was complete garbage and I haven't seen any of it that didn't bubble and gum up. It's the kind you are most likely seeing when you see someone with purple tint (I have used Windex prior to all my tint jobs and haven't had any problems with tint turning purple, but I can't guarantee that it won't adversely affect all brands). It was a problem with the film that was manufactured. While Llumar does have the highest market share, I ahve had great luck with Solar Guard(SunGard)and have heard many others proclaim it the best. There's a lot of dumb kids that didn't think when they tinted their windows and they do look like crap. Wal-Mart does sell tint (mostly

    sdmike-Gila Films has an automotive section with laws for all states, as well as a graphic of various vehicles showing what you can have where. Here's the link where you can select your state: http://www.gilafilms.com/Customcut/tintlaws.html

    All-Everyone is acting like I'm saying this is the only way but I'm not. I just thought it was a novel approach having the patterns precut. It's much simpler that cutting out an opening for a dual or drilling a hole in an oil drain plug to try to get it loose. I have experience doing it and I know it's not hard. I know some might not be brave enough to try it themself and that's fine but don't demonstratively state that it's a bad option if you don't know of what you speak! It would save me about $120 over a pro tint job here, and that's nothing to sneeze at, especially for a 30 minute do it yourself job! Sure beats saving $6 on a 10 minute quick lube oil change!! To each his own.
  • 300michael300michael Member Posts: 1,815
    I save a lot more then 6 dollars. Five quarts of oil for 64cents. plus my oil filter for the same price. That's at least a $19-23 savings. for something that takes me a quarter of an hour to do. I usually do it while my car gets a quick Zaino job. Plus I do not get the water marks from the dealer wash.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    More power to ya! I didn't mean to imply that you were nuts for doing it yourself, I'm just saying *I'D* be nuts for trying it! :) When I had my last car tinted they actually took the windows OUT so they could do the work in a "clean room" and to get the best fit without fighting with the edges. Does anyone do this anymore? Seemed like a good idea.

    All - thanks for the information on tinting laws. I don't like the thought of the front side windows being different from the back (by the way, looks great Race), so maybe I'll split the difference and do 50% all around.

    -Mike
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    The 5/01 edition of Popular Mechanics has a nice story on the 300M, including results of an ower's survey. It's very much worth a read, but I couldn't find it on the popular mechanics web site. The verdict? They love it. Here is part of the text..

    Quite frankly, we were skeptical of a Chrylser that had the audacity to be adorned with a number and a letter in the manner of the great letter-series Chryslers of the '50s and '60's... Is this most recent version, the 300M with its puny 3.5 liter V6 engine even worthy of the coveted 300 designation? We didn't think so. But guess what? High-tech rules! After spending some serious miles and lots of seat time in the 300M we're ready to concede. In fact, we're convinced that today's 300M would run rings around any former letter-series Chrysler, dual quads or not. Yes, the 300M is more than worth. We really love the way this car chews up and spits out interstate. We also love the way this car swallows people and cargo whole...etc.

    It also makes an interesting point about horsepower..

    "Several owners felt that the 300M could do with an even 300 hp. That, after all, is what the designation is all about. They tend to forget, though, that the original 1955 Chrysler C-300's 300 horses were gross, while today's engines are rated in net horsepower. Gross ratings are about 35% higher than net, since they don't account for the power needed to drive accessories, like the a/c compressor and alternator. So, under the pre-1972 rating system, the current 300M more accurately has the equivalent of 341 hp."

    There is also an owner's poll with responses to about 50 questions. Here are just a few of the responses:

    Why did you choose the 300M?
    Styling 79.9%
    Power/Performance 26.6%
    Price/Value 23.3%
    Handling 21.5%

    Specific Likes:
    Styling 78.6%
    Power/Performance 53.9%
    Handling 43.7%
    Comfort 25.2%

    Specific Dislikes:
    Blind Spots 26.7%
    Road/Wind Noise 12.4%
    No Complaints 11.8% (racefan's perfect M!)
    Fuel Economy 5%
    No Rear Cupholders 5% (puhleez)

    Performance Opinions (what % answered excellent)
    Power/acceleration 71.7%
    Braking 63%
    High Speed Handling 74%
    Parking ease 46.6%
    Crosswind stability 62.2%
    Overall Performance 65.3% (33.8% good, .9% fair, 0.0% poor)

    Similar high scores on driving convenience, workmanship and comfort questions.

    Any troubles?
    No 61.7%
    Yes 38.3%

    Type of Trouble (of those that had trouble):
    Power window motor 34.5%
    faulty paint 10.7%
    Transaxel 6%
    Alignment 6%

    Repairs done under warranty: 97.1%

    Repairs satisfactory? 97.1% yes

    Principal Driver:
    Male 47.6%
    Female 37.3%
    Equally 15.1%

    Age:
    Under 30 2.4%
    30-49 43%
    50 plus 54.6%

    Would you buy again?
    yes 74.4%
    Maybe 21.3%
    No 4.6%
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    (aside from basic typos). The response to "getting repairs right" was 88%, not 97.1%
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    got duals?
  • hataxhatax Member Posts: 56
    Got duals, love duals. =) Hehehe, I got them put on this afternoon and love it! Great sound and when I was driving home on 87 octane doing about 78MPH I was getting between 27-29 MPG acording to the computer and changing with the grade of road I was on. They guys at the shop thought it'd be really loud, they all liked the sound of it after it was all done. Also on the way home I decided to get a new box for my sub, so I called up a friend at audio king and made one, wow, what a difference a box can make, and it fits perfectly behind the 60 part of the split, it houses a CerwinVega 12" sub. So now I will be happy, just a few more things to do... Namely tint and possibly a spoiler....... I'll have pics posted soon and right after I wash the poor thing. =)
  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    Maybe we should send our chief enforcer for "This Thing of Ours"--the almighty Igor--with you to that dealer. Maybe he could bend their arm a little to convince them to do the right thing.

    If I were you, I would demand a refund; if they refuse, state that you would like to bring up the issue with the district manager. Ask for his name so you can contact him. You may find that a little threat that could affect their 5* rating will do wonders. Give it a shot.

    If that doesnt work, then tell them they may be getting a visit from your chief enforcer and bodyguard, the almighty Igor.

    Easyrider300M
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    easyrider300m-

    I don't think ANYTHING affects their "5-STAR" rating! Does anyone know of a Chrysler dealer that has LOST their rating? I doubt it.

    I've sent sleepymw something that MIGHT help her with her "battle".

    fastdriver
  • fuzzywuzzyfuzzywuzzy Member Posts: 958
    "Age:
    Under 30 2.4%
    30-49 43%
    50 plus 54.6%

    The under 30 % has to be wrong. It can't be that low. I'm 25, was 24 when I bought the 300M, & I know 4 others that are below 30 that have 300M's, It has to be wrong :)
  • racefan009racefan009 Member Posts: 47
    what's my age again??? it's not wrong man, every time i see an m it's full of gray hair!!! not that there's anything wrong with gray hair :) we're in the 2.4% believe it...it takes a lot of bling bling to sport an m, something the under 30 group rarely has.

    Race
  • dustinnewtondustinnewton Member Posts: 242
    300Michael- I guess you would save money but a standard oil change down here runs about $12. I know you got a deal on oil, but with it at $1 a quart, and a good filter at $2, you see my point. I only use synthetic oil and the premium filter, so it's moot for me anyway. I use a very trusted quick lube place. 15 minutes and I'm done. I wouldn't leave my car at a dealer inless I absolutely had to, much less give it to them long enough to was it after an oil change! I used to change the oil on the Scirocco, but came to the conclusion that it was easier to let someone else do it and deal with the old oil for a few bucks. I could see where you would save enough to make it attractive. I changed a clutch once and that was something that was DEFINITELY worth the extra cash to have someone do!!! Most difficult task I've ever tackled on a car!!
    SD-Thanks man! Several here have had the window removal tint job. That is interesting!
    Age-I personally had just turned 30 when I bought my M. I agree with Race. My payments are $600+ a month and I don't think a lot of kiddies could afford it. No flames, please, about how much I'm paying. Didn't have much choice! I'm 31 now, but rarely see a young person with an M.
  • fuzzywuzzyfuzzywuzzy Member Posts: 958
    I hear you, I'm in the same boat.... Just a little higher then you.
  • malyelmalyel Member Posts: 46
    I'm part of the proud 2.4% My brother bought a 2000 Maxima Se and every time he rides in my car he kicks himself for not even looking at it. Now he can't stand the fact that next years Altima will have 18 more HP than his Max.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    Fastdriver - Rancho Chrysler Jeep on Clairmont Mesa Blvd in San Diego lost their 5* designation last year and is fighting to get it back. Their 5* sign is covered up.
  • malyelmalyel Member Posts: 46
    I am sure that people that live outside of the DC area are unaware that there are a few 300m's in the Secret Service fleet. You would be hard pressed to identify one unless you saw it up close. The only diference I could tell is they have undercover police lights on the deck in the back window. They also use LHS's, Town Cars and back in the 90's they even drove the old Jeep Cherokee Country's. At the time we lived near then Secretary of State James Baker and as a car fan it was always fun to see what agents drove. Now a days I don't see them that often but occasionaly I will see a Prsidential convoy and they have like 30 cars in them and maybe a third are unmarked luxury sedans. My dream is to own a retired Secret Service Suburban.
  • sdmike2sdmike2 Member Posts: 2,909
    I guess that makes me one of the rare few that are in the middle group (40 in August) and don't have a car payment. :))

    Oh..I saw a documentary the other night on some fighter pilot they are calling a hero because he managed to stay with his broken plane and direct it into a field instead of crashing into nearby houses. He ejected at the last second and was messed up pretty bad. Everyone says if he hadn't sacrificed himself like that the plane would have hit a residential area for sure. Pretty big stuff. At the end of the show they showed him getting into his car....a beautiful black M. :)
  • rklassrklass Member Posts: 133
    I had my 5* check on the availibility of the Chrome/leather shifter. He says the book shows the all-leather shift knob replacing the chrome/leather, and Chrysler Parts is out of the chrome/leather.
    He did a search, and found 2 in dealer inventory:
    Jenkins Chrysler 301-729-4890
    Neal Pope Chrysler 770-451-1667
    Part# is 4593527aa, list is $50.00
    Good luck!
  • rklassrklass Member Posts: 133
    OK, I'll fess up! I'm in the 60+ group.
    BUT, after 2 300Ms, 2 SHOs, and my (still have) Miata, I'm convinced age is just a state of mind.
    I know several 40 somethings who are OLD!
  • memphis300mmemphis300m Member Posts: 8
    They must have been gotten feedback on the 99's, at least the lack of rear cupholders. Just checked my 2K and two cupholders build into the fold down arm rest. Makes a nice "table" for 2 rear seat passengers.

    Also am in the highest age bracket. Currently have the M plus an 87 Vette coupe. In the past 64 and 66 GTOs, 84 Dodge Conquest. Only as old as you feel.

    Just my thoughts.

    Memphis300m
  • mrl859mrl859 Member Posts: 168
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    sdmike2-

    That's ONE! Bet it took a LOT for them to lose it too.

    fastdriver
  • sugar300msugar300m Member Posts: 61
    Thanks for all that tint info. I think I found a good shop & will let them try it on my '91 Regal.
    SDMIKE- love the horsepower comparison in that Pop Mechanics article; guess you guys with the duals are around 350 hp :).
    Age is funny; we bought our Regal new in 91 when we were in our mid-late 20's. Most Regal owners then (as now) were probably in their 50's. Now we buy an M in our mid-late 30's (i just turned 37 May 1)& most M owners are in their 50's??!? I guess its a car for the Mature person no matter what age. I agree RKLASS, I know some 60 year olds that are young!
    5* dealer treated me worse than the regular Chrysler Jeep dealer who primarily sells Jeeps!
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