Chrysler 300M

herrmdogg

i have read all the posting regarding lowering of the 300 and grunschev is right ... though he didnt have to be so rude about it ... i have 20x8.5 lexani krystals with a 245-35-20 toyo proxes t1-s tire and my overall diameter is to the tenth of an inch exactly what the diameter was with the stock 17's therefore not throwing my speedometer off any or causing miles to accumulate faster due to the fact that the revolution of a smaller diameter happens faster than that of a bigger diameter (common sense) and since my diameters are the same, no harm done ... my wheel well gap was exactly the same before the 20's as it is right now .. well not right now because with the air suspension I can drop it almost 4.25 inches in the back and right at 4 inches in the front ... i called eibach when i first got my car and found out that they used to make springs for the 300 but only up until the 2000 model ... the 2001 uses a different strut cup design and eibach WILL NOT be making springs for the 2001 for anyone that is concerned (wow yet another thing that is not made for the 300) ... also my 20's weigh in at 76 lbs a piece so like avalanche said 20's are not for performance unless you want a NEGATIVE performace effect ... ... there is my two cents worth ...

dustinnewton

has been available from JC Whitney for some time now. Around $200-$250 if I remember correctly and it's wireless. The sensors that are placed on the inside of the wheels stop transmiting to save battery power when the car hasn't moved for a set amount of time. I couldn't see paying that much when I can use my $20 gauge to check the pressure every couple of days or so. It's neat, but that money could be better used on a mod that adds some performance. I like the chrome grill. Has anyone found that brand of trim anywhere besides Pepboys? The Pepboys haven't made it as far south as I am!

bigmike5

Well, today the door lock on the driver's side door went kaput. I had noticed 5 or 6 times over the last week that occasionally when I unlocked the car with the remote and then opened the door, the alarm would go off. I re-read the instuction book and saw nothing there. I figured maybe I was hitting the open and close buttons at the same time and this was causing it to go off. But today I noticed that the 15mph locking system did not lock the driver door either. After going thru several iterations I realized that the lock post was not going up and down when the remote or door switch was triggered. The system would however arm itself and when I opened the door the alarm would go. Got to the dealer and guess what? The condition did replicate for him!! So it looks like a motor or selinoid has to be replaced and of course they did not have the part. It's on order now. Can't believe how many times I left it and thought it was locked. At least 6 times the alarm went off, so I guess I was lucky no one burglarized it. A word to the wise, if the alarm goes off when it shouldn't check the locking posts to see if they engage when they should.

sdmike2

Here is a link to a place that sells door trim. Part way down the page you can see a 50 foot roll of chrome door edge guard for $16.95.

http://www.atrim.com/Page95.html

lalarry

Hey guys, I havn't been posting lately, but am definitely lurking. Noticed some awesome mods (avalanche165 and herrmdogg) VERY nice work!

My dark blue beauty turns one year old on Thursday. One year and 20,500 miles later, it's just as big of a thrill to drive. Not one problem, except that I'm getting the itch to change the tires. No matter what I do, or where the tires are placed, I get the 60-70mph steering wheel shimmy. I've read posts that make me want to take it in to see if there is any warping that Chrysler has taken care of for some of you. Otherwise I'm thinking it's the Goodyears.

Who's replaced their tires to something similar to factory equipment, and can tell me they're happy with what they've got on there now?

grunschev

My car with 18x8 wheels and Eibach springs.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=978368&a=7200100&p=24435653&f=0

13 months with these springs, no problems. I'm probably wrong, but I only recall one other Edmund's poster installing springs and he had a problem. I don't recall him talking about vibration problems but issues with his struts. I called Eibach some time ago and asked why they discontinued their spring, and they said "many customers complained about vibration."

I don't doubt that. Particularly since many owners here have complained about vibration. I suggest the vibration is not caused by the springs, only that it becomes more apperent with stiffer springs installed. That's my theory, and I'm sticking with it until somebody can convince me otherwise.

Just remember; the springs will be stiffer and will cause a rougher ride. But, at least for me, the improvements in handling are worth it.

herrmdogg - rude? sorry you read it that way.

Igor

grunschev

I will definitely look into this one. I'm not so concerned about getting flat tires when I'm parked as when I'm driving. I can never seem to get my tire gauge to read properly when I'm going 80mph. ;-)

I've had 4 flats in the last year. One patch failed, two (!) bad valve stems, one blowout. I've had more flats in one year than the previous 25 years combined.

Igor

herrmdogg

hello all ... i wanted to apologize to GRUNSCHEV for saying he was rude ... i read his post # 4097 on lowering which ended in "quit screwing around ..." and i took that the wrong way ... your ride looks good btw GRUNSCHEV ... i also wanted to thank LALARRY for the compliments on my ride and tell your 300 i said happy birthday ...

lalarry

Hey guys, I havn't been posting lately, but am definitely lurking. Noticed some awesome mods (avalanche165 and herrmdogg) VERY nice work!

My dark blue beauty turns one year old on Thursday. One year and 20,500 miles later, it's just as big of a thrill to drive. Not one problem, except that I'm getting the itch to change the tires. No matter what I do, or where the tires are placed, I get the 60-70mph steering wheel shimmy. I've read posts that make me want to take it in to see if there is any warping that Chrysler has taken care of for some of you. Otherwise I'm thinking it's the Goodyears.

Who's replaced their tires to something similar to factory equipment, and can tell me they're happy with what they've got on there now?

herrmdogg

hey guys ... here is a picture of my 2001 300m with 20x8.5 lexani krystals wrapped in a 245-35-20 toyo proxes t1-s tire showing the wheel well gap with a stock suspension ... when i get my car back from the air suspension install (hopefully tomorrow) i will take a picture with it all the way down ... BIG DIFFERENCE ... hope you like ...

phases78

well i came in for the night but im back out in the morning

300michael when u gonna update ur website?

phases78

how far are u from ft campbell? thats wehre i work at, if your close, i need to see your ride in person! perhaps you could help me with a couple things mwahahahaha!

grunschev

No need to apologize -- one of the shortcomings of communicating this way is all you get are words; no inflections or facial expressions. I probably need to use more of these things: ;-D

Can't wait to see your car after your suspension changes.

Igor

phases78

shut up!

phases78

;-D

300mlover

I have been reading a lot of posts on this subject and have been trying to hold back on commenting. Due to my own agenda. But, alas I cannot and will not any more. This steering wheel shimmy is not caused by the Goodyear tires. I have had Two different sets of Goodyears and a set of Perellis on two different sets of rims(stock and after market). Also have had all wheels and tires balanced with the Hunter GSP 9700. No luck! Chrysler has no clue what is causing this. It is an ongoing investigation. I have been in contact with a Y2K 300M owner that just went through arbitration with Chrysler. The arbitrator found in her favor and ordered Chrysler to replace her car with a brand spanking new 2001 300M. I have a copy of all her papers from the process. I am going in for the 5th time next week to let them try to correct this problem again. After this service visit I am filing my arbitration request.

ajpiii

I have the H&R Springs, and they did in fact cause a vibration when installed... There was absolutely no vibration before the springs... A week before I had put on some Bridgestone Potenza RE730's and had everything balanced and aligned... It was perfect... The vibration only occurs during hard accelerations... H&R is sending me an installation kit which raises the motor 1/4" to correct the drive line angle... I doubt they would send me this kit if their springs were not the cause ...

kpm61

Phases78 - I'm in Madisonville, about half an hour north of Ft. Campbell.
We should get together and shoot some pics of the two BigReds together. Yours is red too, isn't it ?
Who did your duals ?

kpm61

Phases78, I found the link to your page. It's not BIGREDM. I guess thats good, mabey that plate is still avalable here.
Let me know who did your duals.
Thanks
Kevin

phases78

yes, it is white lol, but hey, we should get together sometime anyway and check out the M's. u have pics of yours online? not sure if ive seen yours...

phases78

got my duals done in clarksville, riverside muffler i think..

ruski

those big chrome wheels are not my cup of tea. I prefer spokes with fewer facets.

These look like wrinkled aluminum foil. Sorry.

300michael

I am taking pictures to update the old ones on my site. They should be sharper and take up less disk space (not to mention load the site faster). Is there anything in perticular you wanted to see?.

300mlover

These are not the cause. They just exasperate the problem. I installed them(Eibach) and thought my front end was going to come apart at high speeds. This vibration issue is coming from something structural or mechanical on the car.

phases78

all of it my man! i wantted to do the lighted gear shifter thing but i couldnt really understand what u did enuf to try it on my own, much less, can i even pull that peice off with the wood trim kit on there, without messin it up? can i pull it from the autoshift side other than the other? ah well i just wanna see what all u got, ive been looking at your site since the very day i bought the car, was the first page i ever found on 300m's lol

300michael

I have won my second bid on a 300M head lamp for $40 dollars and for the second time they send me an Concord headlamp. I think people should know what they are selling. So the headlamp mod is on hold again. I did get some old 300L side emblems that I plan to add to my Hood scoop (if they fit). My first hood scoop I received has large cracks in it. My emblems came broken, now this. It makes one question the free enterprize system. I am expecting replacements in about a week then I can start on the Mods again.

300michael

I see you are going for the manuals. I will not compete against you. Good luck on your bidding.

ajpiii

300Mlover...

My car at high speed is very vey smooth, no vibration at all... (high speed = 118MPH, should have gotten the PHP) The vibration is only during hard accelerations.... Smooth accelerations experience absolutely no vibration at all... There is nothing wrong with the car... H&R, & Eibach both know about the problem with lowering the M... Im looking forward to getting this installation kit installed to see if it goes away...

avalanche165

damn man, that was kinda ruff don't u think? i'm all about the dubs. right now i'm tryin to convince my dad to sell our Surburban and Minivan to get a Cadillac Escalade and put 23's on it, Hermdogg i know you know what i'm sayin. just diff opinions, obviously herm isnt tryin to turn his car into a racecar like most of us, ie. ME. it took me awhile, but when i found out that we can't do THAT much for our 300's to beat out a tricked integra, i was heart-broken. so i'm switchin to the rollin on 20's scene. but i still got this performance knack in me....

avalanche165

rims look badass btw....

sdmike2

Big Red is mine.

Here is a link to all the pictures:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=1620463

dyadinc

I was on the phone with Steve at H&R springs this afternoon. I'm looking into the springs to lower my car which should also correct some positive camber problems im having with wheel alignments. I asked about the vibrations and he told me that the angle of the cv joints are the cause when the car is lowered and the fix is the 3 engine/trans mount spacers they have in all their new kits which raise the driveline 10-15mm to correct the angle.

rogor2k

Go for it. I'll be out of town this weekend and the auction ends on Saturday, so I won't be able to defend my position anyway. I wish you luck. Don't let anyone snipe you. There will be lots more, I'm sure.

BTW, lights should reach you today or tomorrow, sent on Monday.

dustinnewton

Thanks for the link!

herrmdogg

So RUSKI, You don't like big wheels huh? You go with the wires right? Didn't that wire wheel fad go out about the same time as powdered wigs? I know I can't wait to see a big body car like a 300M sittin on some 13x7 wires, oh and don't forget to get some spacers and make them stick out of the wheel well a couple inches ... lol ... Sorry.

ruski

not all 20" wheels look like a wrinkled piece of aluminum foil.

This is my idea of a nice 20" wheel:

lalarry

keep me posted on the arbitration process. I really do need to give Chrysler an opportunity to address. I just haven't yet.

ezaircon4jc

So, what did the dealer say about your "missing" rear door handles. I'm STILL rolling on the floor over that!

herrmdogg

To each his own ... I like the "big piece of wrinkled aluminum foil" look (as you say) that BLING BLING from miles away when the sun hits them and you prefer the duller and much lighter graphite looking racing wheel which is ok too. OZ is a good brand, my friend has some on his new Acura 3.2CL Type S. My car is strictly for show, not for racing and it never will be because there is no way I could give up my big chrome DUBZ.

avalanche165

i love it

sugar300m

A buddy of mine put 22's on his Escalade. The equation: 22's + crappy roads in NY + fast driving = 3 bent rims. If you do it, be careful.
AV - love what you've done. Maybe a little over the top but that's what makes this a great country.

sugar300m

Thanks for that Scott. Its not on yet...trying to decide on a real wood kit. I'm looking for one w/ the wood around the clock/air vents.

dustinnewton

If you look on pages 118/119 of the July Motor Trend, there is a nice picture (item #5) of the Paxton Supercharger made for the Prowler in the Performance Trends article. 9.0psi boost, 125 HP gain at the flywheel, optional intercooler, and smog legal! One would sure look beautiful sitting in the space now occupied by my airbox! Maybe I'll cut the picture out and put it there! That would be as close as I could ever get to having one. I want to wait for the 300N convertible anyway!

sugar300m

devoting my time to the thing that will get my mods done...work!
SDMIKE-last time i saw your ride you didn't even have duals yet. WHOA! Looks great!
PHASES - beautiful!
HERRM - PHAT! i love that wrinkled aluminum look!

I'm totally stock, but hope to get the duals, wood, tint, & boombox done in the next couple of months.

sdmike2

Where is the friggin battery in my car? LOL. I haven't really looked, but let's just say I was surprised last night when I had to jump my wife's Caravan (dumb me left the lights on) and when I opened my hood I didn't notice a battery. It took me a few seconds to find the positive jump start connector down by the grill, and a little longer to find the negative connection up closer to the firewall. What's up with that?

-M

sugar300m

99_300m_ric_va - you've got the wood package i want! what brand & where did ya get it?

rogor2k

It's in the fender well below the airbox. Just wait till you need a new battery, the guys at Sears are gonna love you. LOL

fastdriver

sleepymw & laurasdada

WHERE are you?

fastdriver

sdmike2

Good grief. Sounds like a practical joke that Design played on Engineering...and nobody caught it!

I'm in Sunnyvale today driving a base Grand Prix from Hertz. I think from now on when people ask me about the biggest problem with the M, I'm going to tell them "driving something else as a rental".

-M

rogor2k

Actually I think it's a safety feature. In a front end collision (Yikes!!) the battery is not destroyed before it can supply current to deploy the air bags. I read that somewhere anyway, seems to make sense.