Chrysler 300M

denverm

One of my doors took extra effort to close after getting the new weatherstripping, but that seems to have gone away now. I think the new weatherstripping compresses some after a while.

avalanche165

easy u beat me to it, i was gonna post something about that spray stuff, what is the other option tho? to literally dip it in dye and soak? i may go red/black look, or black/dark gray. not sure yet. i'm not tryin to something stupid here, like wild bright red sport racing seats, just a nice two tone custom look. anyone got some rough prices on this, new to this park. i'm gonna go down later when i have some time to this real good guy who can do basically anything when it comes to interior. like custom stuff, amp racks, sound stuff, headliners, leather, ceiling stuff. but i haven;t gotten any prices on all this yet.....

ottowrkr

Ok ,first off the 300 does not come with HID ,all 300 for Europe use a light like the ones in the LHS. A projector style, they also have a motor on them to change the level of the light if you load up the trunk or have a couple of fat people in the back seat LOL. Now the leather wheel , if you order the luxury package you get the wood /leather wheel , if you dont you get an all leather wheel.

seeburg222

Hi Gang, haven't posted for a while. Up until 14,000 miles, I was averaging 21.3 mpg on 87 octane and 22.5 on 93. At 14,000 miles I replaced the air filter with one sold by NAPA and reset the trip computer. Now I'm getting 23.0 on 87 octane (over 1000 miles) and 24.2 on 93! Please note that the filter I removed at 14,000 miles was just slightly grey looking. Not very dirty at all. Now, I can understand that a new air filter would improve mileage on a carburated engine because it will run richer the more restricted the air filter. But, could someone please explain to me why it would make that big of an improvement on my 300M with EFI and port injection? Seems to me a slightly restricted air filter would have nothing more than the same effect as a throttle being slightly more closed on EFI. Thanks

avalanche165

you guys think you get bad gas mileage! i get 18 max......

300michael

The engine is basicly an air pump. The more restrictions you have, the harder it has to work to maintain a fixed RPM. If you have an amp meter, and an canister vacume. Put a restriction on the intake hose, or exhaust vent. What happens the motor has to work harder to keep running and the amperage goes up tring to do this.
The same thing happened when some of us went to the dual exhaust less restrictive.
A factor was alot that you were compairing an dirty filter to a clean one.

fuzzywuzzy

Ok guys, don't ask why, there's no real reason, I just want something different. I'm thinking of selling my 300M. The whole car with the 18's, the stock 17's, the stereo, & all the performance stuff included. The car now has 40K miles. 2000 with the PHP, upgraded stereo, moonroof, & full spare. Also included is the extended warranty for 5 years/75K miles added care. What do you guys think I could get for it? Another question, Would I be able to trade this in on something else,(non DC) even though it's not paid off? I have no clue what the rules are on this.

fastdriver

sibe-

Here's the URL-

http://italy.chrysler.com/italy/en/html/chrysler/app_vehicles/300m/app_left_nav/exterior/topichalogen.html or just go to http://www.italy.chrysler.com or any other country you want.

fastdriver

avalanche165

i had that thought as well a few weeks ago. but i started doing this custom work and forgot about it. Are u looking for a family sedan? cuz the new Subaru WRX is awesome, if its just you driving that is. and you drive a lot to work right? good car, safe, reliable, extremely fast. 0-60 is 5.7 sec. 1/4 mile in 12's. and thats stock. i got first hand experience with this, good car, pricy tho, $25k. and of course the Acura, they are pretty nice. seems most ex-300's go for that. i'm thinking you don't want a honda what about that new nissan Maxima, they're nice. test drove the other day. sisters in the market for a new car now as well.

fuzzywuzzy

I may not even get another car right now. I also own a 96 Impala SS for a collector car,(12K miles) & I just bought a used Explorer(55K miles) for towing stuff. I only use the 300M for road trips now.

seeburg222

My previous message was supposed to read like this! :
Hi Michael, thanks for your response. I can understand that the engine would work harder with a restricted intake under full open throttle conditions but I never drive like that. With EFI, the only things going on above the throttle plate is air measurement isn't it? So as far as the system is concerned, a restrictive air filter would feel the same to the flow sensors as the throttle valve being closed just slightly more wouldn't it? Maybe I'm having a mental block here I don't know! This really has me puzzled. As far as the vacuum cleaner analogy, I'm quite sure the opposite happens. When you restrict either the input or output of a vacuum cleaner, the current draw goes down since the motor is actually under less load. It sounds like its working harder because its revving up higher. Thanks -Frank

sdmike2

Av, I'm with you on mileage. I get about 18mpg on a full tankful. My computer tells me I get in the low-mid 20s on the freeway, but I do about 50/50 driving. I've also seen the computer read 4mpg going up a hill from a stop.

Fuzzy - Go to the edmunds 300M area and use their TMV (true market value) calculator. You might also want to try www.kelleybluebook.com and some other on-line appraisal engines. Also check www.autotrader.com, eBay, and Yahoo to see what they're selling for. You should be able to get a good idea. Finally, dealers take cars that aren't paid off as trade every day. They simply calculate the payoff price as part of the deal. If the M is worth more than you owe it will be a credit to you. If you owe more than it's worth you'll have to shell out more money. Read the used car tips at www.carbuyingtips.com. Very informative on how NOT to get the shaft on a trade-in.

fuzzywuzzy

I have had those plugs in the car for a few months. Now that you said you saw a MPG improvment, That might be why I was getting such better milage on my road trip.

fuzzywuzzy

Yeah I looked at those places, But as some have pointed out, it doesn't take into account the mods & apperance upgrades I have done. If I decide to sell, I'll first put it on Ebay. That's where I bought my Explorer, & I have a ton of feedback, & have had no problems.

sdmike2

You need this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=592178849

easyrider300m

Went to the 3* yesterday to pick up my M. On the showroom floor there was a gorgeous black BMW M5---now thats a CAR---400 HP, over 400 torque--it was a 2000 used model with about 10k on the clock--I asked the price--salesman said it could be mine for a mere 70K--I asked what the new ones go for --he said they list for about that price but usually sell over list---told him I liked the car but forgot my wallet---

AV: the seats looked like Racarro racing seats---black with red inserts--looked very nice and were comfortable--maybe you should look into the cost of those babies.

fuzzywuzzy

Ahh My dream car!!!! The seats are nice. I don't think they are Racarro though. BMW's own I think. I got to drive a 2000 when it first came out. A co-worker has one. What a car! For $75K! Now heres the question....What was that car doing for sale at a DC dealer. Did the guy trade it in on a mini van Maybe for a Prowler(that would be stupid)

easyrider300m

I also wondered what it was doing on a Chrysler new car showroom floor--I really wanted to see the 01 300M to check out the new lux group up close. But that car sure was an attention getter. Of course I had to sit in it. Wouldnt mind that car as a second vehicle, but dont want that kind of expense--the M is much more practical and is a perfect all around multipurpose vehicle for me---I need the room for my business use.

robr2

They probably got it at the same place my Honda dealer got the 00 Boxster they have on the lot. It was a auction purchase and since this dealership (out of the 15+ this company owns) is real close to a bunch of high tech companies, it was the best place to sell it.

stevenw300

I recently installed a K & N Filter (in airbox) and have noticed that the trip computer is indicating substantially increased miles-per-gallon. Is the computer accurate? or does it take time for it to recalibrate for the increased airflow? Any info that anyone has would be most appreciated. I will check my actual mileage on my next couple of tanks of gas.

Thanks in advance.

sdmike2

All engines run at less than atmospheric pressure because of restrictions in the intake plumbing. Air is the working fluid, fuel heats it, add the energy to the working fluid. The engine will not work at all in a vacuum (no working fluid even if you had oxygen to burn the fuel). A supercharger cures the problem by shoving more working fluid (air) into the engine. The EFI then supplies the needed fuel based on sensor readings and you get more power like you had more cubic inches in a normally aspirated engine. Put in a dirty air filter and you increase the restrictions and the engine works at even more below atmospheric pressure and the EFI cuts back fuel. You might as well saw off a cylinder or two. Since the EFI is never perfect and is optomized to work at sea level, the closer you can come to optimum conditions the better. Clean air filter is better. Just like increasing the diameter of the injector throat, you run your engine at higher input pressure.

sdmike2

Depends on how dirty your old filter was. I expected a 1/2 mpg or so increase replacing my new stock filter with the K&N. I didn't get any more than that I don't think.

ir2k300m

Was putting another coat of Zaino on my M last night and noticed that someone has tried to punch out my drivers side lock!! Was unsuccessfull but put a crease in the metal just aft the handle and messed up the material around the lock.
Time for an upgrade to the security system...anyone have any suggestions?

sdmike2

What's easy to forget sometimes is that air is the key ingredient to making an engine work. In a nutshell you take a cylinder full of air, heat it, it expands and drives the piston down. The air is the working fluid. Internal combustion engines do this by burning fuel using the oxygen in the air sucked into the cylinder. The EFI injects the right amount of fuel for the oxygen there and the plugs ignite it. Anyway, you have mostly nitrogen there (84%) and when you burn out the oxygen using gasoline you get the oxygen back as a working fluid in the form of carbon dioxide and water vapor. So the whole mess ends up at 2000 or so degrees and wants to be a hell of a lot bigger, can't right away, so pressure goes up in the cylinder and it shoves the piston down. No magic there, just that most people think of an explosion as some mystical beast where you get something really violent for nothing and you really don't. The amount of fuel is very small compaired to the amount of air.

So, a reduction in intake pressure, air and oxygen has a profound impact on the effectiveness of this process. Less than optimal air flow allows less air into the cylinder creating a partial vacuum. The EFI looks at the intake pressure and injects less fuel to make the EPA happy Not nearly the combustion, heat, and expansion as you would have with optimal airflow...and hence less power. Mileage may also suffer because the engine is not working at it's optimum settings. Because the whole goal is to heat air, a hot engine (within limits) runs better and is more efficient than a cold engine.

The exhaust is equally as important because you want the residual pressure in the cylinder when the valves close to be as low as possible. The lower the residual pressure, the lower the pressure in the cylinder during the intake stroke and the more air Mother Nature can shove in.

-M

sdmike2

Bummer! How about Smith & Wesson?

ir2k300m

I've thought of that...along with Av's suggestion of the webcam...that way you would know who you were looking for.

sdmike2

What will set off the stock alarm? I noticed that opening and slamming the trunk while it's armed doesn't do anything.

mboomgarden1

I've owned my 300M (Steel Blue with all available options) for three weeks. I love the car, but having come from a Supra Twin Turbo, I'd like a bit more power. My Borla exhaust is due to be installed next week. What other reliable mods have others installed that give genuine increases in horsepower/torque? Sources? Cost?

I'd like to keep any modifications to bolt-ons--is it unrealistic to think that I can add another 20-40 horsepower without major modifications? I'd also be interested in your fuel recommendations. I've been running mid-grade (89-octane), which, I understand, offers better performance in the 300M than regular. Is there any benefit to paying the extra money for premium (93-octane) or is the timing fully optimized at the 89-octane level?

ir2k300m

I think there actually has to be tampering with the lock mechanism or ignition to set it off. There is no way to tell whether the alarm went off or not when they attempted to get into the car.

wencao

Anyone know if the 2002 M with special package will get a 5-speed tranny? It is a shame for Chrysler still using 4-speed with such a powerful engine. New 1.8T Passat with 5-speed manual can even beat M in 0-60. Wake up Chrysler, we need a manual or 5-speed auto.!!!!!

sibe

I (still) haven't looked up in the manual how to reset the computer. On the Durango you simply disconnect the negative pole of the battery, turn your key to run and leave it there for about 20 seconds and the computer is re-initialized (you may of course have lost the presets on your radio...). I would recommend you doing that if you've changed your filter to a radically different one if not it did take me two tank fulls on the Durango (prior to figuring out how to reset it) before I got correct measures again when I installed the IP stage II air intake system.

Sibe

sibe

But that's precisely my point. If you have to re-orient the bulb because it's axial or not you hvae to drill out a new location for the bulb and then mask(?) the prior hole? If both the halogen AND the HID are both projecting lumens out the same plane then you may be OK. If not then reverse engineering the reflector is going to be a lot trial and (expensive) error IMHO.

Our best hope, now that it's been pointed out that the European 300's are not equipped with HIDs is for OTTOWRKR to pressure DC to issue them in the 2003's and hope that one can retro-fit them inot older versions. What is clear however is that
1) Buying a Xenon bulb by itself will not work
2) Buying the 1000 dollar solution may also not work if the bulb orientation is not the same as a function of the reflector

Thanx to all for setting me straight on the different variables that come into play.

Sibe

fuzzywuzzy

The factory alram does display some sort of indication if it went off. It will sound a series of beeps, & the led alarm light will flash a number of times. I upgraded to a Viper 550ES. It has everything the factory has & more. It will sound the horn/flash lights when it is unlocked, as well as locked. The alarm is very loud, it has a shock sensor so if someone hits the car it will trigger a warning chirp, then if it gets hit again, it will trigger a full alarm. Glass breakage sensor is included too. As is starter kill. And I added the great feature of remote start. It works very well. No problems with the electrial, or any problems at at with it. I had it for like 3 months. It does need a key kept in the car, but it goes into a little box that is locked, & then hidden somewhere in the dash. It is also bypassed unless the remote start is triggered from the remote. Even if someone found the key, they could not start the car with out disarming the Viper, & the factory alarm. The guy that installed mine left the factory in. The viper turns on the factory. I can still use the factory keyfobs as long as I disarm the viper first.

sdmike2

You've come to the right place for information on mods. Many here have some some simple things like Dual Exhaust and K&N air filter, and others have modified their air intake using cone filters and bored-out throttle bodies. Overall I think you're overly optimistic to expect a 20hp gain for this car given simple mods. However, there is a supercharger kit for the Prowler (uses the same engine) that will run you about $6k, a new hood to fit it under, and probably a beefed up transmission. Expect 70hp gain with that setup, but for the money you spend you might be better off trading in the M and buying another Supra.

sdmike2

why keep a key in a box in the car? What am i missing?

beach15

As many of you will soon find out, Homestead sites, like Photopoint, will no longer be free. I just read the email they sent me and probably will just delete my site. I know they won't charge all that much but still, why bother? I knew this would happen right when I started to get some free time to work on my site.

sdmike2

Lots of 300M shirts on Ebay right now. Pricing starting at $8 and "buy it now" at $12. These are the same ones that were going for $40 with a different seller (I think). There is also a cargo net for $8, some Xenon bulbs, a transmission manual, a wood dash kit, and other goodies.

-M

sdmike2

I bought the XL Black embroidered one already.

sdmike2

Check out this person's auctions. Lots of chrysler/mopar stuff.

http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid=pamelak67&sort=2&page=1&rows=25&since=-1

tj300m

I can't belive some of you are getting such poor gas mileage. I have 6,800 miles on my 2001 non PHG and get around 23.5 mpg on 89 octane. IfI hammer it a lot I will drop to 22.0 or so, but if I take a trip on the interstate I average around 28mpg while on the highway. I went back to visit the folks a couple of weeks ago and there is no 65 mph roads in Southwest wisconsin (God's Country)and I averaged 29.5 with around 3 miles of city driving and 60 of rolling hills at 60mph. That tank averaged almost 25 mpg. At 70mph on a flat interstate the instant mileage can hold steady at 33 or so.

I don't know if I am lucky or you guys are squawking the tires at every light.

Tested the limiter last night. It works.

dyadinc

Anyone here in the Phoenix area? I'd love to see some of the mods up close... and maybe hear what a dual exhaust conversion sounds like.

Thanks
Mike

sdmike2

Here is a MPG of what my dual exhaust sounds like. It's actually a little bit deeper sounding than this...more like the AVI file that I have. However, the AVI file is several times the size.

http://home.san.rr.com/ritchie/300m.mpg

Also, here is a link to my photo album page, including a gallery for my dual exhaust project.

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

Mike

sibe

Respected Sir:
sdmike2 has indeed brought an interesting item to the forum. Namely wasssssuupppppp with the Club Logo Shirts???? I mean I can't be seen RVing in Alaska in a couple of weeks sans the Club Logo polo. I mean people might think I actually OWN one of these behemoths 8-)

so what's the status with the shirts? Respectfully,

Sibe

sdmike2

Sibe - I pick the shirts up from the embroidery shop on Friday. Roger should get them early next week and begin shipping them out.

-M

easyrider300m

I cant believe the high mgp some of you are getting. I generally dont rely on the computer readout unless I have gone several tankfuls. The most I ever see as an average over several tankfuls is 17.6. Thats with about 40% city, 60% highway--my last car , a 93 Mark VIII only got 15.9 mpg so I thought I was doing well with the M. The reading on the overhead for Distance till empty is on average about 280. Are you guys waiting for several tankfuls before considering the mpg figure to be accurate. What reading are you getting for the miles till empty computer readout after a fillup---I think this figure would give us a more reliable comparison.

avalanche165

just put them on today, pretty good i like'em. no vibrations so far, no problems.

its a 2.4" drop, i got a 2.1" in the front, and a 2.5" in the back. not bad, the cars on a slant so, il'l take better pics tommorow....

avalanche165

just for reference, if they DO come out with a 5 speed manual on the 2002.5 special, it is possible, extremely difficult but possible to replace out gear system with that right? oh pleeeeeeeeeez say yes.....

sibe

As I said, I would hate to have people beleive I DON'T own a 300M! 8-)

Thanx Mike,

Sibe

phases78

i just installed my new 'bosch platinum +4' spark plugs, fuzzywuzzy, i think u missread what i wrote, cuz i just now got them. but there is a noticable difference. the accelaration is smoother, a bit more kick to the car, and from what im told from people in the yahoo chat and i think a couple in here, mpg should improve by 3-5% city driving.. we shall see. but for seven bucks a pop i think it was a good purchase. just food for thought!

phases

p.s. ok ok ok i feel like a fool, but what the heck is this HID stuff im reading about?

kpm61

Are you useing premium gas and if so dose your M run any smoorther or stronger on it ?

I like premium gas and it is all that I will put in 3 of my 5 cars.
The Eagle gets 87 ,
the Charger, Reatta and Porsche all get 93 octane.