Chrysler 300/300C

green12

THANK YOU VIC, THAT WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT I HAVE A BLACK TOP DRIVEWAY AND DID CHECK FOR LEAKS. HAVE ALSO HAD THE DEALER CHECK BEST PART IS THE DEALER IS STUMPED ON THIS PROBLEM THEY ARE NOW THINKING MIGHT BE IN THE REAR AS THE SLIP ONLY HAPPENS WHEN STARTING OUT TURNING LEFT. STARTING OUT STRAIGHT HAS NO PROBLEMS.(So you back back up a few feet then go forward make a left turn and you get slipping between 1st and 2nd gears as they shift)only while making left turns and not every time. :mad: :confuse:

itshemi

Own 300C (w/HEMI) 2005, live in VA, just got back from Alexandria Bay NY, from daughter's wedding, 495 miles one way. Bad weather all the way up and back, Rain/Snow/Fog. Car drove fine in NY with sleet/ice on roads. I saw 3 300's all w/AWD, (1)300, (1)300 Touring, (1)300C Hemi, mine is not a AWD. Average 23MPG going up and 24MPG coming back, driving 60-80MPH. The roads did get car really dirty, glad I add Splash Guards. I'm very happy with car, it is a lot better then my 1968 Road Runner, my car is magnizimun, RR was Forest Green Metallic, a lot of great memories. TAG (ITS HEMI), when I go in for Service, Dealer wants my TAG. http://photos.yahoo.com/jlsy2001

shull1

Just saw announcement for the new 300C Heritage Edition, due out in Spring 2006 (google will get you there).

Nice that it takes cues from the SRT8 (suspension, seats, spoiler, better sound), and would be even better if it was offered in AWD? Anyone know? Thanks.

osiris42

I'm planning to add some additional chrome to my 300 Limited, door handles, pillars and mirrors. Has anyone installed this on their own? Do you have any tips for the best results?

Thx in advance.

green12

It;s a lot of fun to do on your own but you may be better off having someone do it for as you do need special tools to get some off the parts off and back on. the tools cost more than haveing it done by a pro.
I did some to my 300 and I am not pushing there service but I would use one stop in Northfield,NJ.
they do great work and the price is right. Had car toy do some work and I was not happy with it.

osiris42

Most of the items I previously mentioned appear to be fairly easy to install but still I'm looking for opinions pro and con for DIY. A buddy and I installed my grille Saturday afternoon(it looks great!!). I purchased a grille that bolts on top of the existing grille so it was alot less complicated than one would first imagine.

My two biggest concerns are the mirrors and the door handles. The mirrors don't seem to quite fit when I tested the placement of them. Plus I read somewhere they do need to be modified to fit the limited.

green12

yes the grill was very easy.!!!!!!!!! I put the replacement one instead I think it looks better just my opinion.!!!!!!!!!!
The mirrors need a special mounting kit if they are after market.
I had the mirrors put on I tried it my self and had to buy the kits when I was at one stop they put them on for what the kits and tool cost plus the door handles. not hard just need the right stuff to install.
good luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!

osiris42

I had a tuff time deciding on the grille but I knew I wanted something different from what I was seeing most others getting. I like it alot but as they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I think I will ultimately have the mirror professionally installed. I think I can handle the doors and the window trim myself. Now I just need to find a heater for my garage.

Thanks for the tips

blaine1

:mad: Car Performance: We have approx... 36,000 miles and had to by NEW tires ( Have had the car less than 2 years and tires already! ) We also purchased the Goodyear Comfort Tread and are very happy. Our steering rack was bent! Has anyone had this problem. Also we have complained so much to our Dealer and I filed a Complaint with Chrysler because our car ( which I do love! ) has been down way to much. Our Transmission problem.. 3 computer pieces replaced and I was told WATER got into the transmission. We are going to have the CO-PILOT installed in our car. Has anyone had this done? I suggetst all you 300C owners need to start calling Chrysler COMPLAIN!... so this problem become offically documented. We all did not get our car from the same Crooked Car Dealer, DID WE? What are they hiding? Does Chrysler give them a kick-back by making bull _____ excuses.. Sorry we paid alot of money for a slick car. I am tired of driving a crapy 4 cyc loaner car. Mad in New Jersey!

cesart95

Hello to everybody. I'm in the process of purchasing a 06 300 touring. Here's the price they gave me. $27,525 at 6.99% for 72months at $509.00 monthly payement $0.00 down with a Texas sales tax of 8.25%. At the end i would end up paying $36,681.46. What do you guys think abouth this deal. Thanks guys.

jimstack41

I drove a 300C with the Goodyear tires and then drove a loaded 300C with the continental run flat tires. The conti's were stiffer and noisier. I got back to the dealer and drove the Goodyear's again. They were much much better than the Continentals.

I have driven 300C's that pulled to right, had tires that were noisy and harsh riding (see above) and had some type of shudder, that I've read about in this forum.

I finally took one out that was perfect. I learned a long time ago that every single car is unique. Evidence of that is found in these types of web sites.

I think I've found a 10 and not a 5 or a 6 (or worse). I'll let you all know soon. I take delivery in 3 days.

So, after you have done all your homework; drive, drive drive. I would suggest at least 3 different cars with the same drive train. Good luck.

green12

I feel your anger, I have a 300 that has the transmission slip they call it a shudder only going from 1st to 2nd on the automatic trans making left turns. the dealer knows it. They give me the answer it is normal,!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called Chrysler direct and have left several messages they will get back to me, I am told. So yes we all need to call the customer service line at chrysler there has to be a simple fix as it seems we are all having the same type of problems. Chrysler just wants to be like Ford take your money and not make the customer happy with fixing the problem everyone is having :mad: :confuse: :sick: :lemon: all the dealer is worried about is the dam survey that tells how they are doing well they will not like what I put on it as my problems started at 45 miles I asked for another car and was told no I already bought that one they could not without me having to buy another one and giving them more money that was not going to happen so after a year I will unload it and never buy Chrysler again.

bowlee

Still love my 2005 "C"! Now have 15K on the car and imho the 300C is the classiest car on the road! I too have the chrome wheel pitting issue - all 4 wheels. I winter in Florida (so can pretty well rule out salt). The car is washed lovingly by hand - so apart from defects, I can't imagine what would cause this. Anyway, I will show my dealer the problem when I return from Florida in spring! From all I've read on this and other forums, most dealers fix the problem with no trouble - hope this is true. :shades:

osiris42

This past Friday I put on my chrome door handles, pillars and door trim. The car looks great!!! :shades: Now I have to decide if I want to tint the windows or not. I'm still afraid to try the side mirror chrome, something just doesn't seem right when I place them on for testing :confuse: . Maybe if I have my windows tinted I 'll see if they'll put the chrome on my side mirrors for a small fee.

green12

It is always worth a try, I have my windows tinted I think it makes the car..!!!!!!!!
Why don't you try a body shop as they have the special tools and know how to either help you or explain how to install them. :

bstanley1

I too have had the SAME problem with the "steering rack". I have had my car three times at the dealer. They finally replaced the strut which stopped the noise. Every time I go over even the smallest crack it sounded like it was hitting the frame. My husband was a mechanic and I tried to tell them that was what was wrong but they would not listen. I too have transmission problems. They supposedly have checked three times and can find nothing wrong. It is now jerking when it shifts from first gear and when slowing down. I am so dissapointed! I need help!!!

osiris42

I got a recall letter at the beginning of January concerning a problem with the transmission. I'm schedule to go in for the repairs next week. Did anyone else receive this letter?

green12

:mad: I have a 2006 and have not received any recall I have been calling the dealer about the trans. Please give as much info about this recall as there are a lot of 300 owners having the trans problem but dealer said no recall or TBS on trans problems. If possible I will give you a fax number you can fax a copy of letter so I can read.. I would love to get my car fixed I have it now 6 months and have only put 2000 miles on and have been all trans problems so the car sit's only use when I have too. I have a 1996 bronco and love it bought it new. Wish they still made them.

osiris42

I have an 05' so my problem may be different from the one your are have. I can't find my letter but here's two links on the web.

This link concerns the recall that I mentioned previously.
http://www.automotive.com/2005/49/chrysler/300/recalls/22183.html

Here's a link concerning recalls on 06' 300's
http://www.automotive.com/2006/12/chrysler/300/recalls/index.html

It appears the problems are the same but I don't know if this will resolve the issues that you mention with your vehicle but it's a start.

green12

I did check that out Thank You.
I will also call the dealer again today see if they have anything new yet.

Kirstie_H

A reporter seeks to interview owners of the Ford Fusion, Chrysler 300C and Chevy HHR. Please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com before Wednesday, February 8, 2006 with your daytime contact info and a few words about the model you chose.

deepakch

I am about to buy a 300C RWD and I have read a number of issues about transmissions. When I look on-line at the window stickers for new cars, some have the country of origin for the Transmission as US and others for DE(which I am assuming is Deutschland or Germany). Do any of the people who have been having Transmission problems know where their transmission came from or doesn't it matter? I rented a 6 cylinder 300 Touring for 3 days and it had 6K and drove perfectly without transmission or steering problems.

xtec

I own a 06 Charger SXT which is the same car as the 300.I been monoriting your forum to see what to expect.So far I don't have the problems you have.I checked out on recalls on transmission.There is only 1 that states that there is a park pawl problem,and that would give you a problem putting it into park.This is on the 4speed only.There is A
tech bulletin that shows there is a shudder problem some of you have complained about.This is on the 5speed.The
service bulletin #2101105.For the people with the shudder
should call your dealers and give them that number.I hope
this will help you out because these are great cars that need to get the bugs out.

timcar

I had read that all the 300C trannys were to be U.S. made. Maybe that's changed. I believe the 6 cyl. Touring uses a an entirely different 4 speed tranny, compared to the 300C's 5 speed.

To all: Car problems stink, but all makes have them. If your car does, your dealer and/or the manufacturer should fix them. If they can't, or won't, you've got a lemon. Most states and the federal government have laws that specify your rights in such cases. Here's a link that can help you learn about them -

http://www.autosafety.org/lemonlaws.php

xtec

On my window sticker it say origin of my Transmission is
Germany.That is for the 5speed auto.This is a Mercedes tranny,thats why is says Germany.The 4speed is made in USA,same tranny they used on the LH cars with modification for rear wheel drive.

rharmon

Do NOT buy from Valley Motors in Russellville Arkansas.
I was told not to buy and I payed the price so now I can stop someone from making the same mistake I did. They did not back there customer satisfaction so I'm stuck w/ a lemon. I bought a new chrysler product. Buy smart buy somewhere else!

pat

WHy don't you pop over to Chrysler 300 / 300C: Prices Paid & Buying Experience and post the details. That would be very helpful. Sorry you had a bad time.

deepakch

I have seen some 300C's window stickers with the tranny as originating in the US. Have you had any problems with yours?

xtec

So far I have not seem to be having problems yet.I have just over a 1000 miles.Mine is the 5 speed auto.I thought
all the 300c have the 5 speed which should be the Mercedes
tranny.Those should say Germany unless Chrysler moved production in the U.S.I bought mine in Oct. with a Sept.05
built date.These Tranny's should be pretty free of defects
because they been in Mercedes for awhile.Their might be some problems but not big ones.I can understand that there
may be problems on the 05 300 because of its first year of production.Thats why I took a chance on buying my Charger
hoping all the bugs would be worked out with the 300.

timcar

Very interesting. Car & Driver has said on several occasions that the 5 speed would be made in the U.S. based on a Mercedes design. From what I've read here, it sounds as if Chrysler is sourcing them from both Germany & the U.S. Maybe they couldn't meet demand using only U.S. manufactured trannys. Maybe there are production issues in the U.S. Hmmm . . . . wonder which are the ones that don't work?

xtec

I went on most dealer websites Chrysler and Dodge and checked out the window stickers on 300c.Everyone showed the transmission is from Germany.This is for the 5speed.
The Chargers showed the same.The 4speeds were made in the US.I did also noticed that the Hemi's are made in Mexico
which I did not know.It looks like Chrysler is trying to save money by importing it fom Mercedes instead of retooling a plant to make the trannys here.And save big money by having the Hemi made in Mexico.Its all about the money.

shipo

I wouldn't worry too much about the source of the Hemi engines. Chrysler has had this plant (located in Saltillo) for many years now, and back in the 1980s I did a computer installation down there and saw the operation first hand. I was impressed.

Saltillo is one of the most educated cities in Mexico (if not the most educated in all of Latin America) and has a very high quality work force, hence the fact that there are many large international companies located there.

Me personally, I'd almost rather have an engine built in Saltillo as opposed to Detroit, and I'm a Detroit native.

Best Regards,
Shipo

xtec

I wasn't saying it was a bad thing that the Hemi is made in Mexico.I just thought that the Hemi being A icon of
American muscle would have been made in the US.I'm just from the old school when everything was made here,and I hate to hear about all the layoffs in the american car companies.The Ford Fusion is made in Hermosillo,Mexico
as well as its sister cars.This does save the companies a lot of money.It also keeps the prices down so we can afford them.Times change.

moparmaniac

My 2005 300C 5-speed was made in the US.

xtec

You might have the only one made in the US.I have yet find one made in the US.Unless the early models had them,but they are a German made tranny.I have a book on the 300s and it says that the 5speed trannys are a Mercedes and the 4speed is made in Kokomo,Indiana.I would doulble check your window sticker and it should say DE or Germany for the origin.The engine should say MX.Thats for the Hemi.

sah2

Recently back into the American sedan...and solely due to the 300C. I reviewed, test drove, negotiated, etc with the following makes:
Saab 9-3 & 9-5(been in Saab's since 1999)
Infiniti G35
Lincoln LS
BMW 330
300C

I honestly feel, after much effort, the 300C delivers everything I want in a car:
Stying
Performance
Comfort

...and for the best value as well.

I am quite excited to have this product...kudos to DCX.

moparmaniac

My car was built in August 2005. The country of origin for the tranny is spelled out "United States" and for the engine it is spelled out "Mexico". I looked at some stickers on inventory search as see that the country is now abbreviated. Curious that most trannys now come from Germany. I'll wager that if you check again in a couple of months you will see US sourced trannys. I bet the factory gets bulk shipments from each country during certain periods and they show up in mass alternately in several weeks of runs at a time. Most likely the US factory doesn't have the capacity to fill all orders now when they might have earlier in the model production.

xtec

I said that the early ones might have trannys that said US.
That doesn't stop the fact that your tranny is a Mercedes
and that its made in Germany.Let me know when you see a
window sticker that shows the 5speed is made in the US.I
also have to tell you that your car is not assembled in
the US.Its built in Canada which has been used for years by Chrysler.So you could say that these cars aren't American made.

greyfox1

I have a 2006 300C. The build date for it was May 5,2005. The window sticker clearly shows that the final assembly point was Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The engine came out of Mexico and the transmission was made in the United States of America.

xtec

I did find some Window stickers that did show US origin.I
also noticed that the last 6 numbers were below the 200000
on the VIN.There was a small pecentage that said US.Only
thing I can think of is that the US plant can't keep up with production.My Charger was built on 9-2-06 and the sticker says Germany.My last 6 numbers starts with 247000.
Another mystery is the sticker shows the 300 with 75% parts from US/Canadian,while the Charger shows 70%.Both cars are made in the same place and are identical other than the looks.We are coming up with some mystery here.

xtec

My built date was 9-2-05.Sorry

timcar

My apologies if this has been posted before, but I recently have seen several 300C's with a wire mesh grill in place of the normal Egg Crate design. I thought it might be an SRT-8, but it's not, and is evidently an after market product. To offer perspective, I normally dislike after market add-on's intensely But this grill transforms an already great looking car into an even better one! It really integrates all the design element of the front end and provides a much more sophisticated appearance. It's interesting to note that the 300 brochure shows this grill on an earlier design drawing for the 300. Wonder if the current production grill was a branding decision. If so, I think it's misguided as the car looks better with the wire mesh grill.

illini4

The 300C grill pattern originates from the grill on the original '55 C300. Mesh grills are available from several aftermarket sources, including Mopar parts.

deepakch

So I think the million $ question is, the cars with the tranny problems did they come from Germany or the US or both? I don't think that we will ever be able to figure out the % content US/Canada based.

lavender1

I was at my dealer today for an oil change and I asked them about where the 5 speed trans is made at He showed me in there book ALL trans are built in the US but the 5 speed is a Mereceds design trans.The problem with some trans slipping or water in the trans is coming from the fill tube for the trans. Hope this help solves this question.

xtec

Not all the 5speeds are made in the US.Mine says Germany,and A few are made here.

osiris42

I bought a lot of my aftermarket addon's from here:

http://www.autotrucktoys.com/300/Chrysler-300-Exterior-C1195.aspx

pablo3

Just ordered my Heritage Edition two weeks ago - it is coming in outstanding Inferno Red Crystal Pearl. For those of us who can't quite make it to the SRT-8, this car is the answer. Was able to order at 36,000 - the seats are outstanding, maybe nicer than the SRT's, just hope the performance suspension is not too tight. Supposed to be here in 6 more weeks. My wife is going to kill me for this purchase but I always knew I would give my life for something. Only going to make about 2000 of them.

bulsi

I have just installed 20 inch wheels on my 2005 Chrysler 300 Touring model. Do I have to upgrade the speedometer or will the engine/transmission controller take care of the change from 17 inch wheels to 20 inch wheels?

in2locks

You will need a trip to dealer to calibrate speedo