Um, Steve -
Did you notice that "KC" started this thread on Saturday- by replying to
a post made in 2004?
Steve Stone wrote:
Wow, 159,000 miles and it finally wore out.
Did you use synthetic oil or regular oil? Did you do oil changes on
schedule?
Just trying to anticipate what to look forward to since I am the
original owner of a 2000 3ooM with 42,000 miles.
I own a 2000 Chrysler 300m - bought it new back in November 1999.
It has 133k miles on it. In 2012 or 2013 I took it to a dealer to
replace the timing belt - because it was the original belt and it was
10+ years old and if that belt breaks then the engine is toast.
Otherwise the engine was in perfect shape. I had the timing belt idler
pulley, the water pump and a few seals changed as part of the same job
because why not - since all the labor cost was already covered to get to
the timing belt.
The engine is otherwise trouble free in 16 years. Had to replace 1
spark-plug ignition coil. Had to replace the front exhaust couplers
(the semi-flexible joint after the cat convertors) and the exhaust
resonator (where the 2 exhaust pipes join into a single pipe, sort of
looks like a muffler). Otherwise all original exhaust components remain
in place, including the muffler (bottom surface is peppered with holes
but they don't seem to make a difference).
Just make sure you change the gear oil (differential fluid) every once
in while. The 300m transaxle has it's own oil sump, takes a liter of
SAE 90 oil (don't use synthetic!). Other cars lubricate the transaxle
with transmission fluid - which is lame.
Never had anything done with the transmission. Even tranny oil is
original!
Car gets 28 to 30 mpg on the highway at 65 - 70 mph.
Never had anything done to fuel system (original injectors, original
fuel pump, original fuel filter, etc).
Suspension is where the focus is on the 300m (and probably all LH-body
cars). I've replaced all 4 struts (with complete replacements, known as "quick-strut" units, fully assembled). Unless you drive on very flat
and well-maintained roads you're going to have to replace the front sway
bar bushings every 4 years or live with a knocking sound from the front
wheels.
I've replaced all 4 wheel bearings (because why not if the price is
right). Have replaced the sway bar links once or twice. I've replaced
one of the lower control arms and torsion strut rod and bushings, going
to do the same on the other side soon. Still using original outer tie
rods but I'm going to be replacing the inner tie rod bushings (because
these wear out and I assume mine has). Probably buy the entire rods and
ends because they're cheap enough (Rock Auto).
One stupid problem I have is that over the past 3 years I've been
getting less and less heat out of the heater. Heater core getting
plugged up seems to be a chronic problem in LH cars. I'll try to flush
the shit out of it when I work on the inner tie rod bushings (need to
remove the hood and cross-piece thing to do that, and that gives me
access to heater hoses at the firewall).
Other than the timing belt, I do all the work on this car myself.
Door speakers wear out (cone separates from frame) and I've used epoxy
to repair it, but it doesn't last.
I bought a set of after-market head lights from china or singapore a few
months ago (Eagle Eyes, from ebay) for $80 (came with light bulbs) and
wow, crystal clear head lights make the car look new again!
So yes, the 3.5 engine is fantastic. I should have bought another
chrysler 300m back in 2004 and just kept it in a box for when my 2000
car finally wears out. I do not like anything that anyone's making now,
and I've always hated the bloated, boxy and heavy 300c that Chrysler
replaced the 300m with in 2005.
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