Buying guide 300M ?

I have to own and drive the 300M before I die - now is the time.

I am looking at several used 1998/1999 (European) 2.7 V6 aut. models with
about 100.000 km on the clock. I will be test driving some of them this week
and I would like to knw where to look for possible problems with this car.

Thanks

JimR
Denmark

 

Jim,
Your biggest concern would be the 2.7L engine. The 2.7L engine has a
reputation for sludging up to a point of self destruction around 100 to
130 km. If a given car has mostly highway driving (versus short trip
and stop-and-go driving) and regular maintenance (i.e. 5 km oil and oil
filter changes), then it would probably be OK. I myself have 210 km on
my Concorde with 2.7L engine, and it runs great. I bought it used with
93 km on the ticker.

There are corrective and preventative measures for a sludge-laden engine
as long as damage has not started. To improve your chances with that, I
would get one with as few km's on it as you can afford. If a given car
has synthetic oil in it from early on, that is a big plus.

Other than the concern for the engine, the windows are a weak point
(early failures with window motors and the clips that hold the door
glass to the widnow lift break) - however, it could well be that any
such problems on a '98 or '99 would have already occurred and been fixed
with later, more robust parts by now.

You will find a few other nuisance problems, but probably no more or no
less than other makes and models of cars.

There are two forums that you might check out:
(1) http://300mclub.100megs42.com/forums/index.php
The North American market 300M does not come with the 2.7L engine, but I
find it a very useful forum even for my Concorde with 2.7L engine (other
than the engine, 300M is mechanically and electrically 90+% the same as
Interpid and Concorde).

(2) www.dodgeintrepid.net
That would be a good forum since some U.S. Intrepids have the 2.7L
engine. Just don't let the extreme negativity by some people there
about the 2.7L scare you. I also hang out on the Intrepid forums.

You'll find either place very helpful. Both are dominated by Yanks and
Canadians, but there are also some good people from Europe, Russia,
Saudi Arabia, Australia, etc.

Both forums have very good search features, and you will find several
threads answering your exact question (i.e., "I am getting ready to buy
X year of Y car. What things should I look for and what problems should
I expect?").

HTH!!!

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

The window motors have been updated and they still use those lift plates
that break. Did you replace the plates or the complete glass when yours
broke?

 

Everything imaginable were replaced on my 4 windows including
weatherstripping and they still tend to stick.

 

I think there were production or design flaws in the early clips, which
they have since resolved. After people have properly replaced the
clips, they do not seem to have any problems. I replaced just the
clips. That was three years ago. I haven't heard of any of the
replacement ones breaking.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Thanks, sludging up was also a problem with the 3.5 V6 in the Vision. I know
a Mopar mechanic who has redone several of these enggines. They tend to fail
somewhere about 150.000 km.

I am looking at 3 different used 2.7 models and one 3.5, they all have done
about 120.000 km.

I should be driving one of them tomorrow but we are having a serious snow
situation in Denmark right now so I'm not sure I will drive 150 km on snowy,
windy roads.

JimR

 

I don't believe any sludging of the 3.5 has ever been mentioned on this
newsgroup. 3.5 is extremely reliable engine.

 

Nope, the 3.5 never had a chronic sludging problem. Nor does the 3.2,
which is a close relative of the 3.5 and was used for a few years-
that's why its a popular swap-in for failed 2.7s. The 2.7 was a
different design and is the only one that had the sludging problem.

I'm not saying "no 3.5s EVER fail," but the fact is that they generally
don't. About the only thing that chronically happens to them is a lower
intake manifold gasket leak, and that isn't fatal. My own 3.5 has over
220,000 miles on it now, and has never had anything but routine
maintenance and a set of lower intake gaskets at 190,000 miles. While I
was replacing the lower intake gaskets, I pulled the valve covers off to
replace the valve cover gaskets as well, and took a look in the
overhead. Not only was there no sludge (and I mean not a single
FLECK...) the cams, rockers, pedestals, valve stems, and valve springs
looked brand new. Not just clean, NEW. I've never seen such a clean
engine at that kind of mileage.

 

There are a couple of consumer complaints on the NHTSA web site about the dash
cover cracking and tearing around the passenger airbag over time.

There have been some thoughts brought out in discussion groups about the need
to do a backflush on the cooling system with a 3.5 to prevent casting schrapnel
from plugging small internal water passages.

There are complaints about brakes and steering racks and tie rod ends.

There are paint quality issues, some I remember were it was real easy to mess
up the bumper covers in a hurry.

Two recalls I were seat back bolts and some sort of anti head banger cover for
the A pillar.

Windows stick, motors jam, door seals shrink.

Factory Goodyear tires suck. Most people should be thru them by now.

Wind noise concerns, windshield reflections, premature wear of leather seating
surfaces, gear shift, and steering wheel.

Some notes on shiny chrome like finish peekling off of levers and handles.

Improper removal / install of door panels results in cracked plastic

Easy to blow out the speakers.

I don't like the battery location.

I own a 2000 3ooM with 15,000 miles on the odometer.
Only problems I have had is a white haze that needs to be regularly cleaned
from the dash.

Still have the original Goodyear tires with plenty of tread and I will replace
them with something else as soon as needed.

The paint job could have been better. Some microscopic zits in the paint.

Otherwise the car is fine day purchased new April 2000.

Maybe if the 1988 New Yorker 3.0 rusts out I will get the 300M out of the
garage more often

Steve
N2UBP

 

Good reply Steve... you have a good memory! I have a 1999 300M with
48,000 miles on it. All those issues also pertain -- the white dust on the
dash is a puzzle? could that be the dust in the airbags? About every 3-4
months I have to wipe my dash clean to clear off this fine white dust...
anyone have any ideas.. And in spite of these annoyances the car is still a
joy to drive. RG
| There are a couple of consumer complaints on the NHTSA web site about the
dash
| cover cracking and tearing around the passenger airbag over time.
|
| There have been some thoughts brought out in discussion groups about the
need
| to do a backflush on the cooling system with a 3.5 to prevent casting
schrapnel
| from plugging small internal water passages.
|
| There are complaints about brakes and steering racks and tie rod ends.
|
| There are paint quality issues, some I remember were it was real easy to
mess
| up the bumper covers in a hurry.
|
| Two recalls I were seat back bolts and some sort of anti head banger cover
for
| the A pillar.
|
| Windows stick, motors jam, door seals shrink.
|
| Factory Goodyear tires suck. Most people should be thru them by now.
|
| Wind noise concerns, windshield reflections, premature wear of leather
seating
| surfaces, gear shift, and steering wheel.
|
| Some notes on shiny chrome like finish peekling off of levers and handles.
|
| Improper removal / install of door panels results in cracked plastic
|
| Easy to blow out the speakers.
|
| I don't like the battery location.
|
| I own a 2000 3ooM with 15,000 miles on the odometer.
| Only problems I have had is a white haze that needs to be regularly
cleaned
| from the dash.
|
| Still have the original Goodyear tires with plenty of tread and I will
replace
| them with something else as soon as needed.
|
| The paint job could have been better. Some microscopic zits in the paint.
|
| Otherwise the car is fine day purchased new April 2000.
|
| Maybe if the 1988 New Yorker 3.0 rusts out I will get the 300M out of the
| garage more often
|
| Steve
| N2UBP

 

I agree that's a good list. my only comment is about the cracking door
panels (the three holes along the bottom crack) - I think it's just
plain inadequate design - not due to improper removal/installation
(there are special washers available thru the dealer to cover the holes
and keep them from breaking further - DC put out a TSB on that.

Oh - and Steve forgot to mention the headlight bulbs are a PITA to
replace; angle bulbs won't fit without modifications, selection of
straight-based bulbs is very limited; headlight assys. need to be
replaced every 3 to 5 years due to hazing.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

I concur on the poor door panel design. After the dealer replace my 4
cracked door panels I started looking at other cars on the showroom floor
and how poorly the door panels had been installed at the factory.

 

I took a 500 km trip to try the 2.7l car today.

Even though it has 208 HP or something it seems quite slow running at normal
rpm's. It needs higher rpm's to deliver the power suitable for the car.

The car was not great, it had scratches all around, brakes that needed
replacement and a power steering leak. Also it had some oil 'sweat' from
both engine and gearbox.

JimR