2005 300c

[Mi_300]

Howdy,
My wife and I are looking at a 2005 300C and were wondering what typical types of problems to keep an eye out for. The car we are looking at has 44K miles on it, fully loaded, NAV etc. Pretty sweet car. Seems to be in real nice shape. Thanks for any help :beerchug:

[Mi_300]

Also, what kind of gas mileage is everyone getting with these cars??

[Mi_300]

Anyone out there that can tell me anything???

[JarZ]

The early build 05's have been prone to electrical gremlins. I believe "early" build is before August of 2004. Check the driver's side door for the build date. Also, on some 05's the rear driver's side window motor would stop functioning. Easy fix but check it before you buy. The transmission can sometimes leak because of a failty o-ring seal, but it is a TSB and should be fixed at no charge if it wasn't already. AFTER your test drive, check to see if the tranny is dripping fluid on the ground. Pink drops.

Check the front wheels for any play in the tie rods - give the tires a good yank and check to see if they're lose at all.

Other than that, these cars are built extremely well and 44k is nothing on the 5.7 Hemi.

What are they asking?

EDIT: I have the same engine but in a Magnum and I'm getting around 15 mpg average with a lot of stop and go traffic. With MDS on the highway, you can probably expect 24-25 ish with in 4-cyl mode.

[Mi_300]

They are asking 18K for it. Didn't seem to bad to me. We took it for a test drive and loved it. Going back up there Wednesday after a doctors appointment and will take it out again and check for drippings like you mentioned. All the windows work, etc. I'm aware that its a used car, hence a few minor problems won't bug me TOO bad. I'll also check the door for the build date like you mentioned. Thanks for the help. :D
I'm hoping we can seal the deal on this, I'd sure like to see it parked outside :D :D

[sidetrack]

Most, if not all, the 2005's are older than the 36 month factory warranty.
The 2005's starting selling in April 2004 and I believe the 2006 builds started around midyear 2005. I assume you are not buying/transferring an extended warranty from the current owner.

The 2005's had their fair share of issues and hopefully the past owner(s) dealt with the problems.
You can see all the Technical Service Bulletins issued on all the 300's here.
http://www.300cforums.com/forums/tsb-recall-forum/15480-tsbs-complete-list-all-tsbs-recalls-issued-2005-2008-lx-models.html

There were a couple of minor recalls for the 2005 car.
If you have the vin, enter the vin in the Chrysler website to see if the car should have been fixed under a recall.
http://www.chrysler.com/en/owners/

One of the biggest chronic problems with the 2005's was the right lead/pull. The car would pull to the right. On you test drive, get on the freeway and see if the car drifts/pulls to the right.

Another problem a lot of owners are starting to experience are clunking sounds in the front suspension. Outer/inner tie rods are a known problem with the car. Have your front suspension carefully checked before you buy the car.

If you want to spend the money, take the car to a dealer and have them check for trouble codes. Any errors/problems the car's PCM / computer observes are saved as DTC' (Diagnostic Trouble Codes). You can check for the codes yourself by following this procedure.
http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=12361

But it will take you some time afterwards to research the codes and you will probably have to have the dealer fix it anyway.

[Mi_300]

Thanks for the tips. The car did pull slightly to the right. I'll get the vin and check it out for the recalls as well. No clunking that I noticed...

[JarZ]

Oh and don't forget ALL 2005 300's and Magnums have the 7/70000 Powertrain warranty... BUT you can only get it transferred to your name if you will be the second owner. If you'll be the third owner, you cannot get the warranty. If you will be the second owner, it should cost you around $150 to transfer to your name. Check if it's a one-owner when you run the vin - "free" warranty like that is a nice bonus. :)

yeah I forgot ahout the right pull. Very common.

I hope you get it and this forum is the BEST source of info for both mods and repairs you'll ever find for the LX cars so you'll have plenty of tech support after your purchase. :)

For comparison, I paid 16500 out the door for my 2005 Magnum R/T in February. All options except nav, sunroof and roofrack. Practically mint condition - 48k miles and a certified pre-owned car. I think 18k is probably a little on the high side. I think you can get it for 17k out the door, if you haggle them a bit.

[Mi_300]

I'll check, I hope its only had one owner. I'll go up on Tuesday and get the VIN if possible to check out those things. How do I go about getting the warranty transferred if this is possible?? Also, on the recall items, if they have not been performed, will I be able to take it to the dealer to get done, as I'm not buying it from a "chrysler" dealer?

[JarZ]

Any Chrysler dealer will be able to transfer the warranty for you, if you're the second owner. :)

Yes, TSB are handled by your dealer and you don't have to have bought it there for them to do it. non-Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealers wouldn't be able to do the TSB's

[Mi_300]

10-4 and thanks :D

[sidetrack]

TSB's are only covered under the factory or extended warranty. Otherwise you will have to pay for the repair.

Recalls are different. I believe Recalls will always be repaired for free, even if you are out of warranty. But I could be wrong.

Here is the verbiage from the Chrysler website on how to transfer the factory and extended warranty.
http://www.servicecontracts.daimlerchrysler.com/gn/gn_dcscQuestions.html#gnQ_16

To transfer the Powertrain Warranty, you must have an authorized Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep® dealer process a "Transfer of Coverage Application" for you. The cost for this service $150. You pay this fee directly to the dealer. You must apply for a coverage transfer within 30 days from the date you buy the vehicle.

Transferring Your Chrysler Service Contract
One of the many benefits of selecting a Chrysler Service Contract is that you can transfer plan coverage to a new owner if you decide to sell your vehicle - which could add substantially to the value of your vehicle.

If you sell your vehicle, you can transfer your Chrysler Service Contract coverage to the new owner, as long as the plan has not been cancelled. Your plan coverage may be transferred only once, to the first subsequent purchaser of the vehicle. The plan needs to be transferred at the time of the vehicle sale or within 60 days of the sale.

To make the whole process easier and faster we recommend that you take your Plan Provisions and the completed transfer form to your Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep® dealer and they will assist you with the transfer.

If you are unable to see your dealer to transfer, you may also complete and sign the transfer portion of your Plan Provision, or print a transfer form from the My Plan (http://www.servicecontracts.daimlerchrysler.com/go/go_myPlanMain.html) page on this website. Transfer requests need to be signed by the owner to whom the Plan Provisions were originally issued, and they need to be received by Chrysler Service Contracts within 60 days after vehicle sale. (A transfer fee of $50 exists in most states - please refer to your Plan Provisions for the applicable transfer fee in your state.)

You may send your completed transfer form with the transfer fee to:

Chrysler Service Contracts
Transfer Department
P.O. Box 2700
Troy, Michigan 48007-2700

[karfreek]

For comparison, I paid 16500 out the door for my 2005 Magnum R/T in February. All options except nav, sunroof and roofrack. Practically mint condition - 48k miles and a certified pre-owned car. I think 18k is probably a little on the high side. I think you can get it for 17k out the door, if you haggle them a bit.

Dont for get, nav was a 2,100 option and sunroof was 1,000, both things the car he is looking at has. Also, the 300s start much higher price wise and go up from there. Not really comparing apples to apples here.

I am still happy with the deal I got on my R/T. Feb 06, 3,400mi, $25,000 out the door. And they paid off the POS Grand Prix that my wife was upside down on by $4,000. My Magnum stickered for $34,500 new. Not too bad.


Jay

[JetBlack300c]

don't know if it has been mentioned yet, but if you are the second owner (and the dealer should know) then you can transfer the 7/70K powertrain warranty for $150 up to 48K miles, so do it..

also might consider a chrysler service contract for $1200 - $2000 for 7/70K, 7/85K, or 7/100K with option for ZERO, $2500, $500 Deductible.

it is well worth it, especially for a 2005, as it was the first build year for these cars and the 2005's have some bugs in the computers and electrical stuff..


compare the prices from your dealer to the vendors here for the Service Contract, I got my Chrysler Warranty from a Dealer Rep here for $500 less than my dealer asked, which allowed me to get the ZERO deductible 7/100K option for less than my dealer wanted for the 7/70K $500 option.

[Mi_300]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I plan on haggling the price of the car. I really want to find out if the warranty will be transferable. Hopefully I'll have time to run up and get the VIN # today...

[TheEricHarris]

Where in MI are you? If you look really hard, you could probably find a 300c in AWD. Just throwing that option out there incase you didn't know it was an available option :)

Here is one for example in CA (2006, 44k miles $18,900): http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chrysler-300-Series-C-2006-CHRYSLER-300C-AWD-HEMI-XENON-REAR-SENSOR-CHEAP_W0QQitemZ160242479605QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m160242479605&

I'm sure you could find one similar for under $18K if you really look.

[4life]

If your in MI and close to the canadian border check autotrader.ca.

The 300c are now a dime a dozen over here in ONT

[Mi_300]

Where in MI are you?


I'm in Chesterfield.
I knew about the AWD 300s. I'll keep my eye out. Going tomorrow to try to work a deal :D