Titz C7!
Dunno on the A/C situ; when mine went out on our '01 E53 several years ago, it was the FSR and a pretty simple fix. In fact, our '01 still has orig Freon charge, all orig A/C parts, et al.
I am Jonesing for a C7 Vert: retired bum budget curtails my 'just go out and get one' impetus, however. Maybe in late 2015, but I still love my dinosaur 2002 C5 Vert.
GL, mD