Can anyone tell me their experiences about the possibly increased stiffness of a Coupe when equipped with C7 package.

When I test drove the regular Coupe, it was not soft at all, so it may be that I may subject my kidneys to excesive shaking and bumping if I order the C7 package, as I believe that this is the way to go (love those metal+rubber dots pedals). Even more, I heard that the C7's (manual) shifter has shorter throws, and that the suspension is sport tuned. Is that true, or just guessing by others? By the way, I liked the regular manual transmission, as it was popping out of the gear easily when I would touch the shifter (what I guess could be called "positive shifting").

I am ready to order my Coupe, but it is kind of difficult without even test driving (trying) the C7 package and the assumed sportyness of it! I started to question myself even more because it seems that nobody in Miami is ordering C7 package, regardless of me seeing that most of us know exactly what are the available options.

Please share your experiences and insights.
Thanks.

 

I anwered your questions in the "Standard Colors" thread. The change in ride quality in minor. The package is a great value. If you are getting the 6 speed, you get a short throw shifter.

 

Get it (C7).

It is an awesome value, and you will be kicking yourself later if you don't.

 

When does the kicking stop! Aaaarrrgghhh!

 

Apparently if you don't get the (C7) package it never does.

 

it is a must have on your option list.
even if it was just to upgrade the wheels and color-key the door handles i think it would be worth it.

the shifts are noticibly shorter and much more comfortable than stock.

the only thing you must get if you do get the c7 are wheel locks.

ryan

 

it doesn't, and in fact gets harder once one has spent $2500+ after the fact to simulate the $700 C7 pack, and still not having all of the C7 perks (shorter shift, etc).

 

Well, unfortunately most of you have not seen my post in the "Standard Colors" thread, answering to Lynn, so here it goes again:

"Lynn, how much shorter are throws in the C7 manual? I jut came back from Pompano MB Autohaus where I had a chance to see and drive a CCoupe with C7, but it was an automatic one.

I was not impressed with the look of wheels nor with any other part of the C7 package. Actually, the only thing that I liked in there were the aluminum pedals, but I believe that $750 for them is a little bit too steep. So I will have to rethink my order.

Now, as to the short-throw shifter, when I drove the regular, non-C7 manual, I liked the shifter very much, so I really do not know how much the shorter shifts would improve my feelings about the C7 package. Please, share your experiences with me (you can find my e-mail in my profile, so you do not waste any of the board's bandwidth; however, I believe that your answer would be very applicable to others with the same dilemma, so let it be your choice how to answer). Thanks. "[COLOR=darkblue][B]

So, as you can see I was certainly not impressed with the look of the wheels! Call me weird, but to me the 5-spoke regular ones look better. The C7's with those false screws on the rim look to me like a lame aftermarket try to imitate 2-component wheels which would cost much more. Also, I like when the number of spokes matches the number of wheel screws, i.e., 5, but maybe I am too puristic here (you know the Bauhaus' "form follows function motto).

Now I have even more to think, because it seems to me that you, based on your comments here, would put an emphasis on the shifter's short-throws.

However, there is no way for me to check that, because there has been no manual C7's here for about 2 months. Is there anyone in or close to Miami with C7 so I can try it?

 

short shift? really!!! C7 just keeps on getting better.

 

Well, as you suggested, I am going to call you weird.

The C7 wheels, to me look a whole lot better than the stock ones.

But, reality is what you make it.

So, I respect your opinion, nor do I derive any energy from it, negative or positive.

 

Personally I like my standard coupe wheels in chrome. They stand out from the sea of coupes that comes to the dealer to get their free car wash. I haven't seen another one yet with chrome wheels. So for now the pain has stopped.

sk-mia, love that avatar, rivals mine!

 

sk-mia

The shifter in the C-7 package feels a lot like the shifter in the SLK with a 6 speed. I have 2 C-7 package Coupes in stock in Jacksonville btw. I can’t see how you could pass on the C-7 package: Door handles, Steering wheel, chrome petals, Shifter, Exhaust (not just a chrome tip different sound also), and the wheels and tires. You have to ask your self when more is really more ----------- always… Get the C-7 and swap out the wheels or put them on E-bay you still get a great package. The shifter alone will cost you more then the package to install. What color are you looking for?


Randy

 

Thanks to all for the responses.

Renn, sorry, these 7-spokers look ugly to me. And those rim screws are a little bit too much faux for my taste. I already wondered to replace them, but as I will be leasing it, it will not be recommendable to do any changes to it. The color coded handles and metal pedals are OK but they are overwhelmed by the wheels, which I simply cannot not-to-see. Therefore, I believe that I will go with a simple Brilliant Silver + Charchoal Cloth and that's it. I do not mind spending money for additions, but I do not like any of the options. Actually, I hate sunroofs, as I cannot use them in Miami because the sun will be burning my skull. The only one that I could go with is the power seats, but they will not be necessary as I will be the only one who will be driving the car - I currently have them and I have used them maybe twice in 3 years, when my friend test drove my car. I understand that some options could make the car more valuable when it will be sold as used, but I do not care about that as the car will be leased.

So to summarize, I decided to consider CCoupe for my next car as I was surprised how it came close to the driving feel and dynamic of my 99 BMW 323i when I drove the at the MB Power Event this summer. In addition of me liking it, I will also get much more utility from it, which I certainly realized when I had to ask a friend of mine to bring my new TV from the store in his car, because it could not fit into my Bimmer. And the CCoupe's price makes the leasing of it certainly more acceptable than Bimmer's. So I will be getting a more utalitarian car for less money, does not that sound good to you as well? Of course, I would like to test drive the C7 manual to put myself at peace, but there has been no such cars in Miami for more than 2 months. And I have to order mine in a week in order to get it at the beginning of April 2002.

Buellwinkle, you kind of pushed me to find this avatar and put it with my name. He, he, the only thing is that yours show you have fun, although you kind of look creepy, while my shows that I am in a constant, repetitive yet useless work, which kind of reminds me to what I am doing every day when I go to work. My only joy in those day-to-day repetitions is that at least I can enjoy the drive in my Bimmer, which soon will be changed into CCoupe and which will be equally rewarding, I hope.

Todd, you are right. To each on his own - I guess, this is why we all do not drive same cars. Of course, some economics are involved as well, but we all get whatever we believe is the best and whatever we most like for the money that we have. And I even said that most of you will consider me weird because of me actually not liking those C7 wheels.

 

i think we are polar opposites! i really like the C7 wheels, you forgot the steering wheel w/ the thumb rests in addition to the colored handles/metal+rubber pedals. you also get performance tires. and i love the moonroof! in fact, i got the c-coupe just so i can have a panoramic moonroof which is relatively unique (at least for now). i don't know about the utility that much. i know vertically, it may have more space but width-wise, it doesn't seem very useful - i have to fold the seats down for my golf bag. also, i don't know about current model bmw sedans (full size alloy spare in my 3 wagon) but the coupe comes w/ a donut spare that you blow up (see other thread ) after spraying some stuff into it...

your original question deals w/ the c7's sportier shifting/suspension. i think if you're comfortable w/ the standard shifting, you've already made up your mind. especially if its a lease - i'm assuming you're turning it in after 3 years. just don't get orion blue! oh yeah, you are weird! :p

 

Originally posted by young:
Yup, it will be a 3-year lease. And the car will be Brilliant Silver, hawe to reflect as much sun as possible! I'm in Miami, it is hot weather throughout the year.

 

I leased my car, gave away the base wheels and tore out the cloth interior, call me a fool but I refuse not to have fun.

Anyway my question is how do I get my gif to animate I am computer literate but can't make it happen.

 

oh, benzo, why do i feel like i'm going to create a frankenstein!

you need software like macromedia fireworks or ulead's animator program http://www.ulead.com/ga/trial.htm ... there may be freeware somewhere but i don't know any *cough*morpheus*cough*

 

benzo, i used the GIMP click here
it's the opensource equivalent of photoshop, so it does a whole lot and is completely free. it's available on linux, windows, and osx(soon).

to make the animated avitars just make a bunch of layers, put them in the desired sequence, and then save the file as a .gif. and specify, when prompted, that you want to animate the layers. you can also tell it how long to wait for the next frame. on mine, i think i told it to wait 100ms.

enjoy.

 

I've done some research, but I'm not sure yet. Some people on this thread have written that there is a different manual transmission with the C7. I can't find any mention of this on MB's site. It looks like they just replaced the physical shifter, but not the mechanics of the transmission. Is this right?

 

i also would like some conclusive evidence for the shifter. i know its a smaller sized shifter but is the throw shorter? it just seems like you get a LOT of stuff for $750

btw, vince, i just looked at GIMP and the windows version seems to be old and it says it doesn't support GIF, have to install plug-ins, etc. anyway, i think MS Frontpage can create animated gifs too (it comes w/ MS office pro)

 

sk-mia,

If you want to reflect the sun and heat why did you get the dark interior and why silver? I would imaging that white would reflect the most heat and the oyster seats would attract way less heat then charcoal. On a hot sunny day put your hand on a silver car and then on a white car, you'll see a huge difference.

 

Well, silver is the color of German race cars, and therefore, there I go. Not that the C Coupe is a race car, but I kind of like that color the best. I had before a white car, and could see black dust/dirt in groves on the hood, that, I guess, sedimented during rains and condensation, anyway, not a nice sight. I did not take the oyster interior because I see it not matching the silver exterior; however, oyster may match the white one, your choice would be pretty good. Anyway, I am pretty happy with my color choice, and am willing to sacrifice some comfort for the looks.
Also, I know that the panorama has a shade, however, I guess that I do not like to spend money on things that I will not be using. As I know how many times I have opened my lil' mooonroof on my Bimmer in last 3 years, that panorama roof will be used rarely or even never... You know, I have caught myself using the sunroof on my Bimmer only because I do have it, not that I really need to open the roof. And then I catch myself closing it pretty soon, and then I have to manually pull the shade (Bimmer's moonroof does not have motorized shade like Benz), ouch, my right shoulder tentinitis. I tell you, all these things just upset me, you know!!!

 

I hear ya, I have never been a sunroof fan. We got a ML320 recently as a loaner and took the wife for a long ride and the sunroof was horrible. The booming noise created by wind buffeting was unbearable. I too open the sunroof for the joy of pushing buttons because it's there and then close it within minutes. My biggest concern with the panorama roof was going out on a 100F+ day and roasting with the A/C on full blast.

 

So it seems that we agree. Great!
Now, why did you change your avatar, I liked your old one better.
I will not be changing mine, as I said, that one depicts my life, therefore, it is me!

 

Thanks for noticing. Just wanted a change to depict my happy go lucky lifestyle. I'll put him back when more people notice he's gone.