None of those repairs seem unusual considering the 2007 was a first-year model and 150k+ miles is a lot to expect nothing to go wrong.

Transmission issue could be the conductor plate, or a stuck solenoid. Shop will need to pull codes to figure it out most likely.

An early ML (or R) 320 CDI is not likely going be an economical vehicle....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)