Update: Got the truck back yesterday. $1291 bill. Ouch. Here's the breakdown:

- clean out EGR passages: $232 labor and $30 parts
- R & R plugs and plug wires: $180 labor and $610 parts
- R & R battery: $0 labor and $142 parts
- shop supplies: $55
- tax: $42

So I got off lucky on the EGR passages. What killed me were the plugs and wires. The wires are $41 each. My mechanic said the plugs were worn to the point they caused the failure of the plug wires. He said 6 were definitely bad and 2 came apart when he pulled them off the plugs, so he went ahead and replaced all 12 wires. I won't complain about that decision.

Now I need to take it back in for the harmonic dampener pulley replacement and A service.

My jaw is clinched and I'm gritting my teeth as I smile and say "I love my Mercedes."