As I am a mechanic I wouldn't pay someone else to repair the engine. I'd repair it myself. My opinion is that cost of the replacement of a connecting rod may well exceed the value of an old car. I just "clunkered" Mom's winter beater 91 300E 4matic. I consider the program a waste of a lot of perfectly good hardware. It sure did PO my "progressive" friends when they found out this right wing wacko cashed in on our fellow tax payers, however.