You'll probably want a deeper answer other than what I would do in your situation, but, if it were my car, past relationship or not, I'd get a second opinion before doing anything. For example, the harsh shifting at low speeds may be what you were told, but in my car the same symptom was corrected by adjusting the shift cable.

The point is you've gotten 1 shops opinion, get another without telling the 2nd shop what the first one said. In your area there are a number of excellent indy's. The Good Shop Forum here lists many.

Good luck with the car-

Bob

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Bob Jones
Bradenton, FL
'87 560SL-Sold
'99 SL500 For Now