I know how you feel. I think most of us would rather no one else touch our cars with regards to maintenance or repair. Maybe you feel like you let the old girl down letting those guys manhandle her the way they did. Emotional bond sometimes with these cars, especially if they are really old or you've saved them from oblivion and made them nice again. My 240D is a Texas car and looks exactly like yours except my interior is black. The thing I struggle with is that every time I fix something I find something else that needs attention.

Kevin

1978 300D
1979 240D