I can understand your frustration. My answer is to switch cars twice a year. The E320 cabrio is my summer car (I can't afford lay out the money for this car and just let the rust eat at it). So I have all winter to address any issues the car has, assuming they aren't emergency repairs. Same with my winter car. I don't have to rush through any repair jobs, plus I can do the complicated repairs.

Consider working on your own car a second job.

Some of the jobs quoted should overlap. Head gasket replacement also involves doing everything needed to fix the upper timing cover seal leak.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K