Did you pop the left bank valve cover or just look at the cam & rocker throught the oil fill? If you pulled the cover a broken chain would be readily noted due to the bare sprocket. $3800 sounds like a complete upper end job due to t-chain failure.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.