Time For A New Car?

I took my nine year old BMW to the shop (a great shop BTW - not the dealer) to have them look at 9 things that I needed to have fixed or maintained in my car. It looks like the estimate is going to be almost $2000 if I get everything done.

It seems like a lot of money but then I think about how many months of car payments that is for a similar car and it doesn't seem as much. I certainly haven't had to put too much into it over the last two to three years. At any rate, the plan is to probably buy a new car next year (I always looked at the 'price' for me to buy a premium car was that I would have it for 10 years). So now I have to start thinking about what needs fixing and what doesn't as the next year rolls around...

Still love the car though and honestly (this is a good lesson for me and for the readers) I think if I took better care of the interior throughout it's life, I would probably be happy with this car for three or four more years... The hot Texas sun and my lack of interior care has left the seats looking less than great.