Yeah, I did mine in about three hours with no previous experience, but the key is having good tools - a full sized floor jack and short jack stands is best, a couple of large 1/2"-drive socket wrenches with extensions and deep-well metric sockets, and a spring compressor for the front struts... Oh, a large-offset 17mm box wrench and a 6mm allen wrench is a MUST to get the top nut of the struts off, because they are recessed. The allen wrench holds the center shaft so it doesn't turn.
Hmm, I didn't have to remove any cowl, I assume you're talking about the plastic piece where the wipers are mounted?? There's still a metal lip under that plastic that gets in the way of removing the top strut nut. THAT was the most PITA issue I had - I had to cut down the allen wrench so the short side was only about 3/4" long, there is barely any clearance to get the top nut off the front struts with the boxwrench on the nut and the allen wrench on the shaft!
