[Nmbrsix]

Happy Friday! I finally got the car back. Per the guy at Tru Line, "You basically have a new car." Where have I heard that before...

Parts replaced:

-All 4 struts
-Strut bearings (F/R)
-Pivot bearings (F)
-Front thrust arms (chasing down the noise, didn't charge me for the part or labor)
-LR track rod (chasing down the noise, didn't charge me for the part or labor)
-LR control arm (had a loose ball joint)
-Front tires
-4 wheel alignment (duh, but wow was it out of alignment up front...and it was just done 2 years/7500mi ago)

I've only driven it about 15 miles with a little in-city and then 13mi of highway. Initial impressions:

-Steering is much smoother when stopped; I chalk that up to the new strut bearings up front
-No more noises! Hallelujah. (Apart from the damn headrest windscreens and center windscreen, argh)
-I will need more time to assess the Bilsteins once the new front tires get broken in a bit. From the short drive I've had so far, body control is MUCH improved, they are pretty busy at low speed over in-city pavement but not uncomfortable at freeway speeds with a much better sense of control. Overall this feels like about 75% of the US spec M030 car I drove (which felt a bit too harsh for comfortable in-city driving), which is a good compromise.
-Steering feel at highway speeds is much improved. Previously it felt like there was at least 3/4" of free play at dead center that made me worried the rack was bad; that's eliminated now. The car also tracks much better.

It's filthy, so if the weather holds over the weekend I'll give it some cleanup time and drive it as much as possible.