Ok, year later, the tension strut bushings were bad again last summer and I replaced the two struts entirely with OEMs. The knuckles in the lower control arms were in awful shape so rather than replacing the bushings I replaced both LCAs, I believe I used Febi. I was still not completely happy but I had no time for more wrenching.
In the last few weeks the car started to dance really badly going past NIH on Wisconsin Avenue and also wobbled oddly when making a 90 degree turn from a stop. So, I ordered the upper wishbones and finally got around to implanting them. An 8 on a scale of 1 - 10. Not that it is complicated but the nuts are very difficult to access in the engine compartment. The passenger rear is under the ECU so have to go through the wheel well (switched a leaky washer pump at same time
).
The bolts in the uprights get very oxidized and the knuckle is quite tight in there as well. Judicious use of a torch and a pneumatic hammer to drive the knuckle pin out of the upright are a must. Installed the winter tires at the same time last night and this morning finally got to drive it.
What a difference! No more dancing going past NIH! (I have a twice daily run past there to drop off and pick up offspring so that stretch is the test road....)
Next stop, rear wish bones and ball joints.
It has 205k KM now, about 130k miles, and it runs strong but I am looking to find a '14 or '15 35d with an M package in black or gray (has to have all black interior). (Unicorn alert.....) I will probably transplant this one to Europe soon. We are trying to establish a base there for post-retirement :-)