Took the car into the local german repair shop today for a "safety inspection". A second set of eyes is always good when you buy a higher mileage car.
I was under the belief that since my car tracks grooves on the road there must be bushings out. In case they were going to gloss over issues I was aware of I mentioned this to them and asked that they put added attention to this part of the inspection. Well, they say there's not a single bushing or ball joint showing wear. I'm skeptical and will be looking at it again soon. They seem to think that the Michelin Pilots are tracking grooves.
They found 0 leaks, all fluids clean and topped off. All good exceptnbrakes are at 15% front and 20% rear. That's a job I'd prefer to do on my own though. They quoted me $520 for F and R parts, labor and tax. Good to know but I ordered new pads and brake sensors from Pep Boys. Should be here tomorrow. Total cost $208 for Akebono pads since they have a 30% discount for online orders right now.