Just a quick update for posterity:

Brakes:

• Replaced front and rear rotors with Zimmerman (non-drilled) items
• Rebuilt front and rear calipers, and removed all traces of once-red paint
• Replaced PBR Deluxe pads with PBR Ultimates
• Bled brakes and replaced fluid with ATE Typ 200
• Replaced rotor and caliper bolts
• Replaced front wheel bearings (check the pic – they take a lot of torque!)

General:

• Changed oil (Mobil1 0W-40) and filter (OEM)
• Replaced rear and side///M-blems (rear was absent, sides were faded)
• Replaced hood switch to fix the over-eager alarm
• Replaced rear trunk struts
• Replaced weird Kragen-style rear view mirror with OEM auto-dimming “M oval” mirror
• Lubed door hinges, handles, and hardware
• Checked for code faults (looked very good) and cleared codes

Tires:

• Shod the stock Roadstars in Kumho Ecsta SPTs – 235/45/17 and 255/40/17

I love this car. It now stops at least as well as it goes, which means I can make it go a lot better before I stop. And it goes better than I do, which is a lot of fun.

What?

So far, the car is fantastic. Pretty well stock, with Bilstein HDs and some urethane bushings in the rear.

The previous owner painted the stock calipers red (Come on now – that’s just not okay). Reverting to stock black is the first order of business. While I am in there, I am going to replace the semi-warpy Zimmerman drilled rotors with OEM Brembo units, upgrade from PBR Deluxe pads to PBR Ulitmates for a little better fade resistance, replace the stock brake lines with new braided items, and rebuild the calipers with new bushings and seals.

Tires are the next items that needs to be addressed. Since the plan is to keep this as a street-only car, I am debating about what tires to put on. Knowing me, the “street-only” will last until the first track day or autocross of the season, so I will likely go with some maximum performace summer tires – the Hankook RS2 is a strong front-runner. Super cheap and super sticky. I have heard the sidewalls are soft, but I am willing to throw a set on to see whether that is indeed the case, and if so, if it bothers me.

Also high on the needs list: an M badge for the rear. Who takes those off?