you can always just do an aligment your self take off the tire and adjust the tie rod and eye it up it wont be as good a a machine of course but it worked for me i just lined it up took it for a drive and made changes from there. to test it i would go on the highway or somewhere that is straight for a miles or 2 and get some good speed and let go of the wheel and see which way the car is pulling then adjust. i adjusted mine myself and the tires seem to wear at the same pace if i were to take it to a shop

 

u cant do an alignment urself, it is all in degrees and u cant measure those with eyes, u need a comp.

for the rack and pinion, u dont need it. i have a 90 and never had that messed with cuz i havent had 2. but when my dad took his car in (323i) to a random tire shop to fix a flat, he stupidly asked them wat was causing a sound and they said he needed a new rack and pinion. he took it to the trusted mech we have for his car and they just topped off the tranny fluid (dont ask). but yea u dont need it (said this to show that they r just trying to get a quick buck) and for the struts, no. unless u wanna lower ur car

 

this is probaly what the shop saw or heard. and yes you can check all this yourself.
check for rack and pinion..........jack the front end off the ground. shake your wheel side to side (steering wheel must not be "locked") there should be play what seems to be like inner tie-rod play. put your hand over the inner tie-rod while someone shakes your front wheel. both inner tie-rods need to have play in order to condem the rack this way. also...you leaking fluid from rack? they would also condem it by that too.

halfshaft (axle) ..... clicking while turning, or ripped boot either outer or inner boot. if the boot is ripped they can condem the halfshaft.

motor mount.......put some torque on your motor and watch the motor flex from the "bad mount". if auto...easy.....step on brake....lightly tap gas. if manual.....pull ebrake....slowly let out clutch and gas in a rocking matter. visual check all mounts for cracks in the rubber.

struts........look at your struts to see if they are leaking. wipe your finger across where the rod meets the strut. if there is oil there....they can condem them. or push on each fender above the strut....does the car bounce more then 3 times? another condemed method used by shops.

rear alignment......that rear tire cupping is from lack of rotating your tires. rotate your tires more often. rear cupping might also be bad strut but lack of rotating is probaly the cause. look at the specs from the last alignment printout....post it and i will tell you if it need a rear alignment.

anything else i missed?