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Moving the battery gives better weight distribution as you said and will also allow you to get rid of the 90 degree bend between the airbox and the throttle body which in theory is a restriction. Whether it would make a noticible enough difference I'm not sure.
No there not needed just get the tracking done once theyve been fitted aftera few weeks. Most people would say your doing well to get 18,000 out of a set of PE2's on the front.
Aftermarket kits only require washers and projector lenses IIRC. The PH1 172 headlights are projector and I dont think they ever check for washers so no problem there either.
I'm sure you can get them reconditioned for less than that though if that includes fitting then its probably not too bad a price. I wouldn't buy a used box as how do you know it works unless its been reconditioned?
Depends some are good some arn't. If you have the lower manifold with RS stamped on them, then they are normally pretty good but theres still room for improvement by using matched ones.
The tensioners would have been done also as they come as part of a kit. If you want to do it for piece of mind then fair enough but its not essential.
The whining will be coming from the aux belt pulley. I had exactly the same problem and yours is bang on due at 36k since it was last done.