Hi,
After reading through countless pages on Bilstein Sport shocks and lowering springs, I decided that it would be well worth my money to do a pseduo Sportline conversion. Everyone that sees my car thinks it is lowered; however, it is bone stock; it has the original shocks up front, and the rears only have 10k on them, the springs are original.
To make a long story short, I called up the local dealership and came to this deal:
4 Bilstein Soprt Shocks
4 Eibach Sport Springs
1 Front Sportline Sway Bar
1 Sway Bar bushing kit
Price through the dealership: $920.00 (USD) plus tax.
I also got the "hook up" through one of the mechanics who is wiling to install all these parts on my car as a "side job" for $350.00.
After my research, this seems like a good deal. Please correct me if I am wrong.

My questions or concerns are:
What size spring pads would be best for this setup?
Would I be ok if waited 'till I purchased new rims for getting a wheel alignment (approx. a month), or is it best to have an alignment done asap?
Are there any major things that could go wrong when the mechanic is installing them?? Since it is not a MBZ dealer job, it is no insured. (knocking on wood, hoping everything turns out ok)

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

-tony

...by the way, for anyone who read my prior post about the radar detector with built in GPS...I took the $220.00 plunge and bought one. I am VERY satisfied. It is MUCH more sensative than my old Cobra. It has a ton of features, the GPS is VERY accurate. It gives me a fairly good read out on current speed, max speed, average speed, as well as distance left until destination. The only draw backs I found are: it only has "beeping" alerts, I miss the voice alerts from the Cobra ("Be careful, X alert, or be careful, Ka Radar). Now I have to look at the radar detector to see which band is displayed. About 2 weeks ago, the radar detector paid for itslef when I was going a few miles over the speed limit- cough-cough, when it went off and all of a sudden I see a CHP cruiser right there under the Corta Madera overpass, idling with the lights on ready to pull someone over!! I immediately pressed my breaks and slowed down. With in a few seconds the Laser 1 band went off on my detector, first time I've heard a radar detector being triggered by a Laser band! I was lucky, very lucky.