suspension changes

[Todd]

I just purchased a '95 M3 with Bilstein shocks and 18" wheels. The car seems to be 1"-2" lower than stock but the owner told me that he had only replaced the shocks and not the springs. Is it possible for the car to be lowered by just replacing shocks? I'm looking for a spring/shock combo that is about stock height (maybe SLIGHTY lower) and a ride that is close to stock, or slightly stiffer. What would my best set up be?
And about how much will that run me with the install? I won't be able to do it myself. Thanks for your feedback.

[Gary@Tirerack]

Todd,

Here is what I know. We don't carry any shocks that lower the car, but we don't have experience with Bilstein. My 1995 M3 looks lower than the other two stock 96+ M3's that other guys here at the Tire Rack own. We do carry a springset that lowers only 0.75" front and 0.3" rear by H&R which has very good ride quality. Installation costs vary wildly from place to place, suggest calling individual shops on that one.

More pricing and info on what we carry at :

http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=/suspension/index.jsp

[The HACK]

Bilsteins actually has a tendency to "RAISE" a vehicle..It's not changing the ride height per se, but the monotube design of a Bilstein shock don't have the tendency to "settle down" like other shock/strut designs. Shocks and struts do not affect ride height, springs do. A possibility is that the springs are old and have started to lose some of their rebound, thus the car settles to a lower position. Just a speculation.