i plan on gettin 17's or 18's....besides the rim/tire package...what else do i need? i kno i will need new struts and springs....but what else? i heard i need to get DUSTBOOTS/BUMPStops? are these thnig neccessary in order to put on the rims???

You don't need struts and springs for larger rims. You need them if your going to drop the car. If you do drop the car then yes, I would get KYB dust boots. They will give you a little extra suspension travel.

you may need tuner style lug nuts if your new rims require them because the stock lug nuts won't fit the lug nut size is 12mm x 1.25"

yea, you may need lug nuts and wheel locks(if you want security). As for springs/struts, you only need them to lower your car, not to change wheels. BTW....go 18". I went w/ 17s and wished I had gotten 18" as soon as they went on. Now I have 19s just to make it up to maxi.

would i need to realign my car after i ilower and install the rims onto the car?

i didnt, and i dont think its necessary. Unless your old setup had some uneven tires or something.

im gettin mixed answers.....my question is.....do i really need aftermarket struts if i lower my car on 17 or 18's?

The point of aftermarket performance struts is for the added pressure caused by "dropping" the car. If you opt not to get aftermarket struts this will cause your current stock struts (I assume they're stock) to die even quicker due to the lowering. As a result of this you'll have to buy new struts in the future,whether the new ones would be aftermarket or not at the time will be irrelavant, because you're going to have to pay for the install which is ~$150-200. And that alone would be about 1/2 - 3/4 of what you would pay for aftermarket struts in the first place. So you're better off just getting aftermarket struts to begin with and do it right the first time.

If the rims you're getting are wider than your current rims, I'd suggest getting a wheel alignment. I know when I went from my stock sawblades which are I think 6" wide and then went to 17 * 8 Momo Arrows it added an extra 2 inches, and the ride was pulling at the beginning until I got the alignment