139k miles and time to do my left control arms, rights done under warranty @ 94k miles with OEM parts. German (Meyle) or Italian (Ocap) or ? Who has the best parts and prices? Should I do both sides now or wait until the rights fall off?

I'm guessing yours is a 98, so your kit is different and will be cheaper. Last time I did mine, I used a Meyle Kit from ECS and this time, a Febi/Bilstein kit for an aluminum upright S4 from PAP-Parts.

According to the guys at PAP, the early S4 kit (99-2000??) fits the 2000 and up D2 A8s. I'll get to it in the next few weekends (along with the Koni's and new top rubbers) and report back.

Everything for about $600 - more $ than the Meyle kit, but my experience with the Meyle kit was not great. Others may have had better results, and I heard some urban legend of a bad batch, so your mileage may vary.

To me, just doing one side seems whacked. Can you get your main lower arm done under the recall??<ul><li><a href="http://www.pap-parts.com/">http://www.pap-parts.com/</a</li></ul>

In the last two weeks, one guy who I put the Meyle set on 20k miles ago is getting some noise on an upper, I have a noise on one of my lowers with 13k now!

I am very happy with the off brand stuff from FCP so far on my wifes car but only about 7k miles.

A lot of guys on the A6 board have had bad luck with the Meyle's too. I see that Blau is carrying OCAP now too, no idea how they will hold up. Love Italian food but I owned a FIAT before so probably wouldn't be my first choice!

I've read that they were OE in the US, but that doesn't make it so. Can't remember where I saw it....

Did pieces with Meyle and they didn't last. Bought all 8 new from the stealer with a 20% discount ($1000 in round numbers. Added the stops, SB end links and Bilteins and I'm done for the next 90K miles. Now I ask you how much time do you have to go back and redo pieces and parts? Time you can't buy....parts you should buy the best.