A4.B5.History.ModelYearChanges
From QuattroWorld Wiki
Identifying the various Model Years (MY)
The B5 underwent various exterior and interior changes over its' years in production. Here are the ways to identify a particular MY:
- '96 - Wide rear license plate area (Euro style) and small passenger mirror
- '97 - Amber taillights and US-width license plate area
- '98.5 - Red taillights v1
- '99 - Red taillights v1 and full size passenger mirror
- '99.5 - Many changes including red taillights v2 and lowered badges (the "facelift")
- '00 - New Sport wheels and headunit (Symphony), (extra slight crease added to the side sheetmetal?)
- '01 - Red mark on 1.8T badge signifying bump to 170 HP
- '01.5 - New 17" Sport wheels (quattro only)
(Table with pics to go here)
'96 and '97 only had "standard" shocks. There was no Sport suspension.
In mid '97 (before the time when the next-year's models typically become available), Audi put the new 30v V6 into the (otherwise) '97 2.8 and sold it as a '98. This is what we know the '98 or the "early '98" to be. When the fall came around and the next MY became available (both 1.8T & 2.8), there were a variety of changes made to the interior and exterior of the car. These vehicles are the ones we know as '98.5.
The '99 started at the normal time and part way through the year changes were made. These new vehicles (1.8T & 2.8) were known as 99.5.
Used with permission from MarkP
