2001 v. 2001.5 Difference

[atessier]

I understand that the 2001.5 is newer, but what is the difference between the two and how can you tell? I just bought a "2001 a4 avant" and am just curious.

[Seerlah]

01.5 has a CH box ECU while the 01 has an M box ECU. Other than that, it was just the production date which makes it an 01.5. Everything else is the same. The M box and CH box are even interchangable. But when it coming to switching chips (old school ways of tuning ECUs) they are not 100% compatable. You could run a CH box chip in an M box ECU, but you could not place an M box chip in a CH box ECU. With flashing ECUs being the way to tune ECUs now a days, you can swap tuned ECUs (M box and CH box) for the 01 and 01.5. Meaning, I could purchase a used M box tuned ECU and place it my 01.5 if needed(well, theoretically anyways).

[atessier]

Thanks for the information. My curiosity has been killed.

[2001A4QUATTRO]

Not true Seerlah... I run an M-box and a CH box in my 01.5. Came with a CH box though. The M-box will ONLY work with a manual car. The CH box will work with Auto and manual. I am assuming all of the automatic 01 &01.5's came with CH boxes. While the 5-speeds got M's and CH's.

[Seerlah]

^I just learned something new. I was always under the assumptuion that M is 01 and CH is 01. It is rather odd to have the M box not be able to be recoded via VAG com while the CH and P box can be recoded.

[Poopie]

chassis is also slightly different. The 2001.5 is almost like an s4 with the strengthened strut towers

[atessier]

How can I tell whether I have a 2001 or 2001.5? Is there anywhere on the vehicle that says this? I know the "carfax" just says 2001...

[Poopie]

look under the rain tray and look at where the strut mounts are bolted to the chassis. If you see a thick bar that runs between the left and right side then you have a 2001.5.

[biketsai]

Also the 01.5 sport package has the 17"celebration wheels, 01 has 16". I am 01 and running a CH

[UnitedFan]

Doesn't the 2001.5 have 20 more stock horsepower in the 1.8t (170)? Or is that all 2001s?

[hiwords1]

well car differences aside, if your car is 96-00, you only need 6 out of the 8 readiness codes to pass inspection in NYS. 01+ you need at least 7. idk about other states but that's just NYS

[Seerlah]

^My mechanic told me that, but now it is being confirmed. This is good info to know.

Doesn't the 2001.5 have 20 more stock horsepower in the 1.8t (170)? Or is that all 2001s?

All stock AWM (01 and 01.5) vehicles come with 170bhp. All other B5 A4 1.8T models have 150bhp, except in Europe (I think).

[2001A4QUATTRO]

Just checked and there is a large metal bar between the strut towers. It is not huge like the aftermarket ones, but it is better than nothing.. :)

[biketsai]

Just checked and there is a large metal bar between the strut towers. It is not huge like the aftermarket ones, but it is better than nothing.. :)

Yes, the stock strut bar!

[2001A4QUATTRO]

LOL I also had the celebration package so I knew mine was 01.5... LOL :))

[speedydragon]

pics of this oem strut bar? I really want to see it. My friends who own b5 S4 all told me that their S4 didn't come with an oem strut bar.

[DND]

I have a 2001.5 (so far as I know) complete with the 17" celebration wheels (which if anyone wants them then make me an offer) but I don't believe I got a strut tower brace, I had to make my own brace based on pictures I saw on these forums.

[speedydragon]

I have a 2001.5 (so far as I know) complete with the 17" celebration wheels (which if anyone wants them then make me an offer) but I don't believe I got a strut tower brace, I had to make my own brace based on pictures I saw on these forums.

haha what a clever way of telling me to search. :) you get a +rep for that! But I haven't seen the oem one on AZ, I've seen the aftermarket ones though

[DND]

Ha ha, sorry, that wasn't what I meant.
I didn't copy the OEM one, here's the link to the pictures of the one I copied the design from:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178740

I changed mine a little to make it fit better so I could retain the plastic shield.
Maybe one of these years I'll get around to posting some pictures...

Definitely not stock but this is what I was referring to.

[2001A4QUATTRO]

I will take a pic later. We definately have an oem one. It goes straight across underneath everything. not over like an aftermarket. Like mentioned in the thread though how much rigidity do you plan to get? Double firewalled setups are already pretty solid.. :)

[walky_talky20]

The CH box will work with Auto and manual. I am assuming all of the automatic 01 &01.5's came with CH boxes. While the 5-speeds got M's and CH's.

Hmm. My '01 Tiptronic came with an 'M' box. Interestingly I bought an APR chipped CH box out of a manual car (has been recoded) and it throws 2 codes constantly that the original ECU never did. Both to do with brake booster vacuum pump and pressure sensor, which I don't think my car has. I'm not sure if its a CH/M box compatibility problem or an APR chip problem. I don't think the codes throw a cel, but they are always there.

I thought the M-Box meant I was '01, not '01.5. I guess I'll have to check into this now.

[ZB4rngs]

isn't there a build date or a date in the VIN that tells what year it is? Also I noticed that a lot of timing belt kits reference a mid year split in the vin when ordering a timing belt kit for the AWM mine was the latter set of VIN numbers......so I took it that I had on 01.5. I have no tower brace, and I have an M box?