If you've purchased a used B5 A4 that didn't come with owner's manuals, you need to purchase them. There's just too much information that you really need. Common question answered by the main owner's manual: Why does my alarm go off when I park with the windows cracked, and how do I prevent it?

The information below applies to the 2001 model year, but is essentially similar for all B5s.

Here's where you can get manuals:

AoA Technical Literature Ordering Center

There are basically four manuals you might consider:

Owner's Manual
Radio Manual
Maintenance Manual
Warranty Manual

If you have the navigation system or the telephone, there are also manuals for them.

So which of the four primary manuals do you need?
Definitely the owner's manual and the radio manual.

The maintenance manual is a booklet for the dealer to stamp, and contains basic information on what should be performed at each interval. That's available elsewhere, including in this FAQ. Skip.

The warranty manual can also be skipped. Your B5 A4 is out of warranty by now, and the extended warranty info on the polution control system is available on the AoA web site.

For the radio manual, get the Symphony/Bose which covers both. The difference is not in the radio itself (properly called a head unit), but in the amplifiers, speakers, and equalization settings that come with the Bose package. When you turn the radio on, the Bose package unit should say "Bose" on the display, but that's not a sure sign. Non-Bose owners can turn on the Bose equalization settings with the VAG OBD2 software.

Look on the list of manufacturer's codes on the sticker in the trunk. If you see the code 8AX, it's a Bose. If you see any other code beginning with 8A, or no code at all beginning with 8A, it's not a Bose.

If you see 8RB, 8RQ, or 8RY, it has Bose speakers and is a Bose. Bose systems should have 8 speakers, whereas the non-Bose have 6. But again, someone may have modified your system.

For those of you with older A4s, the Symphony radio only came in the 2000 and 2001 model years (MY). MY 1999 and most MY 1998 had the Concert Radio. Very early 1998 back to 1996 had the Delta CC head units. Sadly, the Audi literature web site linked above offers you almost every radio choice with every model year. If you don't know how to identify your radio, use this site:

Radio photos and descriptions

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2001 A4TQM
GIAC X-Chip
710N BPV
APR catback exhaust
H-Sport front and rear anti-sways
Koni Adjustable Yellows
A8 big brake kit
Carbotech Bobcat pads
Kumho Ecsta Sports
AWE Tuning Center Vent Boost Gauge
VW Taschenlampe

Link to the A4 B5 FAQ