AUDI A8 2008 D3 / 2.G Infotainment MMI Operating Manual
Page 41 of 193
Basic operation39
Fig. 27  MMI display overview
	
 
 
Page 42 of 193
Basic operation 40
Basic operation
All MMI menus at a glance
The menu structure page 38, fig. 26 and page 39, fig. 27 
contains the available options for each main function of the MMI 
system.
Note
Depending on the equipment fitted in your vehicle, the menus may 
differ from those shown here.
Switching on and off
Vehicles without advanced key*
– The ignition must be switched on to turn on the MMI 
system. The menu of the last main function selected will 
appear. The last used audio/video source will automati-
cally be activated.
– To switch off the MMI system, remove the ignition key. 
Your settings will be stored.Vehicles with advanced key*
– To switch on the MMI system, press the   button.
– To switch off the MMI system, press the   button 
twice. Your settings will be stored.
Manual mode
– To switch on the MMI system, briefly press the ON/OFF 
button fig. 28.
– To switch off the MMI system, press and hold the ON/OFF 
button until the MMI is switched off.
The MMI system will not be switched on automatically when the 
ignition is switched on if it was turned off manually the last time it 
was operated.
The MMI system remains in operative mode for approximately 10 
minutes after the ignition is switched off. If you do not press any 
function selector button, control button or the rotary pushbutton on 
the MMI control console within this time period, the MMI system 
will be switched off automatically.
Note
If the ignition is switched off and the battery charge level is low, the 
MMI system will be switched off automatically.Fig. 28  ON/OFF button
START
STOP
	
 
Page 43 of 193
Basic operation41
MMI componentsMMI control consoleMulti-function steering wheelTelephone handsetVoice control
How to use the controls
You can operate the functions of the MMI system by 
pressing and turning the buttons on the MMI control 
console.
Fig. 29  Buttons on MMI control console
 Function selector buttons
Press one of the function selector buttons to activate the function 
shown on the button. For example, simply press the   button 
to switch the system to the radio mode.
Use the   button to call up additional settings for the current 
function. Rotary pushbutton
To select a menu option in the MMI display, turn the rotary push-
button in the required direction and then press it.
 Control buttons
To activate a function indicated in one of the four corners of the 
display, press the corresponding control button for that corner of 
the display. For instance, the top right control button corresponds 
with the top right corner of the display fig. 29.
 RETURN button
Press the   button to cancel an entry that has not yet been 
confirmed or to return to the previous menu level.
 Arrow buttons
Press the   or   button to go to the next or go back to the previous 
radio station or TV* channel in the list.
Press the   button to select the next track of a CD or iPod
5) (if an 
iPod is being used). Press the   button within the first ten seconds 
of a track to go back to the previous track. After the first ten seconds, 
you can press this button to go back to the start of the track that is 
currently playing.
When in the CD, MP3 or interface mode, press and hold the   
button to activate the fast reverse function, or press the   button to 
activate the fast forward function.
A1
RADIO
SETUP
5)Still under development at the time of printing.
A2
A3
A4
RETURN
A5
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><
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Page 44 of 193
Basic operation 42
MMI display
“Standard” menus
After pressing a function selector button page 41, a menu will 
appear in the MMI display.
Fig. 30  Setup Naviga-
tion
Fig. 31  Radio 
submenu
LegendSymbol / 
MarkingExplanation
Heading
Selected mode (e.g. radio fig. 31).
Display in Setup menu: Setup menu in 
the selected mode (e.g. Setup Naviga-
tion fig. 30).
In vehicles with a telephone* the net-
work provider and, if applicable, the 
roaming symbol 
 will be shown.
TMC symbolsReception of TMC traffic messages 
page 121.
Arrows
pointing
up/downIndicate further menu options 
(next/previous page).
CursorPoints to the item selected in a menu.
Selected 
optionA selected item is highlighted in white.
Selection boxSelection possibilities for selected 
item.
ArrowIndicates more selection or setting 
possibilities.
Temperature 
display*Selected temperature setting in vehi-
cles with automatic air conditioner*.
Signal 
strength indi-
cator*Quality of mobile phone connection, 
or
PIN: Entering PIN page 88
PUK: Entering PUK page 88
SIM: Inserting SIM card
Envelope*
Unread text message page 100.
Crossed-out envelope: No more text 
messages can be received (SIM card 
memory is full) page 100.
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
	
 
Page 45 of 193
Basic operation43
MMI componentsMMI control consoleMulti-function steering wheelTelephone handsetVoice control
Speller
Use the speller to enter addresses, a navigation destina-
tion or a telephone number.
Some functions in the directory, telephone* or navigation* mode 
require you to enter letters or numbers. In the MMI display the 
speller for numbers fig. 32 or letters fig. 33 will appear.
While entering the numbers/letters, you can switch from numbers 
to letters and vice versa as desired by turning the rotary pushbutton 
to 0..9  fig. 33 or A..Z  fig. 32 and then pressing the rotary 
pushbutton.
All symbols for entering letters and numbers are explained in the 
following table:
TP symbolReception of traffic reports page 58.
Corners of 
display
Indicates the functions that can be 
selected.
Use control buttons to select func-
tions. The top right corner of the dis-
play corresponds to the top right 
control button.
SubtitlesInforms you of a selected option (e.g. 
current radio station).
Function 
wheelIs operated by turning and pressing 
the rotary pushbutton.
Crossed-out
loudspeaker 
symbolCurrent audio source is muted.
Time
Telephone 
symbol*Missed calls* page 91, fig. 85.
LegendSymbol / 
MarkingExplanation
A11
A12
A13
A14
A15
A16
A17
Fig. 32  Speller for 
numbers: Entering 
phone numbers
Fig. 33  Speller for 
letters: Finding a direc-
tory entry
A11A5
	
 
 
Page 46 of 193
Basic operation 44
Entering letters, numbers and symbols using 
the speller
You can find an overview of the speller on page 43.
Entering letters, numbers and symbols
– Turn the rotary pushbutton and select the letter, number 
or symbol with the cursor  . The selected figure will 
appear larger in the selection ring  .
– To apply the letter, number or symbol, press the rotary 
pushbutton. Your entry will appear in the entry space  .
– After entering all the characters, turn the rotary push-
button to OK   and press the rotary pushbutton.
Deleting letters, numbers and symbols
– Turn the rotary pushbutton and use the pointer to select 
DEL .
– To delete the last character in the entry space, press the 
rotary pushbutton.
– To delete all characters in the entry space, press and hold 
the rotary pushbutton until no characters are displayed 
in the entry space.
In some cases (such as when using the navigation* function) certain 
letters are not available for selection if they are an illogical option. 
This means that you can only select those letters that are offered as 
a logical possibility for this entry.
Use the speller for numbers to enter special characters (such as a 
dash or full stop).
LegendSymbol / 
MarkingExplanation
Po i n t e rTo highlight the selected item in white 
and make it appear larger in the selec-
tion ring.
DELTo delete the character to the left of 
the highlighted cursor.
To move the cursor in the entry space 
forwards and backwards.
OKTo confirm a completed entry.
A...ZTo switch the speller from numbers to 
letters.
Cursor
Entry space
Selection ringTo enlarge the character selected with 
the cursor.
To switch from lower case to upper 
case letters.
LISTTo show a list of suggestions.
0..9To switch the speller from letters to 
numbers.
SpaceTo enter a space in the entry space.
List of sug-
gestionsTo show suggested entries in alpha-
betical order.
Indicates additional list entries.
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
A11
A12
A13
A14
A1
A8
A7
A4
A2
	
 
Page 47 of 193
Basic operation45
MMI componentsMMI control consoleMulti-function steering wheelTelephone handsetVoice control
Switching the MMI display on and off
Switching off the display
– Starting from any one of the Setup menus, press the 
control button for Display.
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to Switch off display 
fig. 34 and press the rotary pushbutton. The display 
will be switched off.
Switching on the display
– Press or turn the rotary pushbutton, or
– Press a function selector button, or
– Press a control button, or
– Press the   button.
Note
After switching off the display, you can still change the station on a 
selected audio/video source using the arrow buttons on the MMI 
control console.
Adjusting the volume
Current audio/video* source
Adjust the volume or mute the audio sources using the 
ON/OFF button.
Increasing and reducing the volume
– Turn the ON/OFF button clockwise or anti-clockwise. The 
volume level you select is stored in the memory.
Mute
– Briefly press the ON/OFF button. A crossed-out loud-
speaker will appear in the MMI display.
Unmute
– Briefly press the ON/OFF button, or
– Turn the ON/OFF button.
When you switch on the MMI system, very high/very low volume 
levels are automatically reduced/increased to a preset level.
If you activate the mute/pause function by pressing the ON/OFF 
button briefly before switching off the MMI, the mute/pause func-
tion will remain active when the MMI is switched on again.
Fig. 34  Switching off 
the MMI display
RETURN
Fig. 35  Increasing, 
reducing and muting 
volume of MMI system
	
 
Page 48 of 193
Basic operation 46
If you are in CD mode, the CD playback will be paused while the 
mute function is activated.
Note
You can also adjust the volume by scrolling the right thumbwheel 
on the multi-function steering wheel up and down without having 
to remove your hands from the steering wheel page 129.
Other audio sources
The volume of the voice guidance*, traffic reports*, the 
speech dialogue system* and the telephone* can be 
adjusted separately.
The system automatically sends a test message while the 
settings are being adjusted.
– Starting from any of the audio, TV*, or SETUP menus, 
press the control button for Sound page 41.
– Turn the rotary pushbutton and select Volume settings.
– Press the rotary pushbutton. The Volume settings  menu 
will appear on the MMI display fig. 36.
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to select an item in the menu.– Press the rotary pushbutton. Now you can adjust the 
volume for the selected item.
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to select the desired volume.
– Press the rotary pushbutton to confirm your adjustment.
Note
Select Audio during route guid. to adjust the volume of the current 
audio source during route guidance (spoken navigation 
directions).
Adjusting the sound
Basic settings
Fig. 36  Volume 
settings
Fig. 37  Selecting 
balance
	
!
 
Page 49 of 193
Basic operation47
MMI componentsMMI control consoleMulti-function steering wheelTelephone handsetVoice control
– Starting from any of the audio, TV*, or SETUP menus, 
press the control button for Sound page 41.
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to select an item in the menu 
(e.g. Balance page 46, fig. 37).
– Press the rotary pushbutton. The selected item will 
appear larger on the MMI display fig. 38.
– Turn the rotary pushbutton clockwise or anti-clockwise to 
adjust the sound settings.
– Press the rotary pushbutton to confirm your adjustment.
The following sound settings are available:
•Balance: Varies left and right volume levels
•Fader: Varies front and rear volume levels
•Tr e b l e
•Bass
•GALA (speed-dependent volume control)
•Subwoofer* (for extra bass depth)6)
•DSP * page 47
•DSP Bang & Olufsen* page 48
•Volume settings for other audio sources page 46
The settings for treble and bass are effective for the currently 
selected function. The settings for balance and fader apply regard-
less of the selected function.
Applies to vehicles: with DSP
Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
With the sound focus function you can achieve three-
dimensional sound effects. GALA adjusts the volume level 
and sound settings to the vehicle's speed.
Displaying the DSP menu
– Starting from any of the audio, TV*, or SETUP menus, 
press the control button for Sound page 41.
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to DSP and press to confirm. 
The DSP menu will appear on the MMI display fig. 39.
Sound focus
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to Sound focus and press to 
confirm.
6)The subwoofer cannot be adjusted if your vehicle is equipped with the Bang
& Olufsen* sound system.
Fig. 38  Adjusting 
balance
Fig. 39  Adjusting 
three-dimensional 
sound effects (sound 
focus)
	
 
Page 50 of 193
Basic operation 48
– For an evenly distributed sound focus, turn the rotary 
pushbutton to SYMMETRIC and press to confirm.
– For an enhanced sound impression on the driver, turn the 
rotary pushbutton to DRIVER and press to confirm.
GALA
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to GALA and press to 
confirm.
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to on or off.
– Press the rotary pushbutton to confirm your 
adjustment.
Applies to vehicles: with DSP Bang & Olufsen surround sound
DSP Bang & Olufsen®
With the sound focus function you can achieve three-
dimensional sound effects. The surround level function 
adjusts the volume of the surround effect.
Displaying the DSP Bang & Olufsen menu
– Starting from any of the audio, TV*, or SETUP menus, 
press the control button for Sound page 41.– Turn the rotary pushbutton to DSP Bang & Olufsen  and 
press to confirm. The DSP Bang & Olufsen menu will 
appear on the MMI displayfig. 40.
Sound focus
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to Sound focus and press to 
confirm.
– For a sound focus that is evenly distributed throughout 
the whole interior of the vehicle, turn the rotary push-
button to all and press to confirm.
– For an enhanced sound impression on the driver, turn the 
rotary pushbutton to driver and press to confirm.
– For a sound focus that is evenly distributed throughout 
the front interior of the vehicle, turn the rotary push-
button to front and press to confirm.
– For a sound focus that is evenly distributed throughout 
the rear interior of the vehicle, turn the rotary push-
button to rear* and press to confirm.
GALA
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to GALA and press to 
confirm.
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to on or off.
– Press the rotary pushbutton to confirm your adjustment.
Surround level
– Turn the rotary pushbutton to Surround level and press 
to confirm.
– To change the surround effect, turn the rotary push-
button clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Fig. 40  Adjusting 
three-dimensional 
sound effects (sound 
focus)