ABS AUDI S8 2008 Owner's Manual

____________________________________________________ T_r_a _i_l e_ r_t_ o _ w_ i
_ n...; g=- -•
-Wit h chocks i n place, slowly release the brakes until the
wheel chocks absorb the load .
-Turn the wheels towards the curb.
-Apply the parking brake.
-Move the selector lever to P.
When rest arting after p arking :
-Apply the foot brake.
-Start the engine.
-Move the se lector lever to D.
-Re lease the parking brake and slowly pull out and away
f rom the whee l chocks .
-Stop and have someone retr ieve the wheel chocks .
[ i] Tip s
If you move the se lector lever of the automatic transmission to P
b efor e applying th e parking brak e and b efor e blocki ng th e wheels ,
you may have to use more force later to move the lever out of the
P
position .•
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

_____________________________________________ C_ l_ e _a_ n_ in~ g_a
_ n_d_ p_ r_ o_ t
_ e_ c_t _io _ n __ ffllll
•
Care of interior
MMI display
- Clean the MMI display with a soft c lean clo th and an LCD
c le ane r.
The MM I disp lay can be c leaned with a pr ofessional ly available "LCD
cleaner". The cloth should be s lightly dampened with the c leaning
fl uid to clean the display.
0 Note
To avoid scra tc h ing the MMI display, you should never c lean it dry .•
MMI terminal
- First clean the MMI terminal with a brush to remove dust
from the housing.
- T hen wipe the MMI terminal with a clea n, soft, s lig htly
damp cloth .
The MMI terminal should be c leaned with a brush first so that no
d irt is trapped between the buttons and t he housing. We reco m­
mend giving the MMI terminal a final wipe with a c loth moistened
with water a nd dish was hing detergent.
0 Note
To prevent damage, make sure that no flu id ever gets i nto the M MI
terminal.
•
Aluminum trim
U se on ly neutral-pH products to remove spots and deposits from
a lum inum surfaces . C hrome care products a nd alka line clea ners
wi ll attack aluminum surfaces and can damage them over time.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other informat ion
=> page 288 . •
Fabrics and fabric coverings
Fabrics and fabric coverings (e.g . seats, door trim pane ls, etc.)
shou ld be c leaned at regular intervals with a vacuum cleaner . This
re moves surface dirt partic les which could become embedded in
the fabric through use. Steam cleaners shou ld not be used, because
the steam tends to push the d irt deeper into the fa bric and lock it
there.
Normal cle aning
Genera lly, we recommend using a soft sponge or a lint -free
m icrofiber c loth to the clean fabric . Brushes should only be used for
carpets and floor mats, since other fabric surfaces could be harmed
b y b rushes.
Norma l surface stains can be cleaned using a commercially avail­
able foam cleaner. Spread the foam on the surface of the fabric with
a soft sponge and work it in gent ly. Do not saturate the fabric . T hen
pat the foam dry using absorbent, dry cloths (e.g. microfiber cloth)
and vacuum it a fter it has dr ied completely .
Cleaning stains
Stains caused by beverages (e.g. coffee, fruit juice, etc.l can be
treated with a mild detergent so lution . Apply the detergent so lution
with a sponge. In the case of stubborn stains, a detergent paste can be applied direct ly to the stain and worked into the fabric. After-.,_
Vehicle care

___ C_ le_ a_n _i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d
__ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
wards, use copious amounts of clean water to remove the
rema ining detergen t. App ly the water with a damp cloth or sponge
and pat the fabric dry with an absorbent, dry c loth .
Stains from chocolate or makeup should have detergent paste (e.g .
ox -ga ll soap) rubbed into them. A fterwards, remove the soap w ith
water (damp sponge).
A lcohol can be used to treat stains from grease, o il, lipstick or a ba ll­
point pen . Melted grease or dye must be patted off using absorbent
mater ial. It may be necessary to retreat the areas w ith de tergent
paste and water .
In the case of genera l soiling of the upho lstery and cover material,
we recommend h iring a spec ialist that has the equ ip m ent to c lean
the seat covers and other fabric surfaces by shampooing and spray
extraction .
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNING S and the information
=> page 288 .
[ i] Tip s
Open Ve lcro fasteners on your clothing can damage the seat cover.
Please make sure that Velcro fasteners a re c losed .•
Plastic parts and instrument panel
A lways use a c lean cloth mo istened in clear water to clean these
areas . For persistent dirt use an Audi approved solvent-free plastic
cleaner/protectant .
& WARNING
Solvents can ch ange the propertie s of some plasti cs and make it
harder for the airbag to deploy.
& W AR NING (continued )
• Never clean the instrument panel or the surface of airbag
module s with cle aning pr oduct s that contain sol vent s.
• Product s containing solvent s will make the surface of this part
porou s.
• Seriou s injurie s can result if plastic parts come loo se when the
a irbag i s deployed .
• Alway s re ad and heed all WARNING S and other information
=> page 288.
0 Note
Cleaning agents containing solvents wil l attack the material and can
change the way it behaves .•
Ap plies to vehicles : w ith natu ra l l eathe r
Natural leather
Audi makes great eff orts to maintai n the properti es,
n at ural look and feel of interior leather.
General
We offer many different types of leat her on our veh icles . M ost are
different types of nappa leather, which has a smooth surface and
comes in va rious co lors .
T he intens ity of the color determines the visua l c h aracteristics and
appearance. If the surface of the leather has a typica l natural look,
then t he leat her is a nappa leather that has been left in a re lative ly
natural condition. This leather offers particu lar ly good comfort and
breathes well. F ine ve ins, closed gra ins, insect bites, skin folds, and
subt le variations in color remain visib le. These characterist ics
dem onstra te that the material is natura l.
Natura l nappa leather is not covered by a color fin ish . It is therefore
more sensitive to soiling and wea r, which is something you need to
.,.

___ C_ le_ a_n _i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d
__ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Cleaning spots
- Remove fresh water-based spots (such as coffee, tea,
juices, blood) with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.
- Remove fresh
grease or oil-based spots (such as butter,
mayonnaise, chocolate) with an absorbent cloth or paper
towel, or use the cleaner from the leather care kit if the
spot has not yet penetrated into the surface of the
leather.
- Use an oil/grease dissolving spray, if
oil/grease spots
have dried on.
- Remove specific kinds of spots (ballpoint pen, felt
marker, fingernail polish, water-based paint, shoe polish,
etc.) with a spot
remover specifically formulated for
leather.
Leather care
- Every half year use an approved leather care product
(available from your Audi dealer) to care for the leather.
- Apply the product
very sparingly.
- Wipe it off with a damp cloth.
If you have any questions abou t cleaning and caring for the leather
in your vehicle, it is best to contact your authorized Audi dealer, who
will be glad to help you and tell you about our full range of leather
care products, such as:
• Leather cleaning and care kit
• Creams to care for colored leather
• Spot removers for ballpoint pens, shoe polish, etc .
• Oil/grease dissolving spray
• New and upcoming products.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 288.
0 Note
• Never use chemical solvents (e.g. lighter fluid, turpentine),
waxes, shoe polish or similar products on the leather surfaces in
your Audi .
• To avoid damage, have s tubborn stains removed by a commer­
cial cleaning specialist. •
Applies to ve hicles: w ith Alc a nt ara up ho lst ery
Cleaning Alcantara ® (synthetic suede)
Removing dust and dirt
- Moisten a cloth, squeeze out excess water and wipe down
the seat surfaces.
Removing stains
- Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or with diluted
ethyl (rubbing) alcohol.
- Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and work inwards.
- Once the stain is no longer visible, use a soft dry cloth or
tissue to soak up the moisture .
Do not use leather cleaning products on Alcantara .
You may use a suitable shampoo for removing dust and dirt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can scratch and damage the
surface . If the car is left standing in the sun for long periods , the
leather should be protected against direct sunlight to prevent it
...

___ C_ h_e _c _ k_ i_ n ~g~ a_ n_ d_ f_ i_ll _in _g~--------------------------------------------
-Read the brake fluid level from the brake fluid reservoir
=> fig. 268. The brake fluid level must be between the
"MIN" and "MAX" markings.
The brake fluid reservoir is located at the rear partition of the engine
compartment on the left
side~ page 308.
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the auto­
matic adjustment of the brake pads. This is not cause for alarm.
If the brake fluid level falls considerably below the "MIN" mark, the
brake warning/indicator light (U.S. models:
BRAKE , Canadian models:
«D>l will come on~ page 22 and~ page 30. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle. The complete brake system should be thor­
oughly checked by an authorized Audi dealer or other qualified
facility and the cause corrected. If the brake fluid level is too low, the
brake warning/indicator light will illuminate. Contact an authorized
Audi dealer
immediately. •
Changing brake fluid
Have the brake fluid changed by an experienced techni­
cian.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. If the water content in the
brake fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake system may result
after a period of time. The boiling point of the brake fluid will also
decrease considerably and decrease braking performance.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be changed
every two years. Always
use new brake fluid which conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Stan­
dard "FMVSS 116 DOT 4".
The brake fluid reservoir can be difficult to reach, therefore, we
recommend that you have the brake fluid changed by your autho­
rized
Audi dealer. Your dealer has the correct tools, the right brake
fluid and the know-how to do this for you.
& WARNING
• Brake fluid is poisonous . It must be stored only in the closed
original container out of the reach of children!
• Brake failure can result from old or inappropriate brake fluid .
Observe these precautions:
-Use only brake fluid that meets SAE specification J 1703 and
conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 116. Always check
with your authorized Audi dealer to make sure you are using
the correct brake fluid. The correct type of brake fluid is also indicated on the brake fluid reservoir .
- The brake fluid must be new. Heavy use of the brakes can
cause a vapor lock if the brake fluid is left in the system too
long. This can seriously affect the efficiency of the brakes as
well as your safety . This could result in an accident .
0 Note
Brake fluid will damage the paint of your vehicle .
<£> For the sake of the environment
Because of the problem of proper disposal of brake fluid as well as
the special tools required and the necessary expertise, we recom ­
mend that you have the brake fluid changed by your authorized Audi
dealer. •
Battery
General information
Under normal operating conditions, the battery in your Audi does
not need any maintenance. With high outside temperatures or long
daily drives we recommend that you have the electrolyte level .,,_

_____________________________________________ C_h_ e_ c
_ k_in -= g_a
_ n_d _ f_il _li _n ..;::g ;;.___.IIIII
checked by a service facility. The e lectrolyte level should also be
checked each time the battery is charged =>
page 321.
Have the battery checked when you take your vehicle in for service.
You are well advised to replace a battery that is older than 5 years.
With ce rtain types of airbag deployment, the battery is discon­
nected from the vehicle electrical system for safety reasons=>
& in
"Repair, care and disposal of the airbags" on
page 232.
Di sconn ecting the b atte ry terminal s
Some veh ic le functions (power window regulators, for example) are
lost if the battery terminals are disconnected. These functions have
to be relearned after the battery terminals are connected again. To
prevent this, the battery should only be disconnected from the
veh icle electrical sys tem when absolu tely necessary for repairs.
Veh icl es not driv en for lo ng p eriods
If you do not drive your vehicle over a period of several days or
weeks, electrical components are gradually cut back or switched off.
This reduces energy consumpt ion and maintains starting capability
over a longer period
=> page 274 .
Be aware that when you unlock your vehicle, some of the conve ­
nience functions may not operate, such as the Advanced Key*, the
remote control or the power seat adjustment. The convenience
functions will be ava ilable again when you turn on the ignition and
start the engine.
W int er operati on
During the winter months, battery capacity tends to decrease as
temperatures drop. This is because more power is also consumed
while starting, and the headlights, rear window defogger, etc. , are
used more often .
Avoid unnecessary power consumption, particularly in city traffic or
when trave ling only short distances . Let your authorized Audi dea ler
check the capacity of the vehicle battery before winter sets in
=> page 321. A well charged battery will n ot only prevent starting
problems when the weather is cold, but wi ll also last longer.
[ i ] Tips
If your vehic le is left standing for severa l weeks at extreme ly low
temperatures, the vehicle battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze. Th is wil l prevent it from be ing damaged and
having to be replaced.•
Working on the battery
Be espe cially careful when w orking on or near the battery.
Fig . 2 69 Lugg age
co mpartment : R ight ­
si de sto ra ge c omp art­
m ent
F ig. 2 70 Lugg age
co mp artment : B atte ry
T h e ba tter y is lo ca te d in t he luggage compartm ent on the
r ight side b ehind a c ove r. Before you check a nything in the
luggag e co m partment,
read and heed all WARNINGS =>& . .,.
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

lll'I....__E_ m
_ e
_ r-=g '--e_ n_ c-=y _ s_ i_t _u _a _t_ i_o _n_ s _______________________________________________ _
-Screw the towing loop tightly into the threaded hole as
far as it will go. The check mark must be flush with the
bumper=> page 367, fig. 300.
When it is no longer needed, unscrew the towing loop and put it
back into the vehicle toolkit. Be sure to have the towing loop stored
in the vehicle at all times.
When installing the grill for the air duct, be sure that the tabs on the
grill are first inserted into their guides on the vehicle by the
foglamp. Then push the grill into position.
& WARNING
If you do not screw the towing loop completely, it could come out
of the threaded hole while the vehicle is being towed causing
damage to the vehicle and possible serious personal injury. •
Rear towing loop
Do not install the rear towing loop until it is needed.
0
Fig. 301 Rear bumper:
cover
"'
Fig. 302 Rear bumper:
towing loop inserted
On the right side of the rear bumper there is a threaded hole
for the towing loop. The threaded hole is behind a cover.
-Remove the towing loop from the vehicle tool kit.
-Place the screwdriver against the upper edge of the
cover and carefully pry it
out=> fig. 301.
-Screw the towing loop tightly into the threaded hole as
far as it will go. The check marking must be flush with the
bumper=> fig. 302.
When it is no longer needed, unscrew the towing loop and put it
back into the vehicle toolkit. Be sure to have the towing loop stored
in the vehicle at all times.
& WARNING
If you do not screw the towing loop completely, it could come out
of the threaded hole while the vehicle is being towed causing
damage to the vehicle and possible serious personal injury . •

______________________________________________ A_ l.!. p _h_ a_ b_e _ t_i c_ a..:..l ...:.. in :..:..:. d:..:e :..: x_;__ _,n
Kne e airbags ...... ... .. .... ..... 234 ASR
Moni to ring .. ... .... .... ....... .. 229 How the Anti-S lip Regu la tion Sys tem
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ligh t .... . 230 works ...... ... .... .... .... .... 270
Repairs ........ .... .... ......... 232
Safety instructions ... .... ... .... . 231
Side airbags ... .. .... .... ... .... . 237
Side curtain air bags (SIDEGUARD) .. 240
Warning/indicator lights ...... .... .. 19
Weight -sens ing mat ...... ... .... . 2 44
When mu st the syst em be insp ected?
229
Aircra ft
T ransporting your v ehicle .. ........ 369
All W hee l Dr ive ...... .... ... .... .... 273
Alloy whee ls ... .... .... .... ... .... .. 293
A ll-whee l drive
W int er tir es . ..... .... ... ... . .... . 34 1
A lternator
See Ge ne ra tor . ....... ... .... .... . 18
An ti-free ze
See Engine coolan t ..... .... .... .. 314
An ti- lock brak e system
How th e ABS syst em works ....... . 272
Wa rning /indi cato r ligh ts .. .. .. .... .. 21
Anti -Sl ip Reg ulat io n System (ASR)
H ow the system works .... .... .... 270
Anti -theft systems
Anti -theft alarm system .. ... .... ... 61
E lectron ic immob ilizer . .... .... .... 49
Ashtray Fron t .. .... ... .. .... ...... .... .. 106 Aud
i Service Repa ir Manua ls and Literatu re
380
A UTO mode
AC climate con tro l .. .. .... .... .... 117
Auto Safety Hotline .... .... .... ... .. . 207
A ut o-C heck Con trol ...... .... ... .... .. 28
Automatic belt retracto r ... .. .... .... . 213
Automati c car wash
See Washing . .............. .... .. 289
A ut om atic Sh ift Loc k (ASU . ...... .... . 165
Automat ic transmission
6 -speed automat ic t rans missio n .... 163
Auto matic S hift Lock (ASU .... .... . 165
Dr iving . ...... .... .... .... .... ... 163
Dynamic sh ift p rogram .. ...... .... 166
Em ergency release fo r selecto r leve r 168
F a il- safe mode . ...... .... .... .... 168
I gnition key s afety lock . ...... .... . 130
K ick -down .... .... .... .... ... .... 166
Manual sh ift program ....... .... .. 167
S ele ctor le ve r ... ........... .... .. 164
Shift buttons ... .... .... .... .... . 168
S teering wheel w ith tiptronic . ...... 168
Average speed . ...... .... .... .... ... . 38
Avo id damaging the ve hicle .. ...... ... 279
B
Rear . ...... .. ...... .... ......... 107 Background lighting . ...... .... ... .. .. 76 Ba
ttery .... ... .. .... .... ...... .... . 318
Ba ttery location ins ide the luggage
compa rtmen t ... .... ... .... .... . 319
Chargi ng .. .... .... ... .... .... ... 321
Impo rtant wa rnings when working on the
battery .. .... .... ... .... ...... . 319
low ...... .... .... .... ... .... .... 274
Replaci ng t he battery .. ... .... ... . 3 22
State of cha rge . ...... .... .... ... . 27 4
Winter operat ion ..... .... .... .. . . 318
Wo rking on the batte ry . ....... ... . 319
Battery vo ltage .. .. .. .... .... .... ..... 35
B efo re driving ... .... .... ...... .... . 199
Blended gasoline ... .. .... .... .... ... 30 1
Body cavity sealing ........ .... .... .. 294
Boos ter seat ... .. .... .... ... .... .... 251
How do I properly install a booster seat in my veh ic le? . .... .... ... .... .... 251
Safety instructions .. ...... .... ... . 251
Brake flu id
Changing the brake fluid ...... .... . 318
Check ing the brake fluid leve l .... .. 317
What is the co rrect brake fluid leve l? 317
What s hould I do i f th e brake fluid warning
l ight com es on? . .... .... .... .... 317
Brake system Ant i- lock brake sys tem .... .... .... . 21
B rake assis ta nt .... .... ... .... .... 272
Brake booster .. ... .... ... .... .... 271
Brake flu id . ... .... .... ... .... .... 317
Brake f luid specifications for ref ill and
replace men t . .... .... .... ...... . 318
Bra ke light de fective . .... . .... .. .. . 26
Brake pads . ...... .... ... .... .... 278
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first Vehicle operation
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

-Alphabetical index
---=------------------------------------------------
u
Undercoating 294
Unfastening safety belts ...... ...... . 215
Un idirect iona l tires ....... ....... .... 324
Uniform tire quality grading
Un locking 340
Power locking switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Rear lid/trunk lid ...... .... ...... .. 55
Remote control ................... 51
Using the key .. .... ....... .... .... 52
V
Vanity mirror
front ... .. .... .... .... ... .... .... 77
rea r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Vehic le elec trical system ...... ...... .. 18
Vehic le identification label ........ ... 374
Vehicle Identification Number (VI N) .... 374
Vehicle jack .... ... .. .... .... ... 349, 354
Vehicle literature ... .. .. ..... .. .... ... 5 Brake system
.... . .. .. .... ... .... . 22 Wheel bolts
Cruise control ..... .... ... .... .... 21 Torque ... .... .... .... ... .... ... 343
Electromechanica l parking brake .... 22 Wheels ............................ 324
Electronic power control .. .... .... . 18 Cast alloy ....................... 293
Electronic stabilization program (ESP) 18 Checking tire pressure ............ 331
Fog lights .. ...... .... ...... ... .. . 19 Cold tire inflation pressure ...... .. 328
Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
High beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Ma lfunction Indicator Lamp (MIU . ... 20
Rear fog light s ........ ........ .... 19
Safety belt .... .... .... .... .... ... 20
Tir e pressure monitoring system .... 20
Turn signals ... .... .... .... .... ... 19
Warranty coverages ...... .... .... ... 380
Washer reservoir .. ... .... .... .... ... 323
Washing ...... .... ..... ............ 288
Automatic car wash ...... .... .... 289
by hand .. .... ... .... .... .... ... 289
with a power washer ... .. .. ....... 290
Washing the vehicle ..... ...... .... .. 288
Waxing ....... ... .... .... .... .... .. 291 Genera
l notes ....... ... .... .... .. 324
Glossary of tire and loading terminology .
325
New tires and wheels .. ........... 336
Tires and vehicle load limits ....... 333
When must a safety belt be replaced? .. 212
When must the airbag system be inspected?
229
When should I ad just the tire pressures?
332
When should I check the tire pressures? 332
Where can I find the tire pressures for my
car? ... .. .... .... .... ..... .. ... 331
Why safety belts? ...... ... ... ... 209, 21
o
Windows
Cleaning ........................ 292
Vehic le transpo rt .... .... .... ...... . 369 Wear indicator .... .... ... .... .... ... 335 Convenience open
feature ...... .... 64
Defogging ....... ........ ....... 120
Vehic le-care products ... .... .... .... 288 Weatherstrips ... ....... ...... .... .. 293
Venti lated seats .. .... .... ... .... ... 118 Weights
..... .... .... .... .... ... ... 375
w
Warning/indicator lights ... .. .... .... . 16
Adaptive Air Suspension ....... . 20, 21
Adaptive Cruise Control .. .. .. .... . 145
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . 21 What happens
if you wear your safety belt too
loose? ... .... .... .... .... .... .. 214
What happens to unbelted occupants? . 211
What impairs driving safety? ..... ..... 199
What should I do after changing a wheel?
332
What should I do after replacing wheels?
332 Defrosting
.... .... .... ... .... ... 120
Rapid defrosting/defogging .... .... 122
Windshield defogger/defroster .. ...... 123
Windshield washer fluid Low level ...... ............... .... 35
Windshield wipers Installing new wiper blades . .... .... 82
In termittent wiping .... ... . .... .. .. 80
One -tap wiping ........ .... .... ... 80