lights AUDI S8 2008 Owner's Guide

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_ i_ v _ e.;__ C.,...._ ru.;__ is..:. e.;__ C.::..: o..:.n..:.. t:.:. r..: o ..:. I_--..J_
This information is always displayed. Display area © is therefore
called the
primary di sp la y .
© S upple men tary displ ay
In display area @ information from the navigation system and the
trip computer is disp layed in addition to information about Adaptive
Cruise Control.
You can select among the different information by repeated brief taps on the RESET button on the windshield wiper
lever => page 39,
"Operation ".
Particularly on your first trips with Adaptive Cruise Control, the
s uppl em en ta ry di spla y should be turned on.
@ Message
The information in area © is not displayed permanently. Informa­
tion is displayed on ly if you change the time interval , if there is a
malfunction or if the Adaptive Cruise Control is turned off. •
Applies to vehicles : with Ada ptive C ruise Cont rol
Primary display in the speedometer
De sire d sp eed
Fig . 159 Prim ary
di spl ay
in the s pee d­
o m ete r
The desired speed set by the driver is displayed with a red LED.
Contro ls a nd eq uip­
ment
The system al lows only speeds from 20 to 95 mph (30 to 150 km/h)
to be set. This speed range is faintly illuminated in the speedometer.
W arn ing lights (symbols )
• ""c:::, Open road: The warning light ,,.,c:::, shows that Adaptive
Cruise Control is active and that no object is ahead of the vehicle . A
stored speed requested is maintained .
• c::::,11 .. c:::, Driving i n tr aff ic: The warning light c:::,11«c:::, indicates that
an object has been detected travel ing in front . Speed is adjus ted
according to the distance set. Adaptive Cruise Control accelerates
and brakes automatica lly.
• c:::,,, ,,c:::, Re quest f or driver t o assume control : The red flashing
warning light
c::::,11 .. c:::, means Reque st for driver to assume control .
You as the driver must slow the vehicle with the foot brake . The
symbo l
c::::,11,,c:::, tells you that the Adaptive Cruise Control is not able
to s low the vehic le down enough to keep a enough distance to the
vehicle in front o f you . A warning tone signal wi ll also sound when
the symbol appears.
[ i ] Tip s
• If the Adaptive Cruise Control initiates braking, the hydraulic
brake system is under pressure. Therefore, the brake pedal distance
is shorter and the peda l feels "harder" .
• I f you use the accelerator to go faster than the speed being main ­
tained by the Adaptive Cruise Control, the system will not warn of
situations that require override of the Adaptive Cruise Control. No
warning light will appear in the instrument cluster display and no gong wil l sound .•
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

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Audi side assist
Lane Change Assistant
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Description
The side assist helps you when changing lanes.
I Audi AS J
Fig. 171 Rear bumper:
Position of radar
sensors (not visible on
outside)
Fig . 172 Signal light
on the outside mirror·
driver's side
Side assist uses radar sensors (not visible on outside) => fig. 171 to
help the driver check blind spots, and see what is happening in
traffic behind the
vehicle => page 155, fig. 174.
Signal lights are built into both outside
mirrors=> fig. 172. The
signal light on the left outside mi rror assists when moving over into the left lane and the signal light on the right outside mirror assists
when moving over into the right lane.
The signal light comes on to tell you that side assist has detected a
vehicle on that side and that the position of this other vehicle
should be taken into account if you were to change lanes. This is
called the
informational stage signal=> page 156. The informational
stage signal is designed so that you notice it only when you are
looking in the outside mirror.
When you activate the turn signal and side assist detects a vehicle
in a notable location, the corresponding signal on the outside
mirror flashes briefly and brightly several times. This is the
alert
stage signal
=> page 156. •
Applies to veh icles : with side assist
Activating and deactivating
-
Activating
Fig . 173 Cockpit : Side
assist button
- Press the~ fig. 173 button. The red indica tor on the
button lights up.

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d _e _ a_s_ s_ i_ s _t _ __._
Ap plies to vehicle s: with side assist
Driving situation: Fast approaching vehicles
Fig. 175 S ide ass ist: Fast a ppro achi ng ve hicles
G) S ig nal on outside mirror do es not l ight up
No vehicle was detected by the sensors. The signal on the outside
m irror does not ligh t
up ~ & in "Safety tips" on page 161.
@ Informational stag e s ignal lights up
A fast approaching vehicle -in the left-hand lane for example -was
detected by the sensors. Although this vehic le is still far away, it
should be taken into account if you were to change lanes, due to the
considerable difference in speed. The informational stage signal on
the outside mirror lights
up ~ page 156 .
© Alert stage signal flashe s
If you activate your turn signal in driving situation @, the signal
b riefly flashes repeatedly. S ide assist is alerting you to a vehicle that
you may not have not iced .
Contro ls a nd eq uip­
ment
[ i ] Tips
• The faster a vehicle approaches from the rear, the soone r the
signal on the outside mirror lights up. Side assist will signal, at the
latest, when a detected vehicle enters your "bl ind spot".
• When vehicles approach very quickly, changing lanes can be
dangerous even if the signa l on the outside mirror does not light
up .•
Ap plies to veh ic les: with side ass ist
Driving situation : Slowly approaching
vehicles
F ig . 1 76 Side a ssist: Slowly a pproa ching v ehi cle s and v ehi cle s in y our b li nd
spot
G) Signa l on out side mirror doe s not light up
A vehicle approaching s lowly -in the left-hand lane for example -
was detected by the sensors . Because of the small differe nce in .._
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

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speed and the considerable distance from your vehicle, the signal
on the outside mirror will not light
up::::> & in "Safety tips" on
page 161 .
0 Informational stage signal lights up
The distance between your vehicle and that of the slowly
approaching vehicle has narrowed. The informational stage signal
on the outside mirror lights up .
As soon as the difference in speed and distance is registered as
notable if you were to change lanes , a signal on the mirror lights up.
Side assist will signal at the latest when a detected vehicle enters
your "blind spot".
© Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate your turn signal in driving situation 0 , the signal
light briefly flashes repeatedly. Side assist is alerting you of a
vehicle that you may not have noticed .
[ i J Tips
• The faster a vehicle approaches from the rear, the sooner the
signal on the outside mirror lights up . Side assist will signal , at the
latest, when a detected vehicle enters your "blind spot".
• When vehicles approach very quickly, changing lanes can be
dangerous even if the signal on the outside mirror does not light
up.•
App lies to vehi cles : wi th side assist
Driving situation: Vehicles dropping back
slowly
Fig. 177 Side assist: Vehicles dropping back slowly
(D Signal on outside mirror does not light up
The vehicle that you passed has not yet been detected by side assist.
The signal on the outside mirror does not light
up::::> & in "Safety
tips" on
page 161.
0 Informational stage signal lights up
A vehicle dropping back slowly on the right (difference in speed of
less than 9 mph, or 15 km/h) has been detected by side assist. The
informational stage signal on the outside mirror lights up.
© Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate your turn signal in driving situation 0, the signal
briefly flashes repeatedly. Side assist is alerting you of a vehicle tha t
you may not have noticed. •

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_ ra_ n_s_ m __ is_s_ io_ n _ ___.1111
Select R only when the vehicle is at a full stop and the engine is
running at idle
speed => & in "Driving the automatic transmission"
on
page 763 .
Before you move the selector lever to R, press both the button in the
handle of the selector lever
and the brake peda l at the same time .
When the ignition is on, the backup lights illuminate when the selector lever is moved into
R.
N -Neutral
The transmission is in neutral in this position. Shift to this position
for standing with the brakes applied =>
page 165.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the footbrake before and while moving the lever out of
N.
D -Normal position for driving forward
Position Dis for normal city and highway driving. It ranges from zero
to top speed and all six gears shift automatically, depending on
engine load, driving speed and automatically selected shift
programs.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the foot brake before and while moving the
lever to
D out of N .
In certain circumstances it may be advantageous to temporarily
switch to the manual shift program to manually select gear ratios to
match specific driving
conditions => page 167.
S -Sport position
Select this position for sportier performance. In this position, the
transmission will not upshift as soon, allowing the vehicle to use the increased power available at higher engine speeds to achieve live ­
lier acceleration.
When the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h),
you must always apply the foot brake before and while moving the
lever to
S out of N.
Contro ls a nd eq uip­
ment
& WARNING
Read and follow all WARNINGS => & in "Driving the automatic
transmission " on
page 163.
0 Note
Coasting downhill with the transmission in N and the engine not
running will result in damage to the automatic transmission and
possibly the catalytic converter. •
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL)
Automatic shift lock prevents you from accidentally
shifting into a forward gear or into reverse, thus causing
the vehicle to move unintentionally.
Fig . 185 Shift gate
selector lever lock
positions and interlock
button highlighted
The selector lever lock is released as follows :
Turn the ignition on.
Step on the brake pedal.
At the same time press and hold
the lock button on the side of the gear selector knob
=:> fig. 185 with your thumb until you have moved the
selector lever to the desired position.
~
Vehicle care I I Technical data

Advan ce d Parkin g Sy ste m Ill
-------------~--
-Press the sw it c h P111! in t he cen ter console =:> page 170,
fig. 192 to activate the Aud i pa rking system manually.
Activation of the acoustic park ing system is confirmed by
a brief acknowledgement sound. The indicator light in
the switc h lights up.
De activation
-If yo u drive forwa rds faster t han approx. 6 mph (1 0 km/h},
or
-if you switc h the ignition off, the entire acoustic parking
assist is automatically deactivated, or
-you can press the switch P111A. in the center console
=:> page 170, fig. 192 to deact ivate the Audi parking
system. The indicator light in the switch goes out.
You have to turn on the acoustic parking assist manuall y if you wish
to park the vehicle forwards or if you wish to approach an obstacle
forwards and want a distance warning .
The range at whic h the sensors start to measure is about:
Front
Rear
W arn in g tone s side
cen ter
side
cen ter 3
ft
(0 .90 ml
4f t
(1 .20 ml
2 ft (0.60 ml
Dis tance wa rn ing is given by chimes which are generated by a
signal generator . The volume and the pitch of the chimes can be
adjusted in the MM I
=> page 180.
Mute
I n t he case of vehic les with automatic transmission, an acoustic
distance warning is discontinued when the transmission selector
Controls and equip­ ment lever is moved to the P position
. However, the system remains
active . As soon as the selector lever is moved fro m the
P pos it ion
and the vehicle approaches an obstacle, the acoustic distance
warning resumes.
Dr iving fo rw ard /b ac kw ard
Dista nce warn ing w hen driving fo rward/ backward is based on
detection of an obstac le in the range of the parking assist. As the
distance decreases, t he time interval betwee n the aud ible t ones
becomes shorter.
When the distance is less than approx .
1 ft (0.30 m), the tone
becomes cont inuous. At th is po int you shou ld stop backing up or
driving forward .
I f the distance to an obstacle re m ains the same, the vo lume of the
distance warning is gradua lly reduced after about
4 seconds (does
not app ly to the zone for the continuous tone). If you start to
approach the detected obstacle again, the distance warning will
sound at the norma l volume again.
P arking
When you se lect another gear when park ing (e .g . reverse/forwa rd),
the warning tones are temporarily suppressed, but the visua l
display remains on the MMI display . If you start approaching a
detected obstac le again, the distance warning wi ll sound at the
normal volume again .
Vi su a l displa y
The segments on t he MMI d isp lay indicate a change in the distance
between the vehicle and an obstacle . The number of segments
displayed depends on the obstac les in front of or behind the
vehic le. The c loser the vehic le comes to the obstacle, the closer t he
segments approach the
vehic le => page 170, fig. 193. When the
seg ment before last is d isplaye d, the ve hicle has reac hed the coll i­
sion zone. At this point you should stop backing up or driving
f orward
=> & . ~

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Important things to do before driving
Safety is everybody's job! Vehicle and occupant safety
always depends on the informed and careful driver.
For your safety and the safety of your passengers, before
driving always:
- Make sure that all lights and signals are operat ing
correctly.
- Make sure that the tire pressure is correct.
- Make sure that all windows are clean and afford good
visibility to the outside.
- Secure all luggage and other items
carefully => page 109.
-Make sure that nothing can interfere with the pedals.
- Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors correctly for your height .
- Instruct passengers to adjust the head restraints
according to their height.
- Make sure to use the right child restraint correctly to
protect
children => page 243, "Child Safety".
- Sit properly in your seat and make sure that your passen ­
gers do the
same => page 86, "General recommenda ­
tions".
- Fasten your safety belt and wear it properly. Also instruct
your passengers to fasten their safety belts properly
=> page 209. •
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Vehicle operation
What impairs driving safety?
Safe driving is directly related to the condition of the
vehicle, the driver as well as the driver's ability to concen­
trate on the road without being distracted.
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and all
of its occupants. If your ability to drive is impaired, safety
risks for everybody in the vehicle increase and you also
become a hazard to everyone else on the road
=>& .There ­
fore:
Do not let yourself be distracted by passengers or by
using a cellular telephone .
NEVER drive when your driving ability is impaired (by
medications, alcohol, drugs, etc.).
- Observe all traffic laws, rules of the road and speed limits
and plain common sense .
- ALWAYS adjust your speed to road, traffic and weather
conditions.
- Take frequent breaks on long trips. Do not drive for more
than two hours at a stretch.
- Do NOT drive when you are tired, under pressure or when
you are stressed .
& WARNING
Impaired driving safety increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever a vehicle is being used. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

___ s_a_ f_ e_ t-= y_ b_e_ l_ t _s _______________________________________________ _
-Make sure that your passengers also b uckle up and pro p­
erly wea r th eir sa fety be lts.
Protect children wit h a c hild restraint sys tem appropriate
for the size and age.
The warning light ~ in the instrument cluster lights up when the
ignition is switched on as a reminder to fasten the safety belts. In
addition , you will hear a warning tone.
After the ignition is switched on, the warning light in the instrument cluster will a lways come on for about 6 seconds and if the driver has
not fastened the safety belt, a warning tone will also sound for
about 6 seconds . As soon as the driver has fastened the safety belt,
the warning tone will stop and the warning light will go out .
If the driver or front seat passenger have not buckled -up within
about 10 seconds after the warning tone has stopped and the
vehicle is moving faster than about 15 mph, the warning tone will
sound again for about 6 seconds and then s top for 24 seconds and
then repeat this reminder sequence for a maximum of 2 minutes. At
speeds be low 5 mph, the warning to ne will not sound.
Fa sten your safe ty belt and make su re that your p assengers al so
properl y put on their s afet y belts .
& WARNING
• Safety belts are the single mo st effective mean s available to
reduce th e risk of ser ious in jur y a nd death in aut omobile acci­
dent s. For your prote ction and that of your pas sengers , alway s
c orrectly wear safety belt s when t he v ehicle is moving .
• Failure t o pay attention to th e warning light that come on,
c ould lead to per sonal injur y.•
Why safety belts?
Frontal collisions and the law of physics
Frontal cras hes cre ate very strong forces for people ridi ng
in vehicles.
F ig . 22 0 Unbel te d
occ upants in a ve hicle
h ead ing for a w all
F ig . 22 1 The vehi cle
c ras hes in to th e wa ll
The physical principles are simple. Both the vehicle and the passen­
gers possess energy which varies with vehicle speed and body
we ight . Engineers call this energy "kinetic energy ."
T he higher the speed of the vehicle and the greater the vehic le's
we ight, the more energy that has to be "absorbed" in the crash .
Vehicle speed is the most signi fican t factor. If the speed doubles
from 15 to 30 mph (25 to 50 km/h), the energy increases 4 times!
.,

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one half. Never drive faster than the posted speed limit and weather
co nditions permit. •
Reducing unnecessary idling
Even when your car is just idling it burns up fuel.
- Shut the eng ine off when you are not driving the vehicle .
- Do not warm up the vehicle by letting the engine run at
id le .
It makes sense to shut off the engine in traff ic jams, when waiting
for trains to pass at rai lroad crossings, or at traffic lights that have
long waits on red. Turning the engine off for just 30 -40 seconds
saves more fue l than is burned starting the engine again .
It takes a long time for the engine to warm up fu lly when it is
running at idle. However, wear and noxious em issions are espec ially
high when the engine is warming up . So you should drive away as
soon as you start the engine and avoid running at high rpms while
the engine is sti ll warming up.
0 Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after starting . If warning
lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would
go unheeded. Extended idling also produces heat, which could
result in overheating or other damage to the vehicle or other
property .•
Regular maintenance
A badly tuned engine unnecessarily wastes a lot of fuel.
- H ave your vehicle serviced at regular intervals .
By having your vehicle regularly serviced by an Audi dealer helps to
ensure t hat it runs properly and economical ly . The condit ion of your
vehic le not only affects its safety and abi lity to hold its va lue, it also
affects
fuel con sumpt ion .
C hec k your oil each time you fill your tan k.
The amount of oil used is related to engine load and speed.
I t is norma l for the oi l consumption of a new engine to reach its
lowest va lue after a certain mileage has been driven.
You must drive your vehicle about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) before you can properly assess oil consumption .
T his also applies to fuel consump tion and engine output .
0 Note
• Have your vehicle maintained properly and in accordance with
t he service recommendat ions in your Warranty
& Maintenance
booklet. Lack of proper ma intenance as well as improper use of the
vehic le wi ll impair the function of the emission control system and
cou ld lead to damage.
• Do not alter or remove any component of the Emission Contro l
System unless approved by the manufacturer.
• Do not alte r or remove any device, such as heat sh ields,
switches, ignition wires, valves, which are designed to protect your
vehic le's Emission Control System and other important vehic le
components .•
Fewer short trips
Fuel consumption will always be relatively high on short
trips.
- Try to avoid driving short dista nces with a cold engine. ~

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Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger transpor­
tation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that the add it ional load
wi ll affect durability, economy and performance.
Tra iler towing not on ly p laces more stress on the vehicle, it a lso ca lls
for more concentration from the driver.
For this reason, always fol low the ope rating and driv ing instruc tions
provided and use common sense.
(D Note
If you are go ing to tow a trai ler, you must activate the trailer opera ­
tion
mode => page 189, "Towing a Trailer". •
Technical requirements
Traile r hit ch
Use a we ight-carrying hitch conforming to the gross trai ler weight.
The hitch must be suitable for your vehic le and trailer and must be
mounted secure ly on the ve hicle's chass is at a
technically sound
location. Use only a trailer hitch with a removable ball mount.
Always check wit h the trai ler hitch manufacturer to make s ure that
you are using the correct hitch .
Do not use a bumper hit ch.
The hitc h must be installed in such a way t hat it does not interfere
with the impact-absorbing bumper system. No modifications
should be made to the veh ic le exhaust a nd brake systems. F rom time to time, check that all hitch mounting bolts remain secure
ly
fastened .
When yo u are no t towing a trailer, re move the tra ile r hitch ball
mount. This prevents the hitch from causing damage shou ld your
vehic le be struck from
behind =>& .
Traile r br ake s
If your tra iler is equipped with a braking syste m, check to be sure
that it conforms to al l regu lations .
The tra iler hydraul ic brake sys tem must not be di rect ly co nnected to
t he vehic le's hydrau lic brake system .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle and the trailer.
Trailer light s
Trai ler lights must meet a ll regulations. Be sure to check with your
Aud i dea ler for correc t wir ing, sw itch es and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unable to see the traf fic behind you using the regu lar
outside mirrors, then you
must instal l extended mirrors. It is impor ­
t ant that you
always have c lear v ision to the rear.
& WARNING
After removing the tr ailer hitch , do not store it in your vehi cle . In
ca se of sudden braking , the hitch could fl y forward and injure you
or your p assenger s.•