2008 AUDI A5 Owners Manual

Lights and vision55
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
WARNING
The automatic headlights are only intended to assist the driver.
The driver must always ensure that the headlights are used when
required, and may have to switch them on manually when the light
conditions or visibility are poor. For example, the light sensors are
not able to detect fog. Therefore, you should always switch on the
headlights
 in these conditions and when driving after dark.
Note
•
The light sensor for automatic headlight control is located in the
mounting for the interior mirror. Do not affix any stickers on this
section of the windscreen to avoid malfunctioning of the sensor.
•
The default sensitivity of the light sensor, which is set at the
factory, can be changed in the MMI menu Auto headlights
⇒page 56.
•
If the lights are left on after the key has been taken out of the
ignition lock, a buzzer sounds when the driver's door is opened.
•
The use of the lighting described here is subject to the relevant
statutory requirements.
•
The coming home/leaving home function is active only when the
light switch is set to AUTO.
Fog lights– Press button ⇒fig. 51 to switch on the front fog lights
.
– Press button to switch on the rear fog lights
.
Front fog lights
The side lights or headlights must be switched on. The green diode
at the edge of the switch lights up when the front fog lights are
switched on.
When the headlights are set to AUTO, the dipped headlights are
switched on automatically when you switch on the front fog lights.
Rear fog lights
The headlights or side lights and the front fog lights must be
switched on.
The yellow diode at the edge of the switch lights up when the rear
fog lights are switched on.
If you are towing a trailer or caravan equipped with a rear fog light
on a vehicle with a factory-fitted towing bracket, only the rear fog
light on the trailer or caravan will light up.
Fig. 51 Switch for
front fog lights
A1A2
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Lights and vision 56
CautionTo avoid dazzling the traffic behind you, the rear fog light should
only be used in accordance with statutory regulations.Exterior lighting settings
You can change the settings for these functions on the
sound system or MMI*.– Select: Function selector button > Exterior lighting.Coming home
The coming home function lights up the area round the vehicle after
dark when the ignition has been switched off and the driver's door
opened. It switches on the fog lights, rear lights and number plate
lights. This function can be set to operate for a time interval
between 0 (off) and 30 or 60 seconds.
Leaving home
The leaving home function lights up the area round the vehicle after
dark when the vehicle is unlocked. It switches on the fog lights, rear
lights and number plate lights. The function can be switched on or
off as required.Auto headlights*
When the light switch is set to AUTO ⇒page 54, you can make the
headlights switch on earlier or later by changing the Auto head-
lights setting.
Daytime running lights (daylight headlights)*
This function can be used to switch the daytime running lights on
and off as required. When the function is activated, the daytime
running lights are switched on automatically when the ignition is
switched on.
On vehicles for some markets the daytime running lights cannot be
switched off if the vehicle has halogen headlights.
Note
The coming home/leaving home function is active only when the
light switch is set to AUTO.Applies to vehicles: with headlight range controlHeadlight range control

When the dipped beam headlights are switched on, the
range of the headlights can be adjusted to suit the load
being carried.
Fig. 52 MMI display:
Exterior lighting
CAR
Fig. 53 Headlight
range control
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Lights and vision57
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
– Turn the thumbwheel
 ⇒page 56, fig. 53 to the appro-
priate setting.
Adjustment settings
The settings correspond roughly to the following load conditions:
Two front occupants, luggage compartment empty
All seats occupied, luggage compartment empty
All seats occupied, luggage compartment loaded
Driver only, luggage compartment loaded
Caution
Always adjust the headlights to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.
Make sure you lower the headlights when the vehicle is carrying a
heavy load.Instrument lighting
The background lighting of the instruments, the centre
console and the display can be adjusted as required.– Briefly press the knob to release it.
– Turn the button clockwise +” to increase the brightness
of the instrument lighting in dark conditions.– Turn the button anti-clockwise -” to reduce the bright-
ness of the instrument lighting in dark conditions.
– Press the knob in again to prevent the setting from being
changed unintentionally.
The instrument lighting (dials and needles), the centre console illu-
mination and the illumination of the displays are regulated by a
light sensor incorporated in the instrument cluster. In bright condi-
tions any changes made to the brightness of the instrument lighting
have no effect.
Note
The instrument lighting (illumination of dials and needles) is
switched on when the ignition is on and the vehicle's lights are off.
The instrument lighting is dimmed automatically as the daylight
starts to fade; it is switched off completely when the light condi-
tions become very poor. This function is intended to remind the
driver to switch on the dipped-beam headlights in good time when
light conditions become poor.Applies to vehicles: with xenon headlight bulbsDynamic headlight range controlHeadlights with xenon gas-discharge bulbs automatically adapt to
suit the load being carried when the engine is switched on. The
headlights are also automatically adjusted when the vehicle is in
motion (e.g. when accelerating and braking).
AOAIAIIAIII
Fig. 54 Instrument
lighting
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Lights and vision 58Applies to vehicles: with adaptive lightadaptive light
This feature provides better illumination when you drive
through a corner.The adaptive light gives better illumination of the bend and the side
of the road when driving through a corner ⇒fig. 55. The adaptive
light is controlled automatically, depending on the speed of the
vehicle and the steering wheel angle.
The headlights are regulated automatically when you drive through
a corner, depending on how far you turn the steering wheel. To
avoid having a dark spot in front of the vehicle the two headlights
are directed at different angles.
Note
The system is active at speeds from approximately 10 km/h to
110 km/h.
Hazard warning lights

The hazard warning lights are used to make other road
users aware of your vehicle in hazardous situations.– Press the switch
 to switch the hazard warning lights
on or off ⇒fig. 56.
All four turn signals flash simultaneously when the hazard warning
lights are switched on. The two turn signal indicator lamps
  and
the indicator lamp in the switch
 will flash at the same time. The
hazard warning lights also work when the ignition is switched off.
The hazard warning lights come on automatically in the event of an
accident in which an airbag is triggered or in the case of an emer-
gency stop (full brake application).
Note
You should switch on the hazard warning lights to warn other road
users, for instance:•
When reaching the tail end of a traffic jam
•
If your vehicle breaks down or there is an emergency
•
If your vehicle is being towed away, or if you are towing another
vehicle.
Fig. 55 adaptive light
when driving
Fig. 56 Switch for
hazard warning lights
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Lights and vision59
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Turn signal and main beam lever
The turn signal and main beam lever also operates the
parking lights and the headlight flasher.The turn signal and main beam headlight lever has the
following functions:
Turn signals
 
– Move the lever all the way up to indicate right, or all the
way down to indicate left ⇒fig. 57.
– Move the lever briefly up or down just as far as the point
of resistance and then release it: the turn signals will
flash three times.
– Move the lever up or down just as far as the point of
resistance and hold it there: the turn signals flash for as
long as you hold the lever.
Main beam headlights

– Press the lever forward to switch on the main beams.
– Pull the lever back towards you to switch the main beam
headlights off again.Headlight flasher

– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel to operate the
flasher.
Parking lights

– Switch off the ignition.
– Move the lever up or down to turn on the right or left-
hand parking lights respectively.Notes on these functions•
The turn signals only work when the ignition is switched on. The
corresponding indicator lamp
 or
 flashes in the instrument
cluster.
•
The turn signals are cancelled automatically when the steering
wheel is returned to the straight-ahead position.
•
The main beam headlights can only be switched on if the dipped
beam headlights are already on. The main beam headlight indicator
lamp  then comes on in the instrument cluster.
•
The headlight flasher comes on for as long as you pull the lever –
even if no other lights are switched on. The main beam headlight
indicator lamp
 then comes on in the instrument cluster.
•
When the parking lights are switched on, the headlight and the
rear light on one side of the car light up with reduced intensity. The
parking lights will only work with the ignition off. A warning buzzer
will sound for as long as the driver's door is open.Caution
Do not use the main beam headlights or the headlight flasher if this
would dazzle oncoming traffic.
Fig. 57 Turn signal and
main beam headlight
lever
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Lights and vision 60Interior lightsFront interior lights
The front interior lighting also incorporates the reading
lights for the driver and passenger.The rocker switch ⇒fig. 58 for the interior light has the
following functions:
Courtesy light position
– Move switch to the centre position.Interior light switched on
– Move switch to position I.
Interior light switched off
– Move switch to position O.
Front reading lights

– Press one of the switches ⇒fig. 59 to switch the left
or right reading light on and off.If you switch on the courtesy lighting, the interior lights come on
automatically when the vehicle is unlocked or the doors are opened.
The light also comes on when the key is pulled out of the ignition. It
goes out approximately 30 seconds after the doors are closed. The
interior light is switched off immediately when the vehicle is locked
or when the ignition is switched on.
If a door is left open, the light is switched off after about 10 minutes
to prevent the battery from running flat.
The brightness of the light is automatically adjusted by a dimmer
when it is switched on.Rear interior lights
Reading lights are also provided for rear passengers.
Fig. 58 Headliner:
Front interior lightsFig. 59 Headliner:
Front reading lights
AA
AA
AAAA
AB
Fig. 60 Headliner: Rear
reading lights
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Lights and vision61
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data The reading lights are switched on and off with the switches
.
Clear visionSun visors
The sun visors can improve visibility and contribute to
safety.The sun visors for the driver and the front passenger can be pulled
out of their mountings in the centre of the vehicle and turned
towards the doors ⇒fig. 61 . Once the sun visor has been turned
towards the door you can pull it towards the rear as desired.
Make-up mirrors
There are covers on the make-up mirrors in the sun visors. The light
for the mirror (located in the headlining) comes on automatically
when the mirror cover is slid open. The light switches itself off
when the cover is closed and when the sun visor is pushed back
up.
Applies to vehicles: with sun blindSun blind
A sun blind is provided for the rear window.Sun blind (rear window)
– Press the switch

to extend or retract the electric sun
blind for the rear window ⇒fig. 62 or ⇒fig. 63.
If you have selected the Automatic rear blind function on in the MMI
the raised sun blind will be retracted automatically when reverse
gear is engaged ⇒page 51. In this way, the rear blind will not
obstruct your vision when reversing. The rear blind returns to its
raised position when reverse gear is disengaged and the vehicle is
Fig. 61 Passenger's
side: Sun visor
A1
A2
Fig. 62 Switch for sun
blind (vehicles with
MMI)Fig. 63 Switch for sun
blind
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Lights and vision 62driven forwards at a speed above about 15 km/h. The current setting
is automatically stored and assigned to the remote control key.
If the rear blind was rolled in automatically when reversing and then
the ignition was switched off and on again, the blind will not roll
back out again when you select a forward gear and the speed
exceeds 15 km/h. You will then have to press the button
 on the
centre console to extend the blind again.
The sun blind for the rear window switches off automatically when
it reaches the end position. It can be made to move in the other
direction before it reaches its end position by briefly pressing the
switch a second time. If the ignition is turned off while the blind is
still moving, it continues until it reaches the end position before
switching off.
Note
•
An overload cut-out may be activated if the sun blind is operated
repeatedly. There will then be a short delay before the blind can be
operated again.
•
As the material of the sun blind is less flexible at low tempera-
tures the electric actuator is switched off when the temperature in
the car is below -5°C. The blind can only be operated when the
temperature in the car's interior rises above this level.
Windscreen wipersWindscreen wipers

The windscreen wiper lever controls the windscreen
wipers and the automatic wash and wipe.The windscreen wiper lever has the following settings:
Brief wipe
– Move the lever down to position to give the wind-
screen a brief wipe.
Intermittent wipe

(activating rain sensor)
– Move the lever up to the stop .
– Move the control to the left or right to set the sensi-
tivity of the rain sensor.
Slow wiper speed
– Move the lever up to the stop .
Fast wiper speed
– Move the lever up to the stop .
Fig. 64 Windscreen
wiper lever
A1
A2
AA
A3A4
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