2008 AUDI S8 lane assist

___ A_ u_d_ i _s _id _ e_ a_ s_ s_ is_t __________________________________________________ _
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.

Audi side assist -
----------------
Dea ctivating
Press the button again . The indicator l ight on the butto n
goes out .
The system can assist when driving on highways and secondary
roads . The system works only at speeds faster than 37 mph (60
km/h).
& WARNING
• Improper reliance o n the side assist s ystem can cause colli ­
s ions and seriou s pers onal injury:
- Ne ver rel y only on side a ssis t w hen ch anging l anes .
- Always che ck re ar view mirror s to make sur e that it i s safe to
c hange lane s.
• Side assi st cannot dete ct all vehicle s under all condition s­
danger of accident!
• Side a ssist cannot detect vehicles in time to alert you when
they app roach from behind at very high speed , or fall drop b ack
very quickly.
• The radar sen sor's
vi sion ca n be redu ced or entirel y blo cked b y
rain , snow , and heavy spray . Thi s can result in side a ssis t not
a dequately dete cting veh icles or , in some cases , not detect ing
them at all . Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling
and the relevant ar ea around th e vehi cle .
• Please note that side a ssis t indicate s th ere are approaching
vehi cle s, or vehi cle s in your bl ind spot , onl y after your vehicle has
reached a driving speed of at lea st 37 mph (60 km /h).
• Side as sist sign al doe s not work around t ight corner s (turning
radiu s less than 218 yard s, or 200
ml.
• Side a ssist is no repla cement for the driver's full attention . The
driver alone i s re spon sible for lane ch anges and similar driving
maneuver s. Always k eep an eye on the d ire ction you are tr aveling
and the relevant area around the vehi cle .
Controls and equip­ ment
0 Note
• To ensure that you do not adverse ly affect s ide assist, do not
b lock the area on the rear bumper where the radar sensors are
located with foreign objects (suc h as stickers or bicycle racks).
• Make su re that the signal light on the outside mirror is not
b locked by stickers or other items.
[ i ] Tip s
• Side ass ist automatically deactivates if it detects that the radar
sensors are
blocked => page 167. The indicator light on the button
goes out.
• The area on the bumper where the radar sensors are located
must consistently re main free of snow, ice, and heavy so iling so that
side assist can function properly. Follow the additiona l notes on
=> page 761.
• Additiona l tinting on the front side windows can make it harder
to see and correct ly understand the s ignal light on the outside
mirror. •
Applies to veh ic les: with side ass ist
Sensor detection area
Fig . 17 4 Schem atic
illu stratio n: Senso r
det ection ar ea
.,.

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_ is_ t __________________________________________________ _
The detection ~ page 155, fig. 174 of the radar sensor detection
area is made up of:
• the approach area (light green area)
G), about 55 yards (50 m)
behind the vehic le, and
• the "blind spot" (dark green
areal@.
The radar sensors cover the adjacent left and right lanes. Other
lanes are
not covered by the radar sensors.
[ i] Tips
S ide ass ist does not measure actual lane width. The system
assumes a fixed lane width. Detection in the left and right lanes is
based on this assumed lane width . When driving on narrow roads or
when driving to the left or right of the center of a travel lane, it is
possible that vehicles wi ll be detected that are
not in the lane next
to the lane you are
using~ page 160 . •
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Operation
Side assist compares the distance and difference in speed of
detected vehicles with the speed of your vehicle . Whenever the
difference in speed and distance is registered as notable if you were
to change lanes, a signal light appears on the respective m irror.
The signal can light up if you are passed by a vehicle or if you are
passing another vehicle.
If you pass another vehicle slowly (difference in speed less than 9
mph, or
15 km/h), the signal light will come on as soon as the other
vehic le is in your b lind spot and is detected by side assist . When the
difference in speed is greater, the signal light wil l not come on.•
Applies to vehi cles: with side assist
Informational and alert stage signals
Side assist has two signa l stages:
• the informational stage signal, and
• th e alert stage signal.
Side assist helps you by using the appropriate signa l stage,
depending on whether or not you have activated the turn signal,
and thus have indicated that you are or are not changing lanes.
Informational stage signal
As long as you have not activated the turn signa l, side assist informs
you of detected vehicles that are registered as being in a notable
location if you were to change lanes. Whenever the detected
vehic le 's difference in speed and distance is registered by side
assist as notable, the signa l light on the respective mirror produces
muted il lumination .
The brightness of the informationa l stage signa l is designed not to
be as intense, so that it does not interfere with your view of the road
when you are driving and have no intention of changing lanes.
When you look in the outside mirror, you can clearly see the infor­
mational stage signal.
Alert stage signal
When you ac tiva te the turn signal, and side assis t has detected a
vehic le in a notable location on that particular side, the signal light
on this side mirror flashes brightly. The repeated brief and bright
flashing of the alert stage signal reminds you to careful ly check
traffic to the rear in the outside mirror and over your shou lder, so
that you can safe ly complete the lane
change~ & in "Safety tips"
on page
161.
[ i] Tips
The brightness of the signal light on the outside mirrors can be
adjusted with the MMI
~ page 159. •

_________________________________________________ A_ u_ d_ i _s _i_
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

___ A_ u_d_ i _s _id _ e_ a_ s_ s_ is_t __________________________________________________ _
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. •

___________________________________________________ A_u_ d_i_ s_ id_e_ a_ s_s _i_s _t _ __.ffllll
Ap plies to vehi cles: w ith side ass is t
Driving situation: Vehicles dropping back
quickly
Fig . 178 Side assist: Vehicles dropping back quickly
0 Signal on outside mirror does not light up
The vehicle just passed has not yet been detected by side assist. The
signal on the ou tside mirror does not light
up => & in "Safety tips"
on
page 161 .
@ Signal on outside mirror does not light up
The vehicle dropping back quickly on the right ( difference in speed
of more than 9 mph , or 15 km/h) has been detected by side assis t,
but is not considered notable in the event of a lane change, because
it is dropping back so quick ly . The signal on the outside mirror does
not light
up => & in "Safety tips " on page 161.
Controls and equip­
ment
G) Signal on outside mirror does not light up
If you activate your turn signal in driving situation @, the signal still
does not ligh t up on the outside
mirror=> & in "Safety tips" on
page 161. •
Applies to veh ic les: w it h side ass ist
MMI settings
The basic brightness setting of the signal on the outside
mirror can be adjusted via the MM/.
I
W arn in g lam p: brightn ess
' •

12 :oo~M • <: ''·,.I,,
Press the [CAR ] function button.
Select
Systems i n the CAR menu.
Vehicle care I I
-
Fig . 179 MMI Display :
Options menu
Fig . 180 MMI Display :
Adjusting signal
brightness
irechnical data

___ A_ u_ d_ i_s _i_d _e_ a_ s_ s
_ is_ t __________________________________________________ _
-Select Audi sid e ass is t.
-Select W arning l amp : brightn ess.
-Rotate the control knob to adjust the displayed bright -
ness of the signal l ight on the outside mirrors
=> page 159, fig. 180 .
Th e brightn ess o f th e signal light for both th e informational and
a lert stages is automatica lly adj usted to ambient light conditions. In
addition, you can adjust the
basic brightness separately, via the
brightness function
=> page 159, f ig. 180.
While mak ing the adjustment , the new br ig htness setting is
displayed briefly. The brightn ess disp layed is that of the informa ­
tiona l stage s ignal. The alert stage signal brightness is linked to the
in formational stag e signal brightness .
The infor mationa l stage signal br ightness should be adjusted so
that you notice the signa l illumination when you look in the outside
m irror, but not when you look forward through the windsh ield.
In very dark or light surround ings , the automat ic brightness setting
adjusts signal light brightness to maximum or minimum intensity ,
as needed . In circumstances such as these, you may not not ice any
change in the brightness on the outside m irror wh en adjusting the
basic brightness .
You may not notice the change until ligh ting conditions are normal
aga in .
[ i ] Tip s
• Side assist is not active wh en the basic brightness is adjusted .
The signal l ight comes on briefly to help you make the adjustment.
• Your settings are automatically s tored and assigned to the
remote contro l key being used. •
App lies to ve hicles: w ith s ide assis t
General information
Side assist has lim its and cannot detect vehicles under all road and
weather conditions. Please remember system limit ations and never
rely on the system, especia lly when:
• driving through
curves=> page 160,
• l anes are of different widths => page 160. •
Applies to ve hicles : w ith sid e as sist
When driving through curves
Side assist cannot detect vehic les in curves with a turning radius of
l ess than
218 yards (200 m) .
When driving through a curve , it is poss ib le that side assist may
register a vehicl e two lanes over, and the signal on the outside
m irror w ill light up .•
A pplies to vehicle s: w ith sid e ass is t
Lane width
w cl,
Fig . 18 1 L an es of a
norma l widt h are i n
d etec tion area

_________________________________________________ A
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Fig . 182 Narr ow lane s:
Si de ass is t m ay detec t
vehi cle s two la ne s
a w ay
Side assist's detection area is designed to cover lanes of standard
width to the left and r ight of your travel lane, depend ing on whethe r
you drive in the center of your lane or c loser to the edge .
I f you drive in narrow lanes, side assist's detection area may also
include other lanes - especially if you tend to dr ive on the edge of
your
lane~ fig . 182. Under these conditions, vehicles can also be
de tec ted tha t are two lanes away, and side ass ist then c ould switch
between the informational and warning stage signa ls.
When d riving in very wide lanes, vehicles in t he adjacent lane may
not be detected because they are not ins ide the detection area. •
Notes
Applies to vehicles: with side ass is t
Messages in instrument cluster display
If side assist turns off automatically, the indicator light on the
b utton wil l go out a nd you w ill see a message in the i nstrument
cluster disp lay :
Audi side a ssist not available : sen sor s pos sibly blocked
T he side assist sensors are bui lt into the rear bumper on the left and
r ight ( not visi ble on the
ou ts id e) ~ page 154, fig. 171 . To ensure t hat
you do not adverse ly affect the way side assist functions, foreign
Controls and equip­
ment
objects (such as stickers or bicyc le racks) should not be attached to
t he area on the rear bumper where the sens ors are loca ted. If s ide
assist functions are adversely affected, you will see this message in
the instrument cluster display. Remove anything that may be b locking the sensors .
I f no vehic le is detected for a longer period of time while driving,
s ide assist wil l also switch o ff automatica lly.
Audi side a ssist currently not available
If there is a temporary prob lem (such as the vehic le's battery charge
being low), side assist cannot be activated temporarily .
Audi side assis t : sy stem fault
Have t he system chec ked by an autho rized Audi dealer o r qualified
workshop. •
Applies to vehic les: with side assist
Safety tips
The side ass ist detec tion may be li mit ed when dr iv ing a round
narrow street corners, on hilly streets, and under poor weather
conditions.
I t is possible that the radar sensors may a ls o detec t other objects,
such as high or staggered guardrails.
Side ass ist does not measu re actual la ne w idth. The system
assumes a fixed lane width. Detection in the left and right lanes is
based on this assumed lane width. When driving on narrow roads or
when driv ing to the left or right of the center of a travel lane, it is
possible that vehicles wi ll be detected that are
not in the lane next
to the lane you are using.
& WARNING
• Improper relian ce on the side assi st system c an cau se colli ­
sions and serious personal injury: