2008 AUDI S8 sensor

___ 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
.,.

___ A_ u_ d_ i_s _i_d _e_ a_ s_ s
_ 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 _ i_d _e _ a_s_ s_ i_ s _t __ lJIII
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:

___ A_ u_ d_ i_s _i_d _e_ a_ s_ s
_ is_ t __________________________________________________ _
&, WARNING (continued )
-Never rely only on side assist when changing lanes .
- Always check rear view mirrors to make sure that it is safe to
change lanes .
• Side a ssist cannot detect all vehicle s under all conditions ­
danger of a cc ident!
• Side assist cannot detect vehicles in time to alert you when
they approach from behind at very high speed, or fall drop back
very quickly.
• The radar sensor 's
vi sion can be reduced or entirely blocked by
rain , snow , and heavy spray . This can result in side as sist not
adequately detecting vehicles or , in some cases , not dete cting
them at all . Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling
and the relevant area around the vehicle .
• Please note that side assist indicates there are approaching
vehicles , or vehicles in your blind spot , only after your vehicle has
reached a driving speed of at lea st 37 mph (60 km /h).
• Side assist signal does not work around tight corners (turning
radius less than 218 yards , or 200
ml.
• Side a ssist is no replacement for the driver's full attention . The
driver alone is responsible for lane changes and similar driving
maneuvers. Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling
and the relevant area around the vehicle .
0 Note
To ensure that s ide assist is not adv ers ely affected, you should not
b lock the area on the rea r bumper where the radar sensors are
located with for eign objects (such as wit h stickers or b icycle rac ks).
[ i ] Tips
If th e pos it ions of the rada r se nsors have bee n changed as a resu lt
of a rear end -collision, for instance, have side as sist checked by an
autho rized Aud i dea ler fo r sa fety reaso ns.•
A pplies to veh icles : w ith side ass is t
Declaration of compliance
Th e Audi side assist system is based o n radar sensors which operate
i n o ne of t wo fr eque ncy ban ds a t 24 GH z. In so me countr ies only one
of both bands is a llowed . D epending on the country in which you
are dr iving, the A ud i s ide ass is t syste m may not be legal ly act ivated
unless the frequency band permitted has been set by an authorized
A ud i dea ler . O pera tion in th e US a nd Cana da is o nly perm itte d on
the 240 75 MHz to 24 175 M Hz frequenc y band. The correct frequency
b and was se t by A udi or an a utho rized Aud i deale r in the coun try
where your ve hicle was originally purchased and may have been
rese t if the ve hicle was ope ra ted outside the US o r Canada . Cha nge s
or modi fications not expressl y approved b y Aud i can void the us er's
authority to operate the Audi side assist system .
T his dev ice co m plies wi th Pa rt 15 of th e FCC Rules. Operat ion is
subject to the fo llowing two condit ions :
• this device may not cause ha rm ful in te rfe re nc e, a nd
• this device must accept any interference received, inc luding
i nter fere nce t hat m ay ca use un des ired ope ration .•

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
=> & . ~

-
Advanced Parking System
--~-------------
The image in the visual display can be switched off on the MMI
display=> page 182. The acoustic distance warning remains active.
If you press a function button on the MMI terminal, the visual
display disappears. Manually switching the parking assist on again
via the
P, Yi switch shows the visual image on the MMI display again .
Further informat ion regard ing the MMI terminal is included in the
MMI user 's manual.
Rear-view camera (rear view)
The rear-view camera picture=> page 175, fig. 198 appears on the
MMI display as a mirror image. The rear -view camera picture has
orientation lines and marked surfaces projected into it as an aid to
the parking
process => page 173. The red line in the picture
=> page 173, fig. 194 or=> page 173, fig. 195 indicates the collision
area . You should stop backing up, preferably before you reach this
point =>& .
If your vehicle is close to an obstacle, the visual distance display
also appears in the picture from the rear -view camera. This superim ­
posed display is intended to help display the relevant critical vehicle
area.
If the visual display is shown on the MMI display and you press the
control button with the
Rear view function=> page 170, fig. 193, the
picture from the rear -view camera is displayed.
If the picture from the rear-view camera is shown and you press the
control button with the
Graphic function => page 175, fig. 198, the
visual display is shown.
The picture from the rear-view camera can be switched off on the MMI
display => page 182. The acoustic distance warning remains
active.
If you press a function button on the MMI terminal, the rear -view
camera picture disappears. The rear-view camera picture reappears
the next time you park. But the picture from the rear -view camera
can also be shown again on the MMI display by manually switching
off and on with the
P' Yi switch . Further information regarding th e
MMI terminal is included in the MMI user 's manual.
& WARNING
• Sensors have dead spaces in which objects cannot be
detected. Be especially careful to check for small children and
animals before backing up . Small children and animals will not
always be detected by the sensors.
• The Audi parking system is not a substitute for being careful
and alert when backing up. Be especially careful during parking
and similar maneuvers . Always watch where you are driving and
make sure that nothing is in the way.
• Remember that low obstacles which have already been
signaled may pass below the system's sensing zone when the
vehicle is backing up. The fact that the signal stops does not mean
that you have cleared the obstacle. When the signal stops, impact
is imminent. Objects such as trailer hitches, chains, narrow posts
or fences covered by a thin layer of paint may not always be
detected by the system. They can still damage your vehicle
without warning.
• Always make sure that the volume and frequency of the chimes
is adjusted so that you can easily hear the acoustic distance signal
even if the radio is playing, the air-conditioner blower is on High or
there is a high level of outside noise.
- Check the settings whenever someone else has driven the
vehicle before you.
• Improper reliance on the Audi parking system can cause colli­
sions and serious personal injury.
- Never rely only on parking assist when backing up.
- Always check rear view mirrors to make sure it is safe to back
up.
[ i] Tips
• The rear-view camera picture is available as soon as the MMI
Display or the MMI is switched on, or the start -up phase is
completed .