2008 AUDI S8 Owners Manual

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_ s_u _ m_ e_ r_l_ n _f_o _ r_ m_ a_ t
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& W AR NIN G (c ontinu ed )
ment zones. Do ing so will in cre ase the risk of injur y if airb ags are
t rig gered in an accident!
• Before you che ck anyth ing in the engine comp artme nt, a lways
re ad and heed all WARNIN GS
=> page 29 9.
0 Note
• If items other tha n ge nuine Audi spare parts, add -on equ ipment
and accessory items are used or if repair work is not performed
according to specif ied methods, this can resu lt in severe damage to
your vehicle 's engine and body (such as corrosion) and adverse ly
affect your vehicle's warranty.
• T he innovative a luminium concept of your Audi A8 means that all
servicing, repa irs or other work on the veh icle body mus t be carried
out exc lusively by an Audi wo rkshop.
• I f emergency repairs must be performed e lsewhere, have the
vehic le examined by an authorized Audi dealer as soon as possible.
• T he manufacturer cannot be he ld liable for damage which occurs
due to fai lure to comply with these stipu lations. •
Technical Modifications
Our guidelines must be complied with when technical
modifications are made.
A lways c onsult an authorized Audi dealer before starting work on
any modifications .
T his will he lp ensure that vehicle function, performance and safety
are no t
impaired =>& .
Attempting to work on electronic components and the software
used with them can ca use malfunct io ns. Because o f the way elec ­
tronic components are interconnected with each other , such
malfunctions can also have an adverse affect on other systems that
Controls and equip­ ment Safety first Vehicle operation
are not directly involved
. This means that you risk both a substantial
reduction in the operational safety of your vehicle and an increased
wear of vehicle par ts
=> & .
Authorized Audi dealers wi ll perform this work in a professional and
competent manner or, in special cases, refer you to a pro fess ional
company that specializes in such modificat ions.
& WARNING
Improp er repair s and modifi cation s ca n change the way vehicle
s y stem s wor k and cause seriou s per son al injury.
0 Note
If emergency repairs must be perfor med e lsewhere, have t he
vehic le examined by an authorized Audi dea ler as soon as
possible .•
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

Alphabetical index

___ A_ l-=- p _ h_ a_ b_e _t_ ic _ a_l _in _ d_e_ x ____________________________________________ _
A
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Adaptive Air Suspension ....... .. .... 185
automatic mode .. .... .... .... ... 186
Description ... .... .... .......... 185
dynamic mode ................... 186
Jacking mode when changing a flat tire .
188
lift mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Setting the driving modes .. .... ... 188
Sport Chassis Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
standard mode ... .... .... ...... . 186
Trailer towing mode ... .... .... ... 189
Warning/indicator lights .. ... ... 20, 21
Adaptive Cruise Control .............. 139
Changing speed ...... .... ...... . 142
Driver information ............... 144
Drivingintraffic .. .... .... ...... . 140
Error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Open road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Override ........ ... .. ...... .... . 140
Request for driver to assume control 140
Save speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Setting distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Setting time interval . ... .. .... .... 143
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Specia l driving situations . ....... . 149
Status messages ................. 147
Switching on and off ... .. .... ... . 141
System limits ...... .... .... ... ... 149
T emporarily turning off ....... .... 142
warning/indicator lights ... .... .... 145 Adaptive
Light .......... .... .... .... . 72
defective ......................... 36
Adding Engine coolant ................... 316
Engine oil . .... .... .... ... .... ... 312
Windshield washer fluid .... .... ... 323
Additiona l accessories .......... ..... 382
Additives Engine oil ... .. ...... ....... ..... 312
Adjustable steering co lumn .. .... .... 128
Adjusting Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Instrument cluster i llumination ...... 15
Steering column ................. 128
Advanced Key ....................... 59
Driver's messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Locking the vehicle .. ...... .... .... 60
START button ................... 131
Starting the engine ............... 131
STOP button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Stopp ing the engine ......... ..... 132
Switching on the ignition .......... 131
Unlocking the vehicle . .......... ... 60
Advanced Parking System with rear view
camera
Adjusting the chimes -option 1 .... 180
Adjusting the chimes - option 2 .... 181
front and back with visual display and
r ear-view camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
General information ... .... ....... 170
Not es on distance information ..... 179
Parking next to obstac les . . . . . . . . . . 178
Rear -view camera -parking mode 1 . 175 Rear-view
camera -parking mode 2 . 176
Rear-view camera (Rear View) ...... 173
Rear-view camera coverage area .... 174
Rear-view camera tips ............ 183
Specia l parking situations .. .... ... 178
Switching the rear-view camera on and
off .. .... .... ...... ... .. .... ... 182
switching the visua l display on and off ..
182
System error message ............ 183
Towing hitch ...... .... ...... .... 180
Air conditioning
See Cl imate controls .... ... .... ... 114
Airbag system .... .... .... ...... 218, 238
Advanced Airbag System ...... .... 222
Advanced Airbag System components ...
225
Care ............................ 232
Child restraints ................ .. 245
Children ... .... .... ... ........ .. 244
Components (front airbags) . ...... . 225
Dang er of fitting a child seat on the front
passenger seat .. ....... .. .... .. 220
Disposal . ...... ..... .. .... .... .. 232
Fron t airbags ...... .... .... .. 222, 223
How do the front airbags work? . ... 227
How many airbags does my vehicle have?
225
How the Advanced Airbag System compo -
nents work together ... .... ...... 226
Impor tant safety instructions on the knee
airbag system .................. 236
Impor tant things to know .. .... .... 218
Indicat or light ........ ........... 229

______________________________________________ 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

___ A_ l-=- p _ h_ a_ b_e _t_ ic _ a_l _in _ d_e_ x ____________________________________________ _
Electromechanical parking brake ... 134
Fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
How does moisture or road sal t affect the
brakes? ....................... 270
Malfunction ..... ... ... .. .... .... . 30
Warning/indicator lights ... .... .... 22
Worn brak e pads symbol ..... .. .... 34
Break -in period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
B rake pads .. ...... .... ......... . 278
Tires ..... .. .. .... .... ......... . 277
Bu lbs ... .... .... .... ....... .... ... 362
Bumper cover Caution when parking near a parking bar -
rier or curb ...... ... .... .... ... 135
C
Ca lifornia Proposition 65 Warning 308
Battery specific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Capacit ies .. .... .... .... .... ... .... 378
Car care . .... .... .... .... .... .... .. 288
Int erior .. .... .... .... .... ...... . 295
P lastic and vinyl .. .... .... ... .... 292
Weatherstrips ...... ... .. ...... .. 293
Car carrier Transporting your vehicle ........ . 369
Care of exterior . .... .... .... .... .... 288
Cargo area
See Loading the luggage compartment ..
205
Cargo net .... .... .... .... ... .... ... 101
Catalyt ic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 Central locking
Emergency locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Changing a flat tire ...... .... ... .. .... 45
Changing a wheel .... ..... .. .... .... 351
Changing engine oi l .. .... .... .... ... 313
Chassis Undercoating ... .. .... .... .... ... 294
See also Adaptive Aur Suspension . .. 185
CHECK button .... .... .... ..... .. .... 15
Checking Engine coolant level ... .... ..... .. 315
Checking tire pressure ... .. .... .... .. 331
Child restraints Danger of using child restraints in the front seat ... ....... ...... .... .. 220
What types o f child restraint anchors are
avai lable? ... ....... ...... .... .. 256
Where can I get additional information
about child r estraints? ...... ... .. 257
Child safety ...... .. . ... .... ... . 243, 248
Additiona l information ............ 262
Booster seat ... .... ... .... .... ... 251
Convertible child safety seat .... ... 249
Conv ert ible locking r etractor ... .... 253
Guidance fixtures for lower anchorages
259
Important safety instructions for using
child safety seats ..... .. .... .... 246
Important things to know when driving with children . .... .... .... ...... 243
Infant seat .... .... .... .... ... ... 248
Installing a child restrain t using the
LATCH system ...... ...... ..... . 261 Mounting and releasing the anchorage
hook .......................... 262
Older children and safety belts ..... 252
Safety belts and older children .... . 252
Tether anchors .. ...... .... ... .. . 262
Tether strap ........... .... .... .. 263
Which restraint system should my older chi ld wear? .................. .. 252
Child safety lock
Rear doors (mechanical! ...... .... .. 58
Rear doors (power) .... .... .... .... 58
Child safety seat .. .... .... ...... .... 248
Convertible locking r etractor .... ... 253
How do I properly insta ll a chi ld safety
seat in my vehicle? .. ........ .... 246
Installing .. .. .. .... .... ..... .. ... 253
LATCH system ................... 261
Safety instructions .. ...... .... ... 246
Cigarette I ig hter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Cleaning Alcantara (synthetic suede) .... .... 298
Engine compartment ...... .... ... 299
Fab rics and fabric coverings ... .... 295
Instrument panel ...... ....... .... 296
Interior ... .... .... .... .... .... .. 295
Leather ... .... .... .... ..... .. ... 297
MMI display .............. .... ... 295
MMI terminal ...... .... ..... .. ... 295
Plastic and viny l ... .... .... ....... 292
P lastic parts ..................... 296
Safety belts ... .... .... ... .... ... 299
Trim strips . ....... .... ... .... ... 291
trim strips . ....... .... ....... .... 292
Lower anchorages ........... ..... 258 Cleaning and protection ............. 288

Alphab eti ca l ind ex I'll
----------------------------------------- -'---------
Climate controls ............. .... ... 114
Air distribution ... .... .... .... .... 120
Air outlets ..... .. .... .... .... .... 122
Air outlets (rear) .... ... .... .... ... 122
Air recirculation .. .... .... ... .... . 121
AUTO (standard setting) ...... .... . 117
Basic se ttings ... .. .... ... .... .... 1 26
Cen ter ai r vent . ....... ... .... .... 127
Contro ls ... .. .... .... ... .... .... 116
Defrosting/defogging ..... ... .... . 120
Description ... .... ....... .... .... 114
ECON operation .. .... .... ... .... . 126
Fan . .... .... .... .... .... ... .... . 120
Heated seats , front ... .... .... .... 118
in the rear ...... .... .... .... .... . 125
Key coded setting ... .... .... .... . 114
Rear c limate controls .... .... .... . 125
Rear seat operation .. .... .... .... . 127
Rec ircu lation mode (automatic) ... .. 126
Rec ommended set tin gs ...... .... . 11 4
Residual heat .. ...... .... .. . .... . 117
Set ting t he tempe rature ..... . .... . 117
SETUP . ......... .... .... ... .... . 126
Solar blower fan/solar roof .. ...... . 123
Solar operation ... ....... .... .... 127
Switching on and off .. .... ...... .. 117
Synchroni zation .. .... .... ... .... . 127
Using climate contro l economical ly . 123
Windshield defogger/defroster . .... 123
Clock . ...... .... .... .... ... .... .... . 13
Closing Power sunroo f .... .... ... .... .... . 66
Coat hooks . ... .... .... .... .... .... . 112
Co ld ti re inflati on pressure .. ...... ... 328
Controls and equip­
ment Safety first
Compartments in the door trim panels
. 111
Co mpar tmen ts in the rea r do ors ... .. .. 111
Consumer Information ... .... .... 207 , 380
Contacting N HTSA .. .. .. .... .... .... 207
Conven ie nce open featu re
Win dows ..... ... .... .... .... .... . 64
Convertib le chi ld safe ty seat .... .... .. 249
How do I properly ins ta ll a convertib le
child safety seat in my vehic le? . ... 249
Safety instructions . .... .... ....... 249
Convertible lock ing retractor
Act ivating .. ...... .... .... .... ... 255
Dea ctivati ng .. ... ... .... .... .... . 256
Using to secure a chi ld safety seat . 253,
255
Coo lant
See Engine coo lant
Cr uise control
3 14
Cha nging speed ...... .... .... .... 138
Presett ing your speed ... .. .... .... 138
Switching off .... .... .... .... .... 138
Switching on . .... .... .... ....... 137
Warning/indicator lights .. .... .... .. 21
See also Adaptive Cruis e Con trol .. .. 139
Cr uis ing ra nge . ...... .... .... .... ... . 38
Cupholder .. .. .. ...... ....... .... .. 105
Center conso le .. .. .... ..... .. .... 108
D
Damping
See Adaptive Air Suspension .. ..... 185
Data .... .... .... ... .... .... .... .... 378 Data recorder
....... .... ....... .... . 268
Date d isplay ...... .... ... .... .... .... 1 3
Daytime running lights ... .... .... .. 69, 70
def What does this mean when it appears in the trip odomete r disp lay? ... .. .... 14
Defective light bu lb warning .... .... ... 26
Defrosting/defogg ing the windows . ... 120
Defrosting/defogging windows .. ..... . 122
Determining correct load limit .... .... . 33 4
Digita l clock .. ...... .... .... .... .. . .. 13
Digita l speedometer . .... .... .... ... .. 25
Dimensions ...... .... ... .... .... ... 376
Dipstick Readi ng the dipstick proper ly .. ... . 311
Distance control system
See Adaptive Cruise Contro l ... .. ... 139
Doors Mechanica l chi ld safety lock .. ...... . 58
Power child safety lock . .... .... .... 58
P ower side door closer . ... .... .... . 53
Dr iver
See Seating posi tion ...... .... .... 200
Driver information display Driver information messages ... ... .. 29
Introduct ion .. ... .... .... .... .... . 24
Open door o r rear lid wa rn ing .. .... . 26
Outs ide temperature display .. ...... 25
Sound system disp lay ........ ... .. . 25
Driver Information System Digita l speedometer ... ... .... .... . 25
Driver 's seat .. .... .... ... .... .... .... 87
Vehicle operation Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data

lll'ffll_....:..A..:.;l~ p :..;h..:.; a= b..:e :..;t:.:..i c::..:: a.:..l .,;. in :..:..:. d:..;e :..;x..:..,_ ___________________________________________ _
Driver's seat memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Activating remote contro l key .. ... .. 95
Recalling a seat position ...... .... . 94
Storing a seat position ............. 94
Driving messages .................... 29
Dr ivingsafely .... .... .... ...... .... 198
Driving time .... ... .. .... .... ...... .. 38
Dup licate key ......... ............... 47
DVD p layer for navigation system . . . . . 112
E
Easy entry feature 129
Electromechanica l parking brake
Emergency braking ............... 136
Malfunction ........ .... .... .... . 136
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Re leasing and app lying .... .... ... 134
Starting
off with a trailer . ...... ... 136
Warning/indicator lights ........... 22
Electronic differential lock (EDU
How the system works . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Warning/indicator lights ........... 21
Electronic immobilizer .. ...... ..... 14, 49
Electron ic power contro l
(EPC) warning/indicator light .. .... .. 18
Electronic speed limiter .. .. .. .... ..... 28
Electronic stabi lization program (ESP)
How the system works . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Warning/indicator lights ........... 18
Emergency braking .. ....... .. ...... 136 Emergency
closing
Power sunroof ................. 67, 68
Emergency flasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Warning/indicator lights ..... ...... 19
Emergency locking ....... .... .... .... 54
Emergency locking of doors ........... 54
Emergency starting ........ .... ... .. 364
Emergency towing ..... .. .... .... ... 366
Emergency warning triangle ... ....... 348
Energy management .... .... ... .. ... 274
Battery power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Driver notification ................ 275
Engine 4.2 I, 8-cylinder (350 hp) .... .... ... 308
6 .0 I, 12-cylinder (450 hp) .......... 309
Compartment . .... .... .... .. 308, 309
Coolant ......................... 314
Hood ... .. .... .... .... .... .... .. 306
Starting ...... .............. 129, 130
Starting with jumper cables .. ... .. 364
Stopping ........................ 131
Engine compartment ... .. .... .... ... 308
Safety instructions .......... ..... 307
Working the engine compartment .. 307
Engine coolant ..................... 314
Adding coolant ............. ..... 316
Checking the engine coo lant level .. 315
Expansion tank .................. 315
Malfunction symbo l ...... .... .... . 31
Radiator fan ...... .... .... .... ... 317
Temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Engine data ........................ 378 Engine hood
Closing ..... .. .... .... ...... ... . 307
How to release the hood . . . . . . . . . . 306
Engine oi l ..... ... .... .... .... ...... 309
Adding ......................... 312
Additives ........................ 312
Changing .. .... .... ..... .. .... .. 313
Checking the engine oil level ....... 311
Indica tions and conditions requiring extra
checking .. ...... .... ...... .... 311
Oil consumption ................. 311
Oil grades .. .... .... ... .... .... .. 309
Oil level symbol .... .... ...... ... .. 35
Pressure ma lfunction ... ... .... .... 32
Recommended oil check intervals .. 311
Sensor defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Specification and viscosity ......... 309
Environment Break -in period .................. 277
Catalytic converter .... .... .... ... 278
Disposing of your vehicle battery ... 322
Driving at high speeds ....... ... .. 279
Driving to minimize pollution and noise .
279
Fuel ...... .... ........... .... ... 303
Fuel economy .......... .... .... .. 279
L eaks under your vehicle .......... 307
Le tting the vehicle stand and warm up ..
280
Proper disposal of drained brake fluid
318
Proper disposal of drained engine coolant . .... .... .... .... ....... 316