2009 AUDI S8 turn signal

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Audi side assist
Lane Change Assistant
Applies to vehicles: with side ass ist
Description
The side assist helps you when changing lanes.
[ Audi AS J
Fig. 173 Rear bumper:
Position of radar
sensors (not visible on
outside)
Fig . 174 Signal light
on the outside mirror -
driver's side
Side assist uses radar sensors (not visible on outside) => fig. 173 to
help the driver check blind spots, and see what is happening in
traffic behind the vehicle =>
page 158, fig. 176.
Signal lights are built into both outside mirrors=> fig. 174. The
signal light on the left outside mirror 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 158. 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 158. •
App lies to vehicles : with side ass ist
Activating and deactivating
-
Activating
Fig . 175 Cockpit : Side
assist button
Press the button=> fig. 175. The indicator on the button
lights up. ..,

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Deactivating
- Press t he button again . T he ind icato r light on the butto n
goes out.
T he system works at speeds faster than 19 mph (30 km/h) .
& WARNING
• Improper reliance on the side assist system can cause colli­
sions and seriou s per sonal injury:
- Never rely only on side assist when changing lanes .
- Always check rear view mirrors to make sure that it is safe to c hange lanes.
• Side assist cannot detect all vehicles under all conditions­
danger of accident!
• 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
vision can be reduced or entirely blocked by
rain , snow, and heavy spray . This can result in side assist not
adequately detecting veh icles or , in some cases, not detecting
them at all . Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling
and the relevant area around the vehicle.
• Please note that side assi st indicates there are approaching
vehicles, or vehicles in your bl ind spot , only after your vehicle has
reached a driving speed of at lea st 19 mph (30 km /h).
• S ide assist signal does not work around tight corners (turning
radiu s less than 328 feet or 100 m ).
• Side assist is no replacement for the driver's full attention . The
d river alone is responsible for lane changes and similar driv ing
maneuvers. Always keep an eye on the d ire ction you are travel ing
and the relevant area around the vehicle .
Controls and equip ­
ment
0 Note
• To e nsu re t hat you do not adverse ly a ffect s ide assist, do not
b lock the area on the rear bumper where the radar sensors are
located w it h f oreign objects (s uch as st ickers or bicycle rac ks).
• M ake su re that the signal light on the o utside mi rror is not
b loc ked by st ic ke rs or ot her items.
[ i ] Tips
• Side ass ist automaticall y deact ivates i f it detects t hat t he ra dar
sensors are blocked=> page
163. The indicator light on the button
goes out.
• The area on the bumper whe re the rada r sen so rs a re loca ted
must cons iste ntly re mai n fr ee o f snow, ice, and heavy so iling so t hat
side assist can function properly. Follow the additiona l notes on
=> page
164.
• Additiona l tinting on the front side windows can make it ha rder
t o see and co rrect ly unde rsta nd the s ignal light o n the outs ide
mirror.
• For Declaratio n of Comp liance to Un ited Sta tes FCC a nd I ndus try
Canada regulations => page
385. •
I • •

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Applies to vehicles: with side ass ist
Sensor detection area
Fig. 176 Sc hem ati c
illu str ati on : Sens or
d etec tio n area
The detection ~ fig. 176 of the radar sensor detection area is made
up of:
• the approach area !light green area)
0, about 230 feet (70 ml
behind the veh icle, 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 ] Tip s
Side assist 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 will be detected that are
not in the lane next
to the lane you are using~
page 163. •
Applies to vehicl es: with side assist
Operation
Side ass ist 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 notab le if you were
to change lanes, a signal light appears on the respective mirror.
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
vehicle is in your blind spot and is detected by side assist. When the
difference in speed is greater, the signa l light will not come on .•
Applies to vehic les : w ith side assist
Informational and alert stage signals
Side assist has two signal stages:
• the informational stage signal, and
• the alert stage signal.
Side assist helps you by using the appropriate signa l stage,
depend ing on whether or not you have act ivated the turn signal,
and thus have indicated that you are or are not changing lanes.
In fo rm ati onal stag e 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 luminatio n.
The brightness of the informationa l stage signal 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. .,,,

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When you look in the outside mirror, you can clea rly see the infor ­
mational s tage signal.
Ale rt sta ge signal
When you ac tivate the turn signal, and side assist has detected a
vehic le in a notab le location on that particu lar sid e, the signal light
on this side mirror flashes brightly. The repea ted brief and bright
flash ing of the aler t stage signa l reminds you to carefully check
t raffic to the rear in the outside mirror and over your shoulder, so
that you can safely complete the lane change=>
& in "Safety tips"
on
page 164.
[ i ] Tips
T he brightness of the signal light on the outside mirrors can be
adjusted with the
MMI => page 162 . •
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
A pp lies to veh ic les: with s ide ass ist
Driving situation : Fast approaching vehicles
Fig . 177 Si de ass ist : Fas t app roac hing veh ic le s
G) Si gn al o n outs ide mirror doe s not li ght up
No vehicle was detected by the sensors. The signal on the outside
mirror does not light up=>
& in "Safety tips" on page 164.
0 Informa tion al st age s ignal ligh ts up
A fast approaching vehicle -in the left-hand lane for example -was
detected by the sensors. Although this vehicle is still far away, it
shou ld be taken into account if you were to change lanes , due to the
consid erable difference in speed. The informationa l stage s ignal on
the outside mirror lights up=>
page 158 .
© Alert stage signal fl ashe s
If you activate your turn signal in driving situation 0 , the signal
briefly flashes repeated ly . Side assist is aler ting you to a vehicle that
you may not have not iced . _,.
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

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[ i J Tips
• The faster a vehicle approaches from the rear, the sooner the
s ignal 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. •
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Driving situation : Slowly approaching
vehicles
Fig. 178 Side assist: Slowly approaching vehicles and vehicles in your blind
spot
G) Signal on outside mirror does not light up
A vehicle approaching slowly -in the left -hand lane for example -
was detected by the sensors. Because of the small difference in speed and the considerable distance from your vehicle, the signal
on
the outside mirror will not light up
~ & in "Safety tips" on
page 164.
© 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 mi rror 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 assis t will signal a t the latest when a detected vehicle enters
your "blind spot".
© Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate your turn signal in driving situation©, 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 veh icles approach very quickly, changing lanes can be
dangerous even if the signal on the outside mirror does not light
up. •

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Ap plies to vehicle s: with side assist
Driving situation : Vehicles dropping back
slowly
Fig. 179 Side assist: Vehicles dropping back slowly
G) 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 164.
@ 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.
G) Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate your turn signal in driving situation@, the signal
briefly flashes repeatedly. Side assist is alerting you of a vehicle that
you may not have noticed. •
Contro ls and eq uip­
ment
Ap plies to vehicles: with side assist
Driving situation : Vehicles dropping back
quickly
Fig . 180 Side assist: Vehicles dropping back quickly
G) Signal on outside mirror does not light up
The vehicle just passed has not yet been detected by side assist. The
signal on the outside mirror does not light up=>
& in "Safety tips"
on
page 164.
@ 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 assist,
but is not considered notable in the event of a lane change, because
it is dropping back so quickly. The signal on the outside mirror does
not light up=>
& in "Safety tips" on page 164. tJ,,,
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

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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 164 . •
A pplies t o vehic les : w it h side assist
MMI settings
The basic brightness setting of the signal on the outside
mirror can be adjusted via the MM/.
- Pressthe!CAR)function button.
Select
Systems in the CAR menu .
Fig. 18 1 MMI Display:
Options menu
Fig . 182 MMI Display :
Ad justi ng signal
brightness
Select Audi side assist.
-Select Warning lamp: brightness .
Rotate the control knob to adjust the displayed bright­
ness of the signal light on the outside mirrors:::::, fig. 182 .
The brightness of the signa l light for both the informational and
alert stages is automatica lly adjusted to ambient light conditions . In
addition, you can adjust the
basic brightness separat ely, via th e
brightness function::::;, fig. 182.
Whi le making the adjustment, the new brightness setting is
displayed briefly. The brightness displayed is that of the informa ­
tional stage signal. The alert stage signa l brightness is linked to the
informational stage signal brightness.
The informational stage signal brightness shou ld be adjusted so
that you notice the signal i llumination wh en you look in the outside
mirror, but not when you look forward through the windshield .
In very dark or light surroundings, the automatic brightness setting
adjusts signal light brightness to maximum or minimum intensity,
as needed . In circumstances such as these, you may not notice any
change in the brightness on the outside mirror when adjusting the
basic brightness .
You may not notice the change until lighting conditions are normal
again.
[ i ] Tips
• Side assist is not active when the basic brightness is adjusted.
The signal light comes on briefly to help you make the adjustment .
• Your settings are automatically stored and assigned to the
remote con tro l key being used .•

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Ap plies to vehicle s: with side assist
General information
Side assist has lim its and cannot detect vehic les under all road and
weather conditions. P lease remember system limitations and
never
rely on the system, especially when:
• driving through curves=>
page 763,
• lanes are of different widths=> page 163. •
Applie s to vehicles: with side ass ist
When dr iving through curves
Side assist cannot detect vehicles in curves with a turning radius of
less than 328 feet (100 m).
When driving through a curve , it is possible that side assist may
register a vehicle two lanes
over, and the signal on the outside
m irror will ligh t up .•
A pplies to vehicle s: with side ass is t
Lane width
Con tro ls and eq uip­
ment
-
Fi g. 183 Lanes o f a
n orm al w idth are in
d etec tion a rea
Fig . 18 4 Narrow l anes:
Si de ass is t m ay d etec t
v ehicle s tw o la ne s
a w ay
Side assist's detection area is designed to cover lanes of standard
width to the le ft and right o f your trave l lane, depending on whethe r
you drive in the center of your lane or c loser to the edge.
If you drive in narrow lanes, side assist's detection area may also
inc lude other lanes -especially if you tend to dr ive on the edge o f
your lane=> fig . 184. Under these conditions, vehicles can also be
de tected tha t are two lanes away, and s ide assist then could switch
between the informational and warning stage signa ls.
When d riving in
very wide lanes, vehicles in the adjacent lane may
not be detected because they are not inside the detection area. •
Notes
Applies to veh ic les : with s ide ass ist
Messages in instrument cluster display
If side assist turns off automatically, the indicator light on the
button will go out and you will see a message in the instr ument
cluster display:
Audi side a ssist not available : sensors po ssibly blocked
The side assist sensors are built into the rear bumper on the left and
right ( not visible on the outside) =>
page 156, fig. 173 . To ensure that
you do not adversely affect the way side assist functions, foreign .,_
Vehicle care I I irechnical data