2012 AUDI A5 COUPE suspension

124 Audi drive select
Audi drive select Driving settings
Introduction
App lies to vehicles: w it h drive se lect
Audi drive select provides the possibility to ex­
perience different types of vehicle settings in
one vehicle. For instance, using the three
COMFORT, AUTO and DYNAMIC modes, the
driver can switch from a sporty to a comforta­
ble driving mode with the press of a button.
Additionally, in vehicles with MMI*, the vehi­
cle setup for INDIVIDUAL* mode can be cus­
tomized by you. This makes it possible to
combine settings such as a sporty engine tun­ ing with light steering.
A WARNING
- Improper use of the Audi drive select can
cause collisions, other accidents and seri­
ous personal injury.
- Never drive at speeds that are too high
for traffic, road and weather conditions.
Description
App lies to vehicles: w it h drive se lect
The vehicle setup in each mode depends on
the vehicle's features. However, the engine
and servotronic are always affected. The auto­
matic transmission*, dynamic steering* and
adaptive dampers* are also adjustable.
Depending on the mode, the
engine and auto­
matic transmission*
respond more quickly or
in a more balanced manner to accelerator
pedal movements.
The
Servotronic (steering servo assistance)
c::> page 209 can also be adapted to driving
situations.
Dynamic steering* changes the steering ratio
as a function of the driving speed in order to
optimize the driver's required steering effort.
This sets the steering to be less sensitive at
higher speeds in order to provide greater con­
trol over the vehicle. At reduced speeds, how­
ever, steering is more direct in order to keep the steering effort as minimal as possible
when the driver is maneuvering the vehicle. At
low and average speeds, dynamic steering ad­
ditionally provides more responsive steering
performance. The driver can set the basic
steering ratio characteristics .
The
adaptive dampers* use sensors to record
information regarding steering movements,
braking and acceleration operations by the
driver, road surface, driving speed, and load.
This makes it possible to adapt damping to
the driving situation virtually in real time. Au­
di drive select also makes it possible to satisfy
the desire for sporty suspension (DYNAMIC)
and comfortable suspension (COMFORT) with­
out giving up balanced tuning (AUTO).
The following chart provides an overview of
the characteristics of each driving mode.
Systems
Engine/
gearbox
Servotronic
Dynamic
steering*
Adaptive dampers* COM-
AUTO DYNAM-
FORT IC
balanced balanced sporty
comfort- able
comfort- able/in-
direct
comfort- able balanced
bal-
anced/di-
rect
balanced sporty
sporty/ direct
sporty
.
.
If your vehicle is equipped with dynamic steer­
ing*, servotronic can also be adjusted under
the menu item
Dyn. steering.
(D Tips
-Sporty shifting characteristics can be set
by selecting the
DYNAMIC mode. The S
selector lever position is not available.
- The dynamic steering may make noise
when starting or stopping the engine.
This does not indicate a problem.

Selecting the driving mode
Applies to vehicles: w it h drive se lect
You can choose between COMFORT, AUTO,
DYNAMIC and INDIVIDUAL* modes .
Fig. 14 0 Sh ift gate : Co ntrol for Aud i d rive select
A UTO _ __ _ , :J
' --
Fig. 141 Center con sole : Con trol for Au di dri ve se lect
The control is located on the sh ift gate
~ fig. 140 in vehicles with a radio, and in vehi­
cles with MM I*, it is located in the center con­
sole
~ fig. 141.
• Turn on the ignition.
,. Press the left or right arrow button un til the
desired mode appears in red.
You can change the driving mode when the ve­
h icle is stationary o r while dr iv ing .
If traffic
perm its, after chang ing modes, briefly take
your foot off the accelerator peda l so that the
recently selected mode is also activated for
the engine and transmission.
COMFORT
The COMFORT mode provides a comfortable
veh icle sett ing. The engine and a utomatic
transmission* respond in a balanced manner
when the acce lerator pedal is pressed or re­
leased. Steering is light and indirect*, and
adaptive dampers* provide a soft suspension.
Audi dri ve sele ct 125
The setting is idea l for driving on long stretch ­
es, such as on freeways .
AUTO
Full use of AUTO provides a comfortable, yet
dynamic feel. The setting is perfect fo r daily
use .
DYNAMIC
DYNAMIC g ives the veh icle a sporty feeling .
The eng ine responds quick ly to accelerator
peda l movemen ts, and steering is sporty and
more direc t. T he adaptive dampers* are ad­
justed to prov ide a stiffer suspension and the
automatic transm ission* shifts at higher
RPMs . The setting is ideal for sporty driving .
INDIVIDUAL*
You can adapt th is mode to your pe rsonal
needs in the MMI*~page
125 .
__& WARNING
Pay attention to traffic when operating Au­
di drive select to prevent potential risk of
an accident.
@ Tips
If yo u remove the ignit ion key, AUTO mode
i s set the next time you start the ign ition.
Setting the INDIVIDUAL mode
Appl ies to vehicles: wit h MMI and drive select
You can personally specify the vehicle setup in
the MMI.
• Select: I CAR I > Audi drive select individual.
You need to select this contro l to dr ive in the
recently set INDIVIDUAL mode~
page 125 .
@ Tips
Your INDIVIDUAL mode settings are auto­
matically stored and ass igned to the re­
mote control key being used .

dealer is familiar with these requirements
and we recommend that you have your
dealer perform this service for you.
Other things that can affect Advanced
Airbag performance
Changing the vehicle's suspension system can
change the way that the Advanced Airbag Sys­
tem performs in a crash. For example, using
tire-r im combinations not approved by Audi,
lowering the vehicle, changing the stiffness of
the suspension, including the springs, suspen­
sion struts, shock absorbers etc. can change
the forces that are measured by the airbag sensors and sent to the electronic control
unit. Some suspension changes can, for exam­
ple, increase the force levels measured by the
sensors and make the airbag system deploy in
crashes in which it would not deploy if the
changes had not been made . Other kinds of
changes may reduce the force levels meas­
ured by the sensors and prevent the airbag
from deploying when it should .
The sensors in the safety belt buckle for the
d river and front passenger seat tell the elec­
tronic control module if the safety belt is
latched or not. If the safety belt is being used,
the front airbag will deploy at a slightly high­
er rate of vehicle deceleration than if the safe ­
ty belt is not being used. Therefore, in a par­
ticular collision, it is possible that an airbag
will not deploy at a seating position where the safety belt is being used but will inflate at the
position where the safety belt is not being
used. It is important that nothing interfere
with the safety belt buckles so that the sen­
sors can send the correct information about
safety belt use to the electronic control unit.
.&_ WARNING
Changing the vehicle 's suspension includ­
ing use of unapproved tire-rim combina­
tions can change Advanced Airbag per­
formance and increase the risk of serious personal injury in a crash.
- Never install suspension components
that do not have the same performance
Airbag system 177
characteristics as the components origi­
nally installed on your vehicle .
- Never use tire-rim combinations that
have not been approved by Audi.
.&_ WARNING
= -
Items stored between the safety belt buckle and the center console can cause
the sensors in the buckle to send the
wrong information to the electronic con ­
trol module and prevent the Advanced Air­ bag System from working properly.
-Always make sure that nothing can inter-
fere with the safety belt buckles and that
they are not obstructed.
Knee airbags
Description of knee airbags
Applies to vehicles: wit h knee airbags
The knee airbag system can provide supple­
mental protection to properly restrained
front seat occupants.
Fig. 179 Driver 's knee airbag
The driver knee airbag is in the instrument
panel underneath the steering wheel
Q fig . 179, the knee airbag for the passenger
is at about the same height in the instrument
panel underneath the glove compartment .
The knee airbag offers additional protection
to the driver's and passenger's knees and up­
per and lower thigh areas and supplements
the protection provided by the safety belts.
If the front airbags deploy, the knee airbags
also deploy in frontal collisions when the de­ ployment threshold stored in the control unit
I),-

214 Driving and en vironm ent
Avoid damaging the
vehicle
When you are driving on poor roads, or over
curbs, steep ramps, etc ., make certain that
low-lying parts such as spoilers and exhaust
system parts do not bottom out and get dam­
aged.
This is especially true for vehicles with low­
slung chassis (sports chassis) * and fully load­
ed veh icles .
Driving through water
on roads
Note the following to avoid vehicle damage
when driving through water, for example on
flooded roads:
- T he water must not be any higher tha n the
bottom o f the vehicle body.
- Do not d rive faster than wa lking speed.
_& WARNING
After d riving through water, m ud, slush,
et c., the brakes may be slow to take effect
because o f wet brake ro tors and pads . Dry
the brakes fi rst by braking carefully to re­
store the full braking effect.
(]) Note
Vehicle components such as the engine,
transmiss ion, suspension or electrical sys ­
tem can be severely damaged by driving
through water.
- Check the depth o f the water before driv ­
ing through it.
- Do not stop the veh icle, dr ive in reverse
or switch the engine
off when driving
through water.
- Keep in mind that oncoming vehicles may create waves that raise the water
level and make it too deep for your vehi­
cle to drive through safely.
- Avoid driving thro ugh salt water because
it can ca use corrosion.
-
Catalytic converter
It is very important that your emission con­
trol system (catalytic converter) is function­
ing properly to ensure that your vehicle is run­
ning in an environmentally sound manner.
.,. Always use lead-free gasoline¢ page 232,
Fuel supply .
.,. Never run the tank down all the way to
empty .
.,. Never put too much motor o il in your en-
gine ¢
page 242, ~ Adding engine oil .
.,. Never try to push- or tow-sta rt you r vehicle.
The catalytic converter is an efficient "clean­
u p" dev ice built into the exhaust system of
the vehi cle. The cata lytic conve rter bu rns
many of the pollu tan ts in the exha ust gas be­
f o re they are re leased into the atmosphere.
T he exclusive use of unleaded fuel is critically
important for the life of the catalyt ic convert­
er and prope r fu nct ion ing of the engine.
A WARNING
- Do not park or operate the vehicle in
areas where the hot ex haust system may
come in contact with dry grass, brush,
fue l spill or other material wh ich can
cause a fire.
- Do not app ly additiona l undercoating or
r u stproofing on or near the exhaust
manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic con­
verter or heat sh ields. Dur ing driv ing, the
substance used fo r undercoating could
overheat and cause a fire.
(D Note
- Be aware that just one tank filling with
leaded fuel will already ser iously de-
grade the performance of the catalytic
converte r.
- Do not exceed the correct engine oil level
¢page 242.
-Do not drive until the fuel tank becomes
completely empty . The engine co uld mis-
fire. Unburned fuel could also get into ..,.

262 Tires and wheels
Tire service life
The service life of tires depends on a lot of
different things including proper installation
and balancing, correct tire pressure and driv­
ing style.
Fig. 212 Tire tread: tread wear ind icators (TWI)
_____ __,.J)
Fig. 213 Rotating t ires for more even wear
Tread Wear Indicator (TWI)
The origina l tires on your veh icle have
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) high "wear indicators"
¢
fig . 212 running across the tread. Depend­
ing on the make, there will be six to eight of
them evenly placed around the tire. Marks on
the tire sidewa ll (for example "TWI" or other
symbols) indicate the positions of the tread
wear ind icators . Worn tires must be replaced .
Different figures may apply in other countries
¢ & .
Tire pressure
Incorrect tire pressure causes premature wear
and can cause sudden t ire blow-out. For th is
reason, tire pressure must be checked at least
once a month
¢ page 258.
Driving style
Driving fast around curves, heavy acceleration
and hard braking increase tire wear.
Rotating tires for more even wear
For all four tires on your vehicle to have the
same service life, we recommend that the
front and rear tires are rotated according to
the tire manufacturer's suggested tire rota­
tion intervals. Please remember the follow­
ing:
- Tire rotation intervals may differ from the
vehicle service interva ls outlined in your
Ma intenance and Warranty Booklet .
- The longer one tire is used in one location
on the vehicle, the more it wears at certain
points; therefore, we recommend that you
follow the tire manufacturer's suggested
tire rotation intervals .
- Vehicles with front-wheel drive experience
more tread wear on the front wheels com­
pa red to all-wheel drive (quattro ®).
- Please rotate tires as shown¢
fig. 213.
-Extra care must be taken when rotating di-
rection-specific tires¢
page 279.
Wheel balancing
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced.
However, various situations during everyday
driving can cause them to become unbal­
anced, resulting in vibrations you can usually
feel through the steer ing wheel.
Unbalanced wheels must be rebalanced to
avoid excessive wear on steering, suspension
and tires. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tire is installed.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment can cause exces ­
sive tire wear, impairing the safety of the vehi­
cle. If tires show excessive wear, have the
whee l alignment checked by an authorized
Audi dealer or qualif ied workshop.
All wheel drive
Vehicles with quattro ® must a lways have tires
of the same size, construction and tread type.
For details see
¢page 210. ..,.