Page 41 of 244

Wind deflector
The wind deflector reduces turbulence in the
passenger compartment and makes driving
more comfortable.
Fig. 33 Install ing the wind deflector
Fig. 34 Luggag .e compart ment: stor ing the wind de ·
flector
The wind deflector is located in the luggage
compartment . Insta lling it from the sid e of
the vehicle that is farthest from traffic is rec
ommended for safety reasons . Fo llow the in·
stallat ion instructions provided in the storage
bag .
Installing /removing the wind deflector
.. To install the wind deflector, slide the re-
taining pin ® into the mount ®~
fig. 33 .
The wind deflector is secure when it clicks
into place and the red marks on both but
tons are no longer visible .
.. To remove the wind deflector , press both
bu ttons © and pull the deflector upward.
Storing the wind deflector
.. Slide the wind deflector into the storage bag
with the retaining pins facing dow nward .
.. Hang the storage bag o n the retainers @) in
the luggage compartment ~
fig. 34.
Convertible top 39
A WARNING
-Do not use the wind deflector to secure
cargo or other objects . Th is could result
in injury.
- Be careful of traffic when installing the
wind deflector.
(D Note
To prevent damage to the vehicle paint, do not lean on the vehicle when installing the
wind deflector . Objects such as belt buck
les could scratch the surface of the paint .
(D Tips
-Keeping both side windows raised pro
vides the best wind protection.
- To prevent mildew, do not store the wind
deflector when it is damp.
Rear window
Fig. 35 Rear window in win d deflecto r position
Fig. 36 Section of the center console: convertible top
swi tc h
The rear window can be extended s light ly
when the convertible top is open to reduce air
movement inside the vehicle and increase
comfort . This is called the w ind deflector posi -
t ion
~ fig. 35 . ..,.
Page 42 of 244

40 Convertible top
The rear window can be extended comp lete ly
for cleaning. This is ca lled the cleaning posi
tion.
E xtendin g the rear w indow into th e w ind
d efl ector po sit io n
.. Pull and hold the rear window switch
¢ fig. 36 .
.. Re lease the switch once the rea r window has
reached the wind deflector position.
E xte nding th e rear window into th e
cle aning po sition
.. Pull and hold the rear window switch
¢ fig . 36.
.. Release the switch once the rear window has
reached the wind deflector position .
.. Pull and hold the rear w indow switch again .
.. Pull and hold the convertible top switch
within one second
¢ page 37, fig . 32.
Re tra cting the re ar w indow
.. Press and hold the rear window sw itch until
the window has been retracted .
Retra cting the re a r wi ndow using the one
t ouch function
.. Press the rear window switch briefly . There
is no need to hold the switch .
The rear window can only be operated when
t he igni tion is switched on.
The rear window can also be extended or re
tracted when the convertib le top is closed.
A WARNING
- Do not use the rear window to secure car
go or other objects. This could result in
mJury .
- Always pay attention and be careful
when extending or retracting the rear
window . It could cause injury by pinch
ing .
(D Tips
-Keeping all of the w indows raised pro
v ides the best wind protection . - The vehicle must be stationary to bring
the rear window into the cleaning posi
tion . The rear window will retract once
you begin dr iv ing .
Convertible top
emergency operation
General information
The convertible top can be closed by hand if
there is a malfunction .
First check if overload protection is active
¢ page 38. If this is the case, the convertible
top wi ll operate again afte r a short de lay. Oth
erwise the fo llowing steps must be completed
before closing the convertib le top:
.. Activate the pa rking brake .
.. Open the side w indows, if necessary.
.. Remove the key from the ignition.
E mergency loc king is not intended for long
term use or long d rives . The convertible top
will not be completely waterproof after using
the emergency locking procedure because the
seals wi ll not be seated correctly. Only close
the convertible top manually in an emergency .
Please see an authorized Audi R8 dealer to
have the cause of the malfunction corrected .
A WARNING
-The ignition must be sw itched off d uring
the entire closing p rocedu re.
- When pos itioning the convertible top,
avoid contact with the supports or other
movi ng parts. Otherwise you could p inch
your hands.
- Never drive when the convert ible top is
not locked correctly . The wind from d riv
ing could cause the convertible top to
open . This can resu lt in injuries and dam
age to the vehicle.
(D Tips
Have a second person assist when clos ing
the convert ible top. Opening the storage
bay lid and positioning the convertible top
i s easier when a second person is assisting.
Page 43 of 244

Step 1: Retract the rear window
Fig. 37 Upper storage compartment: removing the
cover
Fig. 38 Upper storage compartment: using the Allen
wrenc h as a crank to lower the rear window
~ 0 N ... a,
,__ ,-. M C)
"' ... a,
The rear window must be retracted in order to
close the convertible top. If the rear window
switch is not functioning ¢
page 39, the rear
window can be cranked .
.. Open the upper storage compartment be
tween the seat backrests ¢
page 61 .
.. Remove the cover using the screwdriver
from the vehicle tool kit¢
fig. 37 .
.. Press the Allen wrench from the veh icle tool
k it firmly into the opening until it cl icks into
place¢
fig. 38.
.. Turn the bolt clockw ise until the rear win
dow is lowered.
Step 2: Release the pressure in the
hydraulic system
The pressure in the hydraulic system must be
released before the convertible top can be
closed.
.. Switch the ignition
off.
.. Pull or press the convertible top switch
¢page 37, fig. 32 for approximately 10 sec
onds.
Convertible top 41
A WARNING
If convertible top operat ion fa ils when
opening or closing the top, do not hold or
touch the supports or other moving parts
when releasing the pressure. The converti ble top will sink down and could pinch your
hands.
Step 3: Open the convertible top storage
bay lid
Fig. 39 Engine compartment: install ing the emergency
operation bolts
Fig. 40 Raising t he storage bay lid and pulling it back
The engine compartment lid must be released
using the emergency procedure in order to re
lease the storage bay lid
¢page 172 .
Releasing the convertible top storage bay
lid
.. Turn the emergency operation bolts on the
left and right sides of the engine compart
ment¢
fig. 39 clockwise using the open end
wrench from the vehicle too l kit until the
bolts are installed completely . The converti
ble top storage bay lid will raise approxi
mately 0.4 in (1 cm) from the vehicle when
the bolts are insta lled comp letely.
.. Close the engine compartment lid
¢page 174.
Page 44 of 244

42 Convertible top
Opening the conv ertible top stor age bay
lid
• From the r ear of the vehicle, r each into the
center ventilation slot in the sto rage bay lid
wi th both hands and raise the lid approxi
mately 12 in (30 cm).
• Hold the storage bay lid in this posit ion and
pull it toward you until it stops ¢
fig. 40.
A WARNING
When working in the engine compart
ment:
- T urn the engine off.
- Act ivate the park ing brake.
-
- In vehicles with a manua l transm iss ion,
move the sh ifter lever into idle . In
vehicles with the R tronic transmission,
move the se lector lever into the N pos i
t ion.
- Remove the ignit ion key .
- Let the engine cool down .
- Keep children away from the engine com-
partment.
(D Note
To prevent damage to the vehicle, only
open the convertible top storage bay lid
when the engine compartment lid is
closed.
Step 4: Remove the covers
Fi g. 41 Conv ertib le top : cov ers ma rk e d
Fig. 42 Co nver tible top storage bay lid: r em ov ing t he
c o ver
T he following steps mus t be performed on
both sides of the vehicle .
• Remove the bo lt in the cover on the bo ttom
side of the sto rage bay lid using the open
e nd w rench from the vehicle too l kit
(D
¢ fig . 42.
• Move the cover up and down carefully until
it can be pulled downwa rd from the teeth
@ .
Step 5: Lift the convertible top out
Fig. 4 3 Conve rtib le to p sto rage bay: liftin g th e c onve r
tible top o ut
Fig . 44 Wind shi eld fr ame: p res sing the c onvert ible top
fo rwa rd
• Ho ld the conve rtib le top at the@ point (ar
row)
r:!;> fig. 43 and raise it carefu lly ¢ A . .,..
Page 45 of 244

.. Pull the convertible top all the way out in
the direction indicated @. Position the fins
upward at the same t ime.
.. Press the convertib le top as far forward to
ward the windshield frame as possible
Q fig. 44 .
Have a second person assist when positioning
the convertible top. That person should stand
on the opposite side of the vehicle and per
form the same steps.
_& WARNING
-When positioning the convertible top,
avo id contact with the supports or othe r
moving pa rts. O the rw ise you cou ld pinch
yo ur hands.
- Whe n pressing the convert ible top down
onto the windsh iel d frame, make s ure
that you do not pinch yoursel f or anyone
else .
Step 6: Secure the convertible top
-
Fig . 4 5 Co nvertible top sto rage bay: installi ng the driv
er
F ig . 4 6 Securing th e convert ib le top
The convertible top must be under tension to
secure it to the windshie ld frame. The wheel
wrench, dr iver and bolts from the vehicle tool
kit a re required for this.
Con vert ible top 4 3
Have a second person assist with th is step .
That person should stand on the opposite side
of the vehicle and perform the same steps .
.. Posit ion the dr iver @ on the bo lt @ in the
front sect ion of the convert ible top storage
bay and rotate clockwise to insta ll in the
threads ~
fig. 45.
.. Posit ion the wheel wrench © with the long
end on the driver @.
.,. Press the convertible top as far forward as
possible toward the windshie ld frame @
w ith one hand~
fig. 46. At the same t ime,
pull the fins upward @for support with the
other hand.
.. Now, grasp the fins with the hand that you
used to move the convertib le top forward
and hold the fins in this position . Wit h the
other hand, turn the wheel wrench upward
until it stops @.
(D Tips
-When pressing the convertible top for
ward, make sure the locking pins are
seated in the latch o n the windshield
frame and not on the frame itself.
- When press ing the convert ible top for
ward, make sure the locking pins are
seated exactly i n the latch on t he wind
shield frame and not on the frame itself.
T his is t he on ly way that the convertib le
t op can be latched cor rect ly .
Page 46 of 244

44 Convertible top
Step 7: Lock the convertible top
Fig . 47 Inner s ide of the convertible top : remov ing the
cap
F ig. 48 In ner s ide of the co nvertible top: pos it ion ing
the Allen wrench
... Remove the cap in the center of the conver
tible top using the screwdriver from the ve
hicle tool kit
c::> fig. 47. The emergency lock
ing mechanism is located behind it.
... Insert the Allen wrench
(D and turn the bolt
to the left @until it is tight and the conver
t ible top is locked securely
c::> fig. 48.
.,. Remove the Allen wrench from the open ing
and cover the open ing with the cap .
... Remove the wheel wrench from the conver
t ib le top storage bay .
... Close the convertib le top storage bay lid .
A WARNING
Make s ure the convert ible top is locked
correctly. Otherwise the wind from driving
could cause the convertible top to open.
This can result in inju ries and damage to
th e vehicle.
-
Step 8 : Secure the fins on the body
F ig . 4 9 Co nve rtib le top : press ing t he f ins downward
F ig . SO Inte rior: tightening the bo lt
The following steps must be performed on
both sides of the veh icle .
... Press the fin downward firmly
c::> fig . 49 .
.,. Ho ld the fin in th is position and tighten the
bolt above the seat belt -arrow-us ing the
Allen wrench from the vehicle tool k it at the
same time
c::> fig. 50.
A second person should assist when securing
the fins to the body. Tightening the bolts is much easier if a second person presses the
fins down .
A WARNING
-
Make sure the fins lie on the body. Other -
wise the convert ible top will not lock se
cure ly and it could open while driv ing. This
ca n resul t in in ju ries and d amage to the
vehicle.
-
Page 47 of 244
Step 9: Extend the rear window
~ 0 N ... a,
Fig. 51 Upper storage compartment between the seat
backrests: extending the rear w indow
... Press the Allen wrench from the vehicle tool
kit firmly into the opening until it clicks into
place
r::;, fig. 51 .
... Turn the bolt counterclockwise unti l the rear
window is extended. Press the rear window
back lightly whi le doing this.
(D Note
To prevent damage to the vehicle, make
sure the rear w indow is in the guide in the
convert ible top when extending the win
dow and the fins are secured on the body.
Con vert ible top 45
Page 48 of 244

46 Clear vision
Clear vision Lights
Switching the headlights on/off
F ig . 52 Instr ument pane l: light sw itch (automat ic
head· and ta illight control)
Switching on the side marker lights
• Turn the light switch to :oo:.
Switching on the headlights and high
beam
• Turn the light switch to ;D .
• Push the high beam lever forwa rd towards
the instrument panel~
page 47 .
Switching off the lights
• Turn the light switch to 0 .
Switching on automatic head -and
taillight control
• Turn the light switch to AUTO q fig. 52.
The headlights and taillights will come on au·
tomatically when the ignition is switched on
and the light switch is in the position AU TO
(on ly in nighttime conditions). When switch·
ing off the ignit ion, the headlights will go off
and only the side marker lights will remain lit.
Daytime running lights
USA models: The daytime running lights will
come on automatica lly when the ignition is
switched on and the light switch is in the posi·
tion
AUTO (only in daylight cond itions).
Canada models: The daytim e running lights
will come on automatically when the ignition
is switched on and the light switch is in the position
0
, AUTO (on ly in daylight condit ions)
or
:oo:.
Automatic head- and taillight control
In the switch position AUTO the automatic
head· and ta illight control is activated. Light
senso rs are located in the inside mirror hous
ing and constantly check the light conditions
surrounding the vehicle. If ambient bright·
ness falls below a factory set value (e.g. when
driv ing into a tunnel), the head- and taill ights
including the license plate illumination are
automat ically turned on. When amb ient
brightness increases aga in, the external lights
are turned off aga in
q ,&. . In the sw itch posi
t ion
AUTO , the low beams are turned off when
the ignition is switched off. The remaining
lights are turned off when the key is ta ken out
of the ignition lock.
With aut omat ic head- and taillight control,
the high-beam function is also available, but
with one restriction: If you have not switched
the high beams back to low beams during a u
tomat ic head light operation (for examp le, af
ter driving through a tunnel), on ly the low
beams come on the next time automatic
headlights are switched on. To use the high
beams, you first have to pull the h igh beam
lever back and then push the lever forward
again.
The side marker lights and headlights can be
switched on manually by turning the light
switch to the desired position .
Light sensor malfunction
If there is a light sensor ma lfunction, the
symbol
tal comes on in the display. For safety
reasons, the low beams are turned on perma
nently with the sw itch in
AUTO. However, you
can continue to turn the lights on and off us
ing the light switch. Have the light sensor
checked as soon as possible at an authorized
A udi dealer.
Coming home/leaving home function
The function is sw itched on when the sw itch is
i n the
AUTO position and the function is ...,