Description
Applies to: vehicles with side assist
Fig. 120 Driving situations and displays in the exterior mirror
General information
Side assist monitors the blind spot and traffic behind your vehicle and provides assistance when you are changing lanes. If the system detects an object approaching and classifies it as critical, the display (1) in the exterior mirror on that side of the vehicle will turn on.
Driving situations
The side assist warning is active at speeds above approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) and can help in situations such as the following:
Information stage
If you still have not activated a turn signal, the system will inform you about objects classified as critical at speeds above approximately 6 mph (10 km/h).
This is even possible when your vehicle is stationary and the turn signal is turned on", so that the system can also assist you when turning.
The system informs you about objects classified as critical by turning on the display in the exterior mirror on that side of the vehicle (1).
The display remains dim in the information stage so that you are not distracted while looking forward.
Warning stage
Once you activate a turn signal, the system will inform you about objects classified as critical by turning on the display in the respective exterior mirror.
If other driver assistance systems (depending on vehicle equipment) detect that your vehicle is about to leave the lane, the display will blink even if the turn signal lever is not activated to warn you about objects that are classified as critical.
You can also be warned with corrective steering.
System limitations
The system uses the data from the radar sensors at the rear corners of the vehicle, fig. 99. They are designed to detect the left and right adjacent lanes when the road lanes are the normal width. In some situations, the system may react to vehicles in your own lane or lanes that are not directly adjacent to yours, or to objects on the side of the road. In this case, the display will turn on even though there is no vehicle in the critical area. These situations may include:
WARNING
Tips
Adjusting side assist
You can switch the system on and off in the MMI.
You can adjust the side assist to your preferences.
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
Possible settings:
Brightness - Change the brightness only when side assist is switched on, so that the selected setting can be checked in the exterior mirror displays.
Adjust the brightness to a level where the display in the information stage will not disrupt your view ahead. Because the display brightness automatically adapts to the ambient light, it may have already been adjusted to the highest or lowest setting during the automatic adaptation.
Tips
If the system is activated, the displays will turn on briefly when the ignition is switched on.
Messages
Applies to: vehicles with side assist
If or is displayed when there is a malfunction, the side assist and exit warning system functions may be unavailable or may be limited.
A message that indicates the cause and possible solution may appear with some displays. The weather conditions may be too poor or a sensor may be covered. Clean the sensor area at the rear corners of the vehicle, fig. 99 and try to turn the systems on again later.
If the malfunction remains, drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have the malfunction corrected.