Get Lights and vision -> Exterior lighting Guide for Audi Q8 SUV First Generation (2018-2026)

Lights and vision

Automatic headlight range control

Lights and vision

Exterior lighting

Turning the lights on or off

Your vehicle is equipped with automatic head-

light range control. It reduces glare for oncoming

traffic if the vehicle load changes. The headlight

range adjusts automatically.

Audi adaptive light

Applies to: vehicles with Audi adaptive light

Audi adaptive light provides better visibility when

driving in the dark. The lights are adapted to the

road conditions based on speed, such as when

driving on expressways, rural roads, at intersec-

tions, and around curves. The adaptive light only

functions when the automatic headlights are ac-

tivated.

Fig. 36 Instrument panel: light button module

1 Light switch 

WARNING

– Observe the safety precautions and note the

limitations of the assist systems, sensors,

and cameras ðpage 127 to ðpage 130.

– Automatic headlights are only intended to

assist the driver. The driver is still responsi-

ble for controlling the headlights and may

need to turn them on or off manually de-

pending on light and visibility conditions.

For example, fog cannot be detected by the

light sensors. So always turn on the low

beams  under these weather conditions

and when driving in the dark.

Press and hold 1 until the desired light function

is selected. The selected function is displayed

briefly in the instrument cluster. When turning

on the ignition, the AUTO light function is auto-

matically selected.

– AUTO - The automatic headlights adapt to the

surrounding brightness automatically. The day-

time running lights will automatically turn on.

In vehicles for certain markets, you can turn the

automatic daytime running lights on and off in

the MMI.

–  – You can turn the low beam headlights on

manually once the ignition is turned on.

–  – You can turn on the parking lights at

speeds below 20 mph (32 km/h).

Tips

– If the vehicle battery has been discharging

for a while, the parking light may turn off

automatically. Avoid using the parking

lights for several hours.

– USA models: OFF - You can turn off all light

functions at speeds below 6 mph (10 km/h).

– Canada models: OFF – You can turn off all light

functions when the ignition is turned off while

the vehicle is stationary.

– When using lighting equipment, the driver

is responsible for adhering to any local ap-

plicable regulations while driving and when

parking the vehicle.

When the low beam headlights or parking lights





are turned on, the respective

indicator

– Only the front headlights are on when the

daytime running lights are turned on. In

vehicles in certain markets, the tail lights

will also turn on.

light appears in the instrument cluster.

2 All-weather lights .

The headlights automatically adjust so that there

will be less glare, for example when the road sur-

face is wet.

– In cool or damp weather, the inside of the

headlights, turn signals, and tail lights can

fog over due to the temperature difference

between the inside and outside. They will

clear shortly after turning them on. This



Lights and vision

does not affect the service life of the light-

The  indicator light in the instrument cluster

ing.

will turn on.

– When the parking lights are turned on and



the ignition is turned off, the

symbol ap-

WARNING

pears in the light switch module.

High beams can cause glare for other persons,

which increases the risk of an accident. For

this reason, only use the high beams or the

headlight flasher when they will not create

glare for others.

Turn signal and high beam lever

High beam assistant

Applies to: vehicles with high beam assistant

The high beam assistant automatically turns the

high beams on or off depending on environmen-

tal factors.

A camera on the rearview mirror mount can de-

tect light sources from other road users. The high

beams turn on or off automatically depending on

the position of vehicles traveling ahead and on-

coming vehicles, the vehicle speed as well as oth-

er environmental factors and traffic conditions.

Fig. 37 Lever: turning the light functions on or off

The lever operates the turn signals, the high

beams and the headlight flasher.

Turn signals  

The turn signal will activate when you move the

lever into a turn signal position while the ignition

is on. The respective  or  indicator light

flashes. The turn signal blinks three times if you

tap the lever (convenience turn signal).

Applies to: vehicles with Matrix LED headlights:

With Matrix LED headlights , individual seg-

ments of the high beams are turned on or off.

The area in front of the vehicle is dimmed, while

the remaining area is illuminated. This allows for

optimal lighting of the surrounding area without

causing glare for other road users.

1 Right turn signal

2 Left turn signal

Activating the high beam assistant 

If an indicator light blinks twice as fast as usual,

a turn signal bulb has failed. Carefully drive to an

authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service

Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-

rected.

Requirement: the AUTO light function must be

selected and the high beam assistant must be

turned on in the MMI ðpage 57.

►

To activate the high beam assistant, tap the

lever forward 3 ðpage 55, fig. 37. The  in-

dicator light will appear in the instrument clus-

ter display and the high beams will turn on or

off automatically. If the high beams were com-

pletely or partially turned on, the  indicator

light will turn on.

The  symbol does not have any function as-

signed to it in vehicles in certain countries.

High beams  and headlight flasher

►

Move the lever to the corresponding position:



3 High beams on (vehicles with High beam as-

sistant* ðpage 55)

4 High beams off or headlight flasher

Not available in all countries.

Lights and vision

Activating and deactivating the high beam

head lights manually

Laser lighting

Applies to: vehicles with laser lighting

If the high beams did not turn on or off as expect-

ed, you may turn them on or off manually in-

stead:

►

To activate the high beams manually, tap the

lever forward 3 ðpage 55, fig. 37. The  in-

dicator light will turn on.

►

To deactivate the high beams manually, pull

the lever back 4 ðpage 55, fig. 37. The high

beam assistant is deactivated.

Operating the headlight flasher

►

To operate the headlight flashers, pull the lever

back 4 ðpage 55, fig. 37. If the high beam

headlights are not turned on, the high beam as-

sistant will remain activated.

WARNING

– Observe the safety precautions and note the

limitations of the assist systems, sensors,

and cameras ðpage 127 to ðpage 130.

– The high beam assistant is only intended to

assist the driver. The driver is always respon-

sible for controlling the high beam head-

lights and adjusting them based on the

lighting and visibility conditions.

Fig. 38 Headlights: label

The laser lights increase the range of the head-

lights.

An additional module integrated in the headlight

converts a blue laser light into a white light using

a luminescent material.

– High beams can cause glare for other per-

sons, which increases the risk of an accident.

For this reason, only use the high beams or

the headlight flasher when they will not cre-

ate glare for others.

Activating or deactivating laser lights

Requirement: the AUTO light function must be

set, and the high beam assistant and the laser

lights must be turned on in the MMI ðpage 57.

Tips

The high beam is controlled by the high beam as-

sistant. The laser lights turn on shortly after the

LED high beams are turned on.

Adhere to any local applicable regulations

when using the lighting equipment, for exam-

ple in regard to reducing glare for other road

users. The driver is always responsible for ad-

hering to the regulations applicable in the

country where the vehicle is being operated.

►

To activate the high beam assistant, tap the

lever forward 3 ðpage 55, fig. 37. The  in-

dicator light will appear in the instrument clus-

ter display and the high beams will turn on or

off automatically.

The laser lights are turned on at speeds above

approximately 44 mph (70 km/h) when the high

beams are turned on.



Lights and vision

►

The laser lights are turned off if the speed drops

below approximately 30 mph (50 km/h) or if the

high beam assistant turns off the LED headlights.

Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:

VEHICLE > Light & Visibility > Exterior light-

ing.

Automatic headlights

WARNING

You can adjust the following settings in the Auto-

matic headlights menu:

– Observe the safety precautions and note the

limitations of the assist systems, sensors,

and cameras ðpage 127 to ðpage 130.

– All repair procedures on the headlights

must be performed by an authorized Audi

dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility

that will perform the work according to Audi

factory specifications. Incorrect repairs

could result in eye injury, impair the func-

tion, and may void the vehicle's operating li-

cense.

Activation time - You can adjust if the headlights

turn on Early, Medium, or Late based on the sen-

sitivity of the light sensor.

High beam assistant - You can turn the high

beam assistant on or off.

Laser lights - You can turn the laser lights on and

off.

Entry/exit lighting

– Opening the laser module is not permitted

and could cause permanent injuries to the

eyes.

The Entry/exit lighting illuminates the area

around the vehicle when the vehicle is unlocked

or when the driver’s door is opened while the ig-

nition is off. The entry/exit lighting works when it

is dark and when the AUTO light function is

turned on. The front and rear daytime running

lights turn on automatically each time the vehicle

is unlocked regardless of how bright it is outside

the vehicle.

– Dangerous exposure to laser beams may oc-

cur if the covers are removed or if the head-

light module housing is opened.

Tips

– The headlight contains a class 2 laser. The

technical design converts the laser beam so

that there is no danger when it is used for

its intended purpose.

Daytime running lights

USA models: The daytime running lights can be

turned on or off.

– The laser beam emission from the headlight

has been classified in accordance with IEC

60825-1:2007.

Canada models: The daytime running lights can-

not be turned off. The lights activate automati-

cally each time the ignition is turned on.

– The possible emission is below the thresh-

old for laser class 2.

– Maximum laser beam output: 5W (continu-

ous emission), wavelength range λ= 400 nm

– 700 nm.

Digital light signatures

You can choose from various light signatures. De-

pending on vehicle equipment, the light signa-

ture is always active when the daytime running

lights and/or the parking lights are active.

– The headlight light functions are rated in ac-

cordance with IEC 62471-5:2015.

– The beam emitted from the headlight was

classified as risk group 2.

If you change to a different light signature, the

change will go into effect shortly after you exit

the vehicle.

Adjusting the exterior lighting

The following settings depend on the vehicle

equipment.

Lights and vision

Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to

have the malfunction corrected.

Emergency flashers

 Audi adaptive light: malfunction! See own-

er's manual

Adaptive light is not working. The headlights still

function. Drive immediately to an authorized

Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to

have the malfunction corrected.

 Headlight range control: malfunction! See

owner's manual

Fig. 39 Center console: emergency flashers

There is a malfunction in the headlight range

control system, which may cause glare for other

road users. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or

authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to

have the malfunction corrected.

The emergency flashers help to make other road

users aware of your vehicle in dangerous situa-

tions.

►

Press the  button 1 to turn the emergency

flashers on or off.

 High beam assistant: malfunction! See own-

er's manual

When the emergency flashers are turned on, the

 and  indicator lights will flash at the same

time.

You can still turn the high beams on or off man-

ually. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi

dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to have

the malfunction corrected.

You can indicate a lane change or a turn when the

emergency flashers are on by using the turn sig-

nal lever. The emergency flashers will stop tem-

porarily.

 High beam assistant: currently unavailable.

Camera view limited due to surroundings. See

owner's manual

The emergency flashers also work when the igni-

tion is turned off.

This message appears if the camera's visual field

is blocked. The system will turn itself off. Try

turning the systems on later.

Tips

You should turn the emergency flashers on if:

– You are the last vehicle in a traffic jam so

that all other vehicles approaching from be-

hind can see your vehicle



Automatic headlights: malfunction! See

owner's manual

The light/rain sensor is malfunctioning. When

the AUTO light function is on, the low beams will

remain on at all times for safety reasons. Drive

immediately to an authorized Audi dealer or au-

thorized Audi Service Facility to have the mal-

function corrected.

– Your vehicle has broken down or you are

having an emergency

– Your vehicle is being towed or if you are

towing another vehicle

Messages

The following messages may appear, depending

on the vehicle equipment:

If the  indicator light turns on, a bulb has

failed. The displayed message indicates the cause

and possible solutions. If one of the messages re-

mains on, drive immediately to an authorized

Lights and vision -> Exterior lighting for Your Audi Q8 SUV First Generation (2018-2026)

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