How good is the sat nav?

Germany has more than double the number of fatal road accidents than in the uk. In 2012 that country also has 4.4 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants compared to the UK which had 2.75...

Would be interesting to see a breakdown of those stats.. where/why etc.. As we know statistics enable you to give a false impression i.e.
Drinking and driving is safer at night as 30% of accidents involve drink therefore 70% of accidents are caused by sober people.. not sure I've got the numbers right but you get my drift!
 
That's because it's quite hard to have a fatal when you're in the worlds biggest traffic jam.
 
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I've always wondered what the fatal rate on Germany's autobahns is compared to our motorways?
 
Germany has more than double the number of fatal road accidents than in the uk. In 2012 that country also has 4.4 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants compared to the UK which had 2.75...

I'm sure those figures may be correct but personally I always feel much safer driving in Germany that I do in the UK. They seem to have better roads, better junction layouts etc as well as on the autobahns they do drive fast, but they seem to be much better at lane discipline than in the UK. Their fast drivers can be quite 'aggressive' but they do drive with their headlights on so that you can see them coming up behind you on the autobahn and everyone else knows to get out of the way and they do.

By the way do you know that the A3 can be set so that the headlights come on automatically if you go over 90mph. Not sure if it set that way as standard or if you need to set it accordingly using VCDS or the car setup screen.
 
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Danke! Interesting bedtime reading while I sew some new badges on my anorak :)

Also does the new S3 have a Touring mode to adjust headlights for European use??

The 'ordinary' A3 I test drove the other day had the option to change the headlights for European driving as part of the Car Setup screen so I assume the S3 would have as well. The Golf VII also had the same facility so I assume the new GTi would also have it.
 
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The 'ordinary' A3 I test drove the other day had the option to change the headlights for European driving as part of the Car Setup screen so I assume the S3 would have as well. The Golf VII also had the same facility so I assume the new GTi would also have it.

Thanks... various 5s and 7 have it was hoping the S3 did.far better than ****** tape sticky things etc... bit like the difference between integrated Sat Nav and Tom Tom Garmin wires and suckers faff in my mind!
 
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Thanks... various 5s and 7 have it was hoping the S3 did.far better than ****** tape sticky things etc... bit like the difference between integrated Sat Nav and Tom Tom Garmin wires and suckers faff in my mind!

I've always done it on my 2012 A3 using VCDS. - no sticky black things for me either.
 
I thought having the tech pack enabled the lights to be automatically adjusted for Europe driving?
 
I thought having the tech pack enabled the lights to be automatically adjusted for Europe driving?

That's what I'm hoping... on A7n without Tech Pack but SD Nav MMI etc Touring mode is possible.
 
I thought having the tech pack enabled the lights to be automatically adjusted for Europe driving?

I have an option in the MMI to change the headlights when driving on the right hand side of the road.
My car is an SE trim, but added the xenon light package, I think it's the xenon lights (or maybe adaptive lights) that provide this option. I don't have the tech pack, but have SD sat nav.

Iirc, if you have standard halogen lights, the MMI option to change to right hand side driving is not available. I'm sure other will correct me if they have halogens.
 
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That sounds about right as the HID's have automatic levelling, the halogens probably have manual levers...
 
Adaptive lights needed for that option, and it's a manual adjustment in the MMI rather than automatic
 
Adaptive lights needed for that option, and it's a manual adjustment in the MMI rather than automatic

I always expected manual; adjustment via MMI.. Even with Adaptive lights (certainly on A5) you still need to manually adjust. I cannot see how it could ever be automatic on Adaptive lights unless there is a link via Audi Connect to tell the car you are in Europe !!
 
You wouldn't need that... just a GPS, which most cars have! I'm told the A8 adjusts automatically.
 
You wouldn't need that... just a GPS, which most cars have! I'm told the A8 adjusts automatically.

I gather the LED headlights automatically adjust based on GPS location, though I have obviously yet to test that. I wonder if that could be the case for Xenon?
 
Perhaps, it wouldn't be hard to do for the adaptive ones since they have the motors etc in anyway. Seeing as mine can be done through the MMI it would be very easy to just link that to the GPS and a database of which side of the road different countries drive on (which would be miniscule, easily part of the software)
 
Perhaps, it wouldn't be hard to do for the adaptive ones since they have the motors etc in anyway. Seeing as mine can be done through the MMI it would be very easy to just link that to the GPS and a database of which side of the road different countries drive on (which would be miniscule, easily part of the software)

Yes and I assume it is all already part of the software if it can be done with LEDs
 
Just bought myself
Navigation plus absolutely brilliant got it for130
Perfect
 
Danke! Interesting bedtime reading while I sew some new badges on my anorak :)

Also does the new S3 have a Touring mode to adjust headlights for European use??

your point about misleading stats is well made, look at the numbers for the USA, or indeed pretty much every other country in the EU except for Germany, their limits are all very similar to ours.
 
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My Garmin Nuvi 765 displays 'Lane Assist' information, which shows a view of the upcoming junction on motorways, and in which lane you should be taking, a function which I find very useful......can anyone tell me if this function is available with the Audi SD card system?
 
I gather the LED headlights automatically adjust based on GPS location, though I have obviously yet to test that. I wonder if that could be the case for Xenon?
Have been told prior to my order that the Xenons auto adjust when abroad, all done via the Sat Nav. Not sure if you have to input a route abroad or if they just adjust as the Sat nav mapping system puts car abroad.
 
Have been told prior to my order that the Xenons auto adjust when abroad, all done via the Sat Nav. Not sure if you have to input a route abroad or if they just adjust as the Sat nav mapping system puts car abroad.

I suspect 'all done via the sat nav' means using the MMI.
 
Have been told prior to my order that the Xenons auto adjust when abroad, all done via the Sat Nav. Not sure if you have to input a route abroad or if they just adjust as the Sat nav mapping system puts car abroad.

Really? GPS tells car to automatic adjust?

Mine has the tech pack but I am unable to adjust in the MMI manually. The option is greyed out. Does anyone know if you need the lane assist function to be able to adjust the light to drive on the right? or is it that newer cars have a newer software thats programmed in to enable this?
 
You need adaptive Xenons to be able to change in MMI for driving on the right.

LED headlights don't need changing for driving on the right.

Can't comment on whether SatNav auto selects for left/right based upon location but would expect that to also require adaptive Xenons to be able to do it.

John.
 
You need adaptive Xenons to be able to change in MMI for driving on the right.

LED headlights don't need changing for driving on the right.

Can't comment on whether SatNav auto selects for left/right based upon location but would expect that to also require adaptive Xenons to be able to do it.

John.

I see, I must only have the normal Xenons then (wish i had the adaptive lights now).
Back to those silly stickers next time Im in europe….
 
37 and have never owned a Sat-nav.

Yet the SD version was the first option I selected when ordering my A3 Saloon.

Partly because it avoids the horrible holders and wires that have always put me off getting one, but mainly because I couldn't drive a car for four years with a button on the steering wheel that if I pressed it would do nothing!
 
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SD Nav is fine. Nav is expected these days in premium cars. There are always Luddites who will disagree but it's become as important as BT and electric windows.
We updated from original Sd Nav as the tech pack only cost £150 extra. Bigger screen and plays DVD a feature we use when queuing for ferries.
 
37 and have never owned a Sat-nav.

Yet the SD version was the first option I selected when ordering my A3 Saloon.

Partly because it avoids the horrible holders and wires that have always put me off getting one, but mainly because I couldn't drive a car for four years with a button on the steering wheel that if I pressed it would do nothing!

I'm the same, can't stand buttons in my car I can't use :p I've mostly filled out the central row of buttons with my options as well, but there are still a few blanks there. I think the e-tron uses one of them to change charging mode so was never going to get that, but Park Assist, Park sensors, Drive Select are all there, I'm sure there's others I've forgotten as well (other than the standard ones like MMI screen retract and start/stop disable)
 
You need adaptive Xenons to be able to change in MMI for driving on the right.

LED headlights don't need changing for driving on the right.

Can't comment on whether SatNav auto selects for left/right based upon location but would expect that to also require adaptive Xenons to be able to do it.

John.

I think some higher models (A8) do it automatically, it's strange that the A3 doesn't seem to. At least, there's still an option in the MMI for it so seems manual. Maybe it'll prompt you if you take it abroad?
 
You may xenons but they don't have to be adaptive. Had Audi arc car 13 plate a3 last year and I think that worked but not 100% will find out in 7 sleeps time ;-)
 
I've read before that they do need to be adaptive for you to adjust them. Otherwise how would it change them if the motors aren't there to do it?
 
I've read before that they do need to be adaptive for you to adjust them. Otherwise how would it change them if the motors aren't there to do it?

Well my A5 and A7 did not have adaptive and they both adjusted for euro use!!
 
I've read before that they do need to be adaptive for you to adjust them. Otherwise how would it change them if the motors aren't there to do it?

Stupid question. I have the code 8Q3 (Automatic headlight-range adjustment dynamic), is this the adaptive lights system?
But still can't seem to change the light direction in MMI to drive in europe, as its greyed out and wouldn't let me select.
Wondering if this can be changed with coding.
 
Stupid question. I have the code 8Q3 (Automatic headlight-range adjustment dynamic), is this the adaptive lights system?
But still can't seem to change the light direction in MMI to drive in europe, as its greyed out and wouldn't let me select.
Wondering if this can be changed with coding.

Does your car have Sat/Nav. If so perhaps it's done automatically.

Also what type of head lights do you have.

8Q5 is listed as Automatic headlight range control, with cornering light circuit.

PXA is the option Adaptive headlights with Xenon Plus headlights.
 
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It's not the same thing - adaptive lights is left/right adjustment, dynamic range is up/down
 
Yeah it has the HDD Sat Nav which came with the Tech pack.

Interesting if it can do it automatically. I have no way of checking in the meantime though…..