Audi A6 Avant tow bar fitting

[number9dream]

Hi all, recently picked up a 2019 A6 Avant, 2.0 Tdi

i'm looking into getting  towbar fitted but the towbar people have warned me to check if the car has emergency braking. It definitely does while going forwards but i cant see anyway of checking whether this is true while reversing (apparently it makes a big difference to the cost of the fitting) since the wife refused to stand still while i tested it!!

so my question is - is there a way of checking whether there is emergency braking while reversing ? 

many thanks in advance

[cliffcoggin]

What do you mean by emergency braking? ABS?

[number9dream]

What i understand is that the audi has a pre sense which uses the cameras to predict a collision, warn the driver and then if no action detected brake the car itself. I've seen this indicted when travelling forwards but I just can't tell if this is the case while reversing. 

[Steve Q]

If you use a vin decoder it should help tell you what spec you have. Or a sticker in the boot wheel well with various codes. 

[number9dream]

thanks - i've tried both and neither have shed any light - doesnt seem to be any detail in the VIN checker and no sticker that i can see in the wheel well. I've taken everything out 

[Steve Q]

It might be worth you speaking to Audi to see if they can tell you. 

[danbailey77]

From the 2018 broshure it looks like it is only in the City Assist pack. Front pre-sense is standard, but rear only with pack.

This is the City Assist info and has 3 parts:

Audi Side Assist
When activated, the system aids the driver
when changing lanes. Audi Side Assist
monitors the area behind the vehicle,
using radar sensors located discreetly in
the rear bumper, informing the driver with
a visual warning signal in the door mirror
if there is a vehicle in their blind spot or
approaching quickly from behind
Pre-sense Rear
Monitors vehicles following from behind,
and if a potential collision is detected,
the driver is first warned visually via
a flashing light. Audi Pre-sense Basic
measures (e.g. closing windows) are
initiated and then if a collision is
unavoidable, the system will tighten
the front seat belts. The system is
deactivated when towing
Cross Traffic Assist Front
Within system limits, warns the driver
of traffic crossing in front or to the side
of the vehicle, using vehicle sensors.
The system first alerts the driver visually
and then acoustically via the MMI. A brake
jolt is applied if a potential collision is
detected. The system can also assist the
driver at crossings and exits with poor
visibility, and warn against a possible
collision with oncoming traffic detected
from the side

[Steve Q]

That's good if that's the case. Audi could definitely tell you. 

[number9dream]

Ah thanks - that sounds like it's more sophisticated than mine then! Definetly doesnt have side assist or indicators in the mirrors. I will try and get somewhere with audi just to check

[cliffcoggin]

I understand now. If the car has a rear facing camera or radar linked to the brakes than it makes sense to disable that system when towing. I assume, perhaps wrongly, that Audi would have planned for that possibility and that the electrical connections at the tow ball would automatically disable that function.

[K200CWC]

Any good 3rd party fully integrated CAN bus tow-bar electronics will deal with all of the advanced features, however when I researched this these were at least twice the cost of a dumb system.

In the end I opted for a genuine Audi tow-bar retrofit for a stupid amount of money but it just works and does lots of smart tweaks to the suspension, gearbox and engine that make towing 1.6 tonnes effortlessly.