C7A6 Technology Package - ACC Question!! ;)

[ProgressiveB6A4]

HI Audi Brothers and Sisters!

DISCLAIMER

So I have a question... and its probably not that difficult of a question to ask, but I already and feeling overwhelmed with how much I know I will type here, in order to convey said question.

First off I've been around the forums for a few years, so I know how some of these threads can be. Since this is my first A6 perhaps you guys might be a bit more mature or friendlier than the S4/A4 threads.
Regardless, if the answer to my question here is already in some thread, please just share it with me, and if I have some sort of typo or say something wrong, please use your intelligence to assume what I am trying to say. Really not looking in this thread to meet the jackwagons, power tripers, or insecure rude dudes.
...Really just looking to get my questions answered by this audi community... :) Also... I don't want to prevent a thought discussion by saying this, however... I am not looking for speculations or what we "think", I am looking for a concrete answer. So hopefully someone who fully understands my question and truly knows factually/logistically my answer, please chime in!


That is the disclaimer haha!

BACKGROUND

I own a 2012 Audi A6 3.0T with Technology Package and S-Line Exterior
Technology Package includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC which are the two radar bulbs in the place where fog lights normally are) and it also has thermal night imagine camera which is located inside the audi rings on the front end)

A little bit of background with what I am trying to do and what is going on. This is my third audi, however my first A6 platform audi (previously had A4s). I just bought it a month ago and absolutely love it.
With this build I am looking to turn it into an all out show car. My first audi was bagged on accuair e-level and I loved it, my last audi was static on H&R ultra low coils. Since this build is going to be "show" more than anything, I would like to bag this one as well. However.....

I would rather keep ACC functioning and all the features of the car functioning, over bagging the car. If bags means I sacrifice ACC or something else, then I would rather just stay static low....

If you're curious and Ill include this in the background section. My general rough plan for the vehicle is this:
-Tint Windows 20%
-Black: Front Lip/Side Skirt Runners, and rear bumper diffuser
-Black Wrap all Chrome Trim Black
-Replace grille with all black RS6 grille (On the fence about doing the RS6 front bumper, tentative depending on what we determine at the end of this thread)
-Wrapping entire car Satin Chrome Red
-Satin Black or Satin gold wheels
-Bags

That the major idea to this build of mine.

Now in my previous cars they have never had the technology package with thermal night camera and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). With that said I am at a fork in the road planning out my build as I do not want to arrive at a finish place with the car, where I have sacraficed the ACC and the ACC does not work.
I also have heard to get an alignment, or to get the ACC calibrated if its out of wack by audi, costs about 5-8 hours. So If in the case I will at some point in my build need to get a calibration, I am totally down and okay will paying $1k to get calibrated, but I want to understand how and when it gets out of alignment, because it would suck if I had to pay for it to get calibrated 2+ times because I ignorantly do something that I didnt know, which keeps kicking it out of alignment. So this post to the audi community is really just to inform and educate myself and other as to how the ACC really does work and get affected when lowering/modifying our cars.

THE QUESTION

Question:
How exactly does ACC get "out of alignment"?

Question:
What is the % chance that the ACC will go out of alignment when:
- Removing and changing the stock grille (which yes involves removing the front bumper)
- Removing the front bumper (Yes already listed above, I wrote it this way in case some ninja knows how to remove and swap the front grille with out removing the bumper, and please don't respond to this, it isn't the question at hand)
- Lowering the car with Coilovers 1-3 inches
- Lowering the car with Bags

Here is a link to a great thread @KwikStix posted in regards to installing a RS6 Grille.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...nstall-(Video)

(Yes I replied to that thread minutes ago)

He doesnt even mention anything about the ACC however you can clearly see he has ACC and thermal night camera just like me. You can also see that he removed his bumper too..
And, apparently had no problems with anything. So thats a great sign, but then I have also heard of people getting their ACC thrown out of wack when they messed with stuff like removing the bumper.

My goal is to get a RS6 grille installed with my ACC and everything working.. obviously KwikStix proves that you can swap the grille which includes removing the bumper with out messing anything up. However I want to know the logistics. Especially if I want to go stage 2 down the road and need to do more front end things.
Also I might want to, like on the fence considering doing a RS6 lower front bumper swap as well, which again, it would be good to understand the logistics of how the ACC and everything works.

Called Audi This Is What They Said
The guy at audi spoke with a tech and said apparently this,

"There is a camera in the windshield behind the center mirror, this apparently is not only for lane assist (in European models) but also for ACC. He said as long as the front two ACC sensors (where the fog lights normally are), are fixed and pointing at the same spot as the camera, and that all three are congruent with each other, like with respect to each other holding the same alignment, then the system will be in check". That is more or less what he said, however just like 100% of the people I have asked so far, he answered uncertain, its like no one really knows so far that I have talked to how the ACC works and what keeps it not throwing codes and what kicks it out of alignment. I am also not sure if I trust the guy on the phone because he also said that the camera in the rings (the night vision camera) also is part of the ACC...which I am not sure is true...?

Also audi always says to me... as soon as I remove the bumper.... the ACC will not work, that it will be out of alignment and I will get a message about it. And it will need to be re calibrated. Which I know is not necessarily true as well...

So as you can see I dont really know ... how the ACC is in alignment.

Question:
Are the ACC sensors in the fog light slots, are those mounted to the frame or front bumper?

The night camera is mounted in the grille that I know thanks to KwikStix.

My Thoughts:

Theoretically...if the ACC is happy when the three points, (both fog light sensors and camera behind the center rear view mirror in the windshield) if the ACC is happy when all three are holding fixed with respect to each other, and with respect to a fixed point in front (however many feet ahead they set it to at audi),
and if the sensors are mounted to the frame not the front bumper... then theoretically I would think that removing the bumper, lowering the car even, will not affect ACC.. Even if I had installed bags and am lowering only the front end, or lets say only lowering the front left or back right, or only left side, whatever, if I was moving the car around on air I think theoretically that the ACC should still work since when the car moves like that all three sensors are still, with respect to each other, fixed...... but this is what I want clarification and to confirm

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME HAHAH

because if I am wrong and it actually can be thrown off by, lets say just simply lowering the car past 2 inches or whatever (I also read that in another thread but again its been said as all hypothesis and speculation, I need some facts),
if I am wrong and the ACC can be thrown off by lowering it low low aka bags or by removing the bumper (and Kwikstix for example was just lucky) then I would stick with Coilovers instead of doing air....


But my desire is air (also please I dont need your comments on why air sucks and I should stick with static, or you other guys who think lowering is stupid... lol not the question at hand.
Somehow I feel you're still going to comment your thoughts on my build, outside of my question... you know who you are, timewasters and thread jackers.

I am very thankful for anything anyone can enlighten me with, I really appreciate it!




Extra question not exactly related to the ACC:
in the C7A6 with tech package and full led lights, are there any height level sensors or anything that could possibly snap, after installing air ride and air'ing out... or will I be fine?

In the previous B6A4 there were some sensors on the light that said I was out of range when i air'ed out for the first time after installing my bags, however I just had to adjust the xenon level with a screw driver on the headlight housing...

However someone recenetly told me that if I put bags onto my C7A6 that I would snap OEM sensors under the car when i air out.. and that if I decided to go bags I would have to extend those sensors which is a pain in the ass (and sounds like a pain in the ass).

Now I wanted to ask the community if this is true, because I kinda feel like, and I hope, that this is not true. that there are actually no sensors that are OEM that will snap or break or not work or go out of spec if I were to air out the car on bags... of couse im sure I would have to adjust my headlights up but is that about it?

Also adjusting the full LED headlights, is that as simple as just turning a screw like on the old non-full ed lights, or am I in for a PITA time?


ULTIMATELY I AM TRYING TO PREPARE MYSELF AND BE PROPERLY INFORMED OF ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT RUN INTO WHEN INSTALLING AIR RIDE INTO MY C7A6, AND POTENTIONALY ANY DEALBREAKERS FOR ME TO BAIL ON BAGS AND JUST INSTALL COILOVERS INSTEAD.


The girl will be lowered either way, air or static. and yes my grammer spelling and punctuation is terrible now, its because I am freaking tired of typing... this was exhausting..


THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR READING I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND KNOWLEDGE!
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR WISDOM!

Scott

[mintytoo]

I didn't read most of it. I'm guessing you know why. Removing bumper and grill may or may not require re calibration of ACC. I had my grill replaced for rs6, at a shop, and did not require recal. They definitely had to remove the bumper. I have read that some people have mentioned that if you reposition the acc sensors, in the " fog lights" then you will likely have to recal, so if you remove bumper try not to dislocate the sensors.

Maybe lay off the coffee this late in the evening

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[ProgressiveB6A4]

Thank you for the response! Not going to lie, you had me laughing a few times reading your reply And I don't blame you for not reading the entire thing.

Thank you for your response! This gives me some confidence, with the Grille at least and makes sense... But if I decide to go the RS6 Front Bumper as well... I still don't know what I need to know. Seems like it would definitely be out of calibration to go RS6 front bumper too....

Anyone else?!

Thank you!

[mintytoo]

Thank you for the response! Not going to lie, you had me laughing a few times reading your reply And I don't blame you for not reading the entire thing.

Thank you for your response! This gives me some confidence, with the Grille at least and makes sense... But if I decide to go the RS6 Front Bumper as well... I still don't know what I need to know. Seems like it would definitely be out of calibration to go RS6 front bumper too....

Anyone else?!

Thank you!

Yeah, a guy here who did the rs6 bumper confirmed he needed acc recal, and before that he replaced the grill multiple times without the need to recal. Madyspop I think

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[OlyS6]

The only times the acc needs to be recalibrated are:
1) you have moved the sensors to a new place different than where they were in the last calibration- ie a different model bumper.
2) You inadvertantly turn on the car while the acc sensors are disconnected, which will throw all kinds of errors. To avoid this, simply make sure your battery is disconnected before you start messing with any sensors in the front bumper, and it will guarantee that you wont mess with the calibration.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ProgressiveB6A4]

That is a concrete response that I like! So bagging the car wont mess with ACC in your theory?

Anyone else? Thank you!

[OlyS6]

That is a concrete response that I like! So bagging the car wont mess with ACC in your theory?

Anyone else? Thank you!

Bagging won’t have an effect, as it won’t change the relationship (distance or angles) between the various sensors, regardless of the height of the car.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SeattleiteA6]

Had to scroll past the novel, but if you go to a RS bumper you'll need to recalibrate the ACC sensors, as they shift a bit. It ran me $700 IIRC and has to be done at the dealer.

2014 Phantom S6/B&O/Innov/BlkOptx
Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[bobontheroad]

HI Audi Brothers and Sisters!

DISCLAIMER

So I have a question... and its probably not that difficult of a question to ask, but I already and feeling overwhelmed with how much I know I will type here, in order to convey said question.

First off I've been around the forums for a few years, so I know how some of these threads can be. Since this is my first A6 perhaps you guys might be a bit more mature or friendlier than the S4/A4 threads.
Regardless, if the answer to my question here is already in some thread, please just share it with me, and if I have some sort of typo or say something wrong, please use your intelligence to assume what I am trying to say. Really not looking in this thread to meet the jackwagons, power tripers, or insecure rude dudes.
...Really just looking to get my questions answered by this audi community... :) Also... I don't want to prevent a thought discussion by saying this, however... I am not looking for speculations or what we "think", I am looking for a concrete answer. So hopefully someone who fully understands my question and truly knows factually/logistically my answer, please chime in!


That is the disclaimer haha!

BACKGROUND

I own a 2012 Audi A6 3.0T with Technology Package and S-Line Exterior
Technology Package includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC which are the two radar bulbs in the place where fog lights normally are) and it also has thermal night imagine camera which is located inside the audi rings on the front end)

A little bit of background with what I am trying to do and what is going on. This is my third audi, however my first A6 platform audi (previously had A4s). I just bought it a month ago and absolutely love it.
With this build I am looking to turn it into an all out show car. My first audi was bagged on accuair e-level and I loved it, my last audi was static on H&R ultra low coils. Since this build is going to be "show" more than anything, I would like to bag this one as well. However.....

I would rather keep ACC functioning and all the features of the car functioning, over bagging the car. If bags means I sacrifice ACC or something else, then I would rather just stay static low....

If you're curious and Ill include this in the background section. My general rough plan for the vehicle is this:
-Tint Windows 20%
-Black: Front Lip/Side Skirt Runners, and rear bumper diffuser
-Black Wrap all Chrome Trim Black
-Replace grille with all black RS6 grille (On the fence about doing the RS6 front bumper, tentative depending on what we determine at the end of this thread)
-Wrapping entire car Satin Chrome Red
-Satin Black or Satin gold wheels
-Bags

That the major idea to this build of mine.

Now in my previous cars they have never had the technology package with thermal night camera and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). With that said I am at a fork in the road planning out my build as I do not want to arrive at a finish place with the car, where I have sacraficed the ACC and the ACC does not work.
I also have heard to get an alignment, or to get the ACC calibrated if its out of wack by audi, costs about 5-8 hours. So If in the case I will at some point in my build need to get a calibration, I am totally down and okay will paying $1k to get calibrated, but I want to understand how and when it gets out of alignment, because it would suck if I had to pay for it to get calibrated 2+ times because I ignorantly do something that I didnt know, which keeps kicking it out of alignment. So this post to the audi community is really just to inform and educate myself and other as to how the ACC really does work and get affected when lowering/modifying our cars.

THE QUESTION

Question:
How exactly does ACC get "out of alignment"?

Question:
What is the % chance that the ACC will go out of alignment when:
- Removing and changing the stock grille (which yes involves removing the front bumper)
- Removing the front bumper (Yes already listed above, I wrote it this way in case some ninja knows how to remove and swap the front grille with out removing the bumper, and please don't respond to this, it isn't the question at hand)
- Lowering the car with Coilovers 1-3 inches
- Lowering the car with Bags

Here is a link to a great thread @KwikStix posted in regards to installing a RS6 Grille.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...nstall-(Video)

(Yes I replied to that thread minutes ago)

He doesnt even mention anything about the ACC however you can clearly see he has ACC and thermal night camera just like me. You can also see that he removed his bumper too..
And, apparently had no problems with anything. So thats a great sign, but then I have also heard of people getting their ACC thrown out of wack when they messed with stuff like removing the bumper.

My goal is to get a RS6 grille installed with my ACC and everything working.. obviously KwikStix proves that you can swap the grille which includes removing the bumper with out messing anything up. However I want to know the logistics. Especially if I want to go stage 2 down the road and need to do more front end things.
Also I might want to, like on the fence considering doing a RS6 lower front bumper swap as well, which again, it would be good to understand the logistics of how the ACC and everything works.

Called Audi This Is What They Said
The guy at audi spoke with a tech and said apparently this,

"There is a camera in the windshield behind the center mirror, this apparently is not only for lane assist (in European models) but also for ACC. He said as long as the front two ACC sensors (where the fog lights normally are), are fixed and pointing at the same spot as the camera, and that all three are congruent with each other, like with respect to each other holding the same alignment, then the system will be in check". That is more or less what he said, however just like 100% of the people I have asked so far, he answered uncertain, its like no one really knows so far that I have talked to how the ACC works and what keeps it not throwing codes and what kicks it out of alignment. I am also not sure if I trust the guy on the phone because he also said that the camera in the rings (the night vision camera) also is part of the ACC...which I am not sure is true...?

Also audi always says to me... as soon as I remove the bumper.... the ACC will not work, that it will be out of alignment and I will get a message about it. And it will need to be re calibrated. Which I know is not necessarily true as well...

So as you can see I dont really know ... how the ACC is in alignment.

Question:
Are the ACC sensors in the fog light slots, are those mounted to the frame or front bumper?

The night camera is mounted in the grille that I know thanks to KwikStix.

My Thoughts:

Theoretically...if the ACC is happy when the three points, (both fog light sensors and camera behind the center rear view mirror in the windshield) if the ACC is happy when all three are holding fixed with respect to each other, and with respect to a fixed point in front (however many feet ahead they set it to at audi),
and if the sensors are mounted to the frame not the front bumper... then theoretically I would think that removing the bumper, lowering the car even, will not affect ACC.. Even if I had installed bags and am lowering only the front end, or lets say only lowering the front left or back right, or only left side, whatever, if I was moving the car around on air I think theoretically that the ACC should still work since when the car moves like that all three sensors are still, with respect to each other, fixed...... but this is what I want clarification and to confirm

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME HAHAH

because if I am wrong and it actually can be thrown off by, lets say just simply lowering the car past 2 inches or whatever (I also read that in another thread but again its been said as all hypothesis and speculation, I need some facts),
if I am wrong and the ACC can be thrown off by lowering it low low aka bags or by removing the bumper (and Kwikstix for example was just lucky) then I would stick with Coilovers instead of doing air....


But my desire is air (also please I dont need your comments on why air sucks and I should stick with static, or you other guys who think lowering is stupid... lol not the question at hand.
Somehow I feel you're still going to comment your thoughts on my build, outside of my question... you know who you are, timewasters and thread jackers.

I am very thankful for anything anyone can enlighten me with, I really appreciate it!




Extra question not exactly related to the ACC:
in the C7A6 with tech package and full led lights, are there any height level sensors or anything that could possibly snap, after installing air ride and air'ing out... or will I be fine?

In the previous B6A4 there were some sensors on the light that said I was out of range when i air'ed out for the first time after installing my bags, however I just had to adjust the xenon level with a screw driver on the headlight housing...

However someone recenetly told me that if I put bags onto my C7A6 that I would snap OEM sensors under the car when i air out.. and that if I decided to go bags I would have to extend those sensors which is a pain in the ass (and sounds like a pain in the ass).

Now I wanted to ask the community if this is true, because I kinda feel like, and I hope, that this is not true. that there are actually no sensors that are OEM that will snap or break or not work or go out of spec if I were to air out the car on bags... of couse im sure I would have to adjust my headlights up but is that about it?

Also adjusting the full LED headlights, is that as simple as just turning a screw like on the old non-full ed lights, or am I in for a PITA time?


ULTIMATELY I AM TRYING TO PREPARE MYSELF AND BE PROPERLY INFORMED OF ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT RUN INTO WHEN INSTALLING AIR RIDE INTO MY C7A6, AND POTENTIONALY ANY DEALBREAKERS FOR ME TO BAIL ON BAGS AND JUST INSTALL COILOVERS INSTEAD.


The girl will be lowered either way, air or static. and yes my grammer spelling and punctuation is terrible now, its because I am freaking tired of typing... this was exhausting..


THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR READING I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND KNOWLEDGE!
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR WISDOM!

Scott

Omg, just so many words... anyway, I upgraded to an RS6 grill and had to get recalibration done at dealer...

Ps. Over usage of ALL CAPS - please stop yelling, thanks


Sent from my iPad using Audizine

[ProgressiveB6A4]

So wait everything makes sense except what Bobontheroad posted... since you lost alignment with your ACC only by installing the RS6 grille that’s contradictory to the other gentleman said..

Bobontheroad, when you installed your RS6 grill did you disconnect the batter before starting? Also did you remove the ACC sensors from the bumper for some reason? Or leave them attached?

Thanks. I’m still trying to figure this out guys thanks for the support! Looking for concrete facts

[AudiC7Owners]

Bottom line:

Your ACC, front parking cameras, or night vision will be impacted by changing your grille UNLESS you turn the cars power on while you have all the sensors and cameras unplugged... Unless you damage one while you do the work but it's easy to do this swap and likelihood of damaging one is very low. Just go to your trunk, unplug your battery, and leave it unplugged until you have the car all buttoned up after your install.

- - - Updated - - -

And you do not have to remove the sensors from the bumper (the ones in the fog light area). You will just be unplugging the wiring harness behind the bumper as I demonstrate in the video.

[bobontheroad]

So wait everything makes sense except what Bobontheroad posted... since you lost alignment with your ACC only by installing the RS6 grille that’s contradictory to the other gentleman said..

Bobontheroad, when you installed your RS6 grill did you disconnect the batter before starting? Also did you remove the ACC sensors from the bumper for some reason? Or leave them attached?

Thanks. I’m still trying to figure this out guys thanks for the support! Looking for concrete facts

I didn't install myself, I'll ask my mechanic who did install it. I will post his answer when I get it.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Audizine mobile app

[bobontheroad]

The only times the acc needs to be recalibrated are:
1) you have moved the sensors to a new place different than where they were in the last calibration- ie a different model bumper.
2) You inadvertantly turn on the car while the acc sensors are disconnected, which will throw all kinds of errors. To avoid this, simply make sure your battery is disconnected before you start messing with any sensors in the front bumper, and it will guarantee that you wont mess with the calibration.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My mechanic had to custom seat a few things to get them to fit... I'll get more 411...

Sent from my SM-G955U using Audizine mobile app

[ProgressiveB6A4]

Any updates? I am leaning towards getting the RS6 Grille but leaning away from getting a RS6 front bumper....

Also, after I bag the car, Ill have to get an alignment anyways. Is it possible to get a normal alignment of the car without getting the ACC aligned?

ie: Can I go to anywhere and get a normal alignment or does it have to always be all at once from audi together with the ACC?

This might factor into my decision to getting a RS6 Bumper... for obvious reasons if Ill have to get a alignment regardless.

Thanks

[bagged00]

I have the rs6 bumper and air suspension and had ccoilovers before the bags. When I was on coilovers my acc worked fine. Then I got into a small wreck and things have since took a shit and my acc works on and off now. Pretty freaking agravating. I'm pretty convinced there shouldn't be any problems with it with bags though.

[ProgressiveB6A4]

Sorry to hear about your small wreck. That sucks man. I definitely want to learn from your experiences. Can you please clarify for me, did you have to get any ACC alignments at anypoint up until now? And how was the experience with doing a RS6 bumper? Audi ACC alignment after that one?

Sounds like you did something like this in regards to the order and timeline:
-RS6 Full Bumper (not just grille?_
-Coils
-Bags
-Now

Thanks