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Model specific boards => Golf mk8 => Topic started by: Gjm on 28 June 2023, 18:05

Title: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: Gjm on 28 June 2023, 18:05
Has anybody had any experience with the Assisted Lane Change on UK roads?

I did a trip on the M1 last weekend and had my first try of Travel Assist with the Mk8, and I have to say I found it absolutely brilliant, much better than the travel assist I had on my previous Passat B8. Having the cars and lorries displayed on the AID, along with lane markings made trundling up the motorway much easier.
One thing I couldn’t get working was the Assisted Lane Change, where (I think) the car makes the move between lanes, still with hands registered as touching the steering wheel. According to the manual, the feature only works “on multi-lane motorways that are included in the navigation data”, I’m surprised that it didn’t show for me on the M1.

Has anybody used this feature and on which roads?
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: fredgroves on 28 June 2023, 21:46
Think it's only on my24 cars isn't it? Given the terrible supply issue I'd be surprised if anyone has these yet apart from you!
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: Gjm on 29 June 2023, 12:20
Hi Fred,

According to the printed factory build sheet I found in my car, mine is a MY23, built (or sheet printed) in April. As I bought it off the showroom floor, I don't have specific details of when it was built, but the timings seems about right for build in April, and roughly 8 weeks to get to the Dealer.

But as you say, supply of even MY23 cars of the higher spec has been terrible with very few coming through.

More seem to be coming through recently, plus I wasn't sure if some features, such as these, are added as part of the software updates to the models already on the road.
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: fredgroves on 29 June 2023, 14:31
The assisted lane change need a different camera module... that is only fitted to the latest cars.
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: Gjm on 29 June 2023, 17:29
Also from what I can gather a pre-req is Park Assist, which I don't have. Something the manual does not mention at all.
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: fredgroves on 29 June 2023, 18:01
Also from what I can gather a pre-req is Park Assist, which I don't have. Something the manual does not mention at all.

Really??

I didn't know that - I was reading some threads on obd11 about activating it (you can't) and nobody mentioned that...
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: Gjm on 29 June 2023, 18:11
Found mention of it on some German Forums, but no mentions anywhere else. You need all the Assist stuff we get as standard on GTI and similar specs: acc, side assist, etc and supposedly Park Assist.

Saw it in action on some YouTube videos, it appears that in the Assist settings menu you should be able to click/touch the grey golf car, and you get options for ‘Travel Assist’. I don’t get anything when tapping the main grey car, and nothing for Travel Assist shows when you tap to show all options from top left icon.

Another thing where the manual is rubbish at explaining!
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: fredgroves on 30 June 2023, 10:22
Are you sure its even fitted?

Do you have OBD11? If you do...look for J769 and J770... these are the components according to this VW doc that are needed over and above some other elements....

No mention of Park Assist controllers being part of it

Look at this:

(https://i.postimg.cc/VL4SP7FL/Screenshot-2023-06-30-102134.png) (https://postimg.cc/PPpfmQcB)
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: Gjm on 30 June 2023, 11:16
Thanks Fred, yes have OBD11, need to blow the dust off it as haven't used it for ages.

But I have Side Assist fitted, as I have the LED's in the wing mirrors, and it warns me of approaching traffic, so as they go through those elements I'm assuming all is present and correct.

Took a screenshot of the YouTube video I saw, it's in German but using any Translate tool, it appears that "Assisted Lane Change" is an option to turn on. I've seen a second video that only had that one option, the Steering Resistance option was not there. So it must all come down to what Driver Assistance options each car has.

(https://i.postimg.cc/85S0YdWp/Screenshot-2023-06-30-103906.png)

I had Park assist on my previous car, and there was obviously a motor for the steering wheel, as it would spin when parking itself, and also there was a forceful resistance for keeping the car within the lane when driving, which to be honest I don't feel with the Golf. So maybe extra hardware (i.e steering wheel motor) is needed for this feature, or possibly the extra side sensors which you get with Park Assist?

As you said this feature has only come about on the later revision Golf's, and supply of them have been sporadic, and also how many people use the features that are available with the car, it's only because I like gadgets & tech that I wanted to see it in action. I have raised the question with VW Customer Services to see if they can give an answer, I would hope at the very least they can look at my VIN and tell me if the feature is available/fitted or not. I'm also going to the dealership next week, so could try asking the guys there, although my experience is that they may be good mechanics, but may not necessarily know about technology, which is what you need with all the modern features coming with cars now.
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: Gjm on 30 June 2023, 11:47
The more I think about it, it makes sense that it requires Park Assist to be fitted. It needs those extra 4 side sensors otherwise there is a huge side blind spot that the car cannot determine if there is anything there.

Taking the Side Assist sensor range, that is used for the early exit warning system

(https://i.postimg.cc/Znqr4yYN/Screenshot-2023-06-30-113921.png)

The range of the rear sensors ends quite a bit before the front sensors would start detecting anything, and I think it is that blind spot that would normally be covered by Park Assist that means that Assisted Lane Change is not available. Obviously I wouldn't be happy for the car to start moving left or right without full coverage.

Never mind, annoying as I did spec Park Assist on my GTD that I cancelled before buying the GTI. From factory it was only an extra £300, and even though I only used it a handful of times in my previous car, it did get me into and out of some tight spaces.
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: fredgroves on 30 June 2023, 11:56
Its definitely those two extra modules needed... nothing on that VW diagram talks about interaction with the park assist sensors.

Side assist is needed (and mentioned) too but you wouldn't have one without the other and all UK performance golfs have side assist anyway.

The exit warning uses both side assist and rear traffic assist...(stops you reversing out of your drive into oncoming traffic - basically 180 coverage of the rear)
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: Gjm on 30 June 2023, 12:14
Apologies if I'm mistaken, but I think your diagram covers Side Assist only.

I feel it is a wording thing, as you correctly say all UK high spec cars come with "Lane change system Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert and exit warning system", and Side Assist is the LED in the wing mirror that gives you an indication that it is safe to change lanes by checking your blind spot using the rear sensors. What it cannot check is what is next to or alongside you, the assumption being that the driver will still look left and right to ensure it is safe.

I've actually read the manual again, and it depends on how you interpret 'parking systems'

"Assisted lane changing uses the same sensors as the lane change system (Side Assist) and the parking systems."

I thought parking systems was just front and rear sensors, they help you park! But really it means Park Assist, as it needs the complete 360 Deg coverage that having 16 sensors gives, instead of just the 8 that come as standard.
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: fredgroves on 30 June 2023, 12:18
Look at the diagram again....J769 and J770 are lane change assist modules...rear radar units...that diagram is from the technical manual on Lane Change Assist...

Its here: http://www.vaglinks.com/docs/ssp/VWUSA.COM_SSP_396_VW_Lane_Change_Assistent.pdf
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: fredgroves on 30 June 2023, 12:22
Actually....they could have labelled this wrong.... it might be misnamed and is actually what is currently called side assist... I think you are right!

Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: Gjm on 30 June 2023, 13:17
Lost in translation between Wolfsburg and here  :grin:

I think that is the issue, as mentioned looking at the current GTI spec, VW calls it "Lane change system Side Assist" which we all know as just plain "Side Assist". And then calling a new feature "Assisted Lane Change", it's bound to cause confusion.

Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: davo245 on 15 August 2023, 08:53
Does anyone know where the sensor is for the blindspot monitoring light in the mirrors?

Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: SRGTD on 15 August 2023, 12:03
Does anyone know where the sensor is for the blindspot monitoring light in the mirrors?

Assuming the location of the sensors (there are two of them) on the mk8 Golf is the same as on other VW’s that have blind spot monitoring, then they’re located on the rear corners of the car behind the rear bumper cover; roughly in the locations marked on the picture below;
(https://i.postimg.cc/d0SYLMqk/IMG-0285.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: Travel Assist and Assisted Lane Change
Post by: davo245 on 15 August 2023, 14:02
Does anyone know where the sensor is for the blindspot monitoring light in the mirrors?

Assuming the location of the sensors (there are two of them) on the mk8 Golf is the same as on other VW’s that have blind spot monitoring, then they’re located on the rear corners of the car behind the rear bumper cover; roughly in the locations marked on the picture below;
(https://i.postimg.cc/d0SYLMqk/IMG-0285.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Thank you sir!