I called the dealership looking for a radio code when I change out the vehicle battery. They told me that there is no radio code for the Q5.........BUT I will loose all my basic settings if I disconnect the old battery and change it or for a new one. The dealership charges one hour of labour to exchange batteries and "reprogram all basic settings and power management system ". That's a $145.00 to simply change out a battery.
Any thoughts folks? They even warned me that I wouldn't be able to start the car and if I do it won't "recognize" the new battery and I will not have power locks or windows etc.

 

It is true that you must reprogram the power management system, but can you do with VCDS
If different new battery
Need 3 minutes to do it

 

If you have another battery, hook up booster cables to it as though you were going to boost the vehicle. Then loosen and remove the cables on your vehicle keeping the booster cables attached to your vehicle's cables. This will keep power to the vehicle so you won't lose anything.

Just be careful removing the cables from your vehicle while they have booster cables attached as you don't want to let them to ground out on the vehicle.

Another way is if you have a power cord that plugs into the cigarette lighter handy. Hook up the wires from the power cord to another battery then plug the power cord into the cigarette lighter socket. This will supply power to the vehicle so you won't lose any settings. If you have seen the solar chargers that plug into the cigarette lighter sockets that is basically how they work.

Good luck

 

Ouch. Sounds like a good job for an independent shop!