You guys wouldn't beleive that I've been driving around with no sound in my Audi since I got it last week. Anyway, code that came in the car's documentation is wrong and won't work. The unit was possibly replaced and the documentation was never updated.

I've called dealers and they've advised that I get the serial number at the back of the unit. The parts dept doesn't have the removal tool and service wants me to schedule a service appointment some time way in the future for a five minute affair of removing the unit and reading the serial number. ... and I don't really mind that they'll charge me $40.00 for doing this. How does the tool look like and can I improvise?

What model of car? I created my own tool for my 96 A6 out of a 4,6 or 8 layer (can't remember, just went for thickness) sheet of fiberglass cloth impregnated with resin (the body work type stuff you can get at an auto parts store). It could be done with a sheet of metal also but is harder to cut if you do not have the correct tools. I'll try to trace it on a piece of paper, scan it, and then post the image here. You'll have to wait until next week though because my plate is full for a few days.

To make the fiberglass sheet, lay the layers of cloth on top of aluminum foil or plastic wrap on a flat table. Mix up the resin. Pour on the cloth and work with brush to soak through all the layers. Let sit overnight till hard. Trace, carve, cut and sand the part to shape. Walla, you now have a tool that goes for about $32 bucks. Make 3 or 4 pairs for your Audi friends.

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/23251/audi_radio_tool.jpg"></center><p>Hope this helps. The graph lines are very light. Print it out on high resolution and you should see them.

The unit in my car is the kind with four holes, one in each corner. Last night I modified a hanger and used it to remove the unit ..... and Voila ..... found the code on a sticker on the back of the unit. Someone had written it on there by hand. A few minutes later I had it cranked up and jamming. The previous owner had installed a 10 disk sony CD player so now I can enjoy my CD's too. It's the kind that uses RF.

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions.

I used some thin screwdiver because
mommy dearest told me never to use wire coat hangers...:)

anyway, do not stick you fingers in the cassette
player to get a "grab". I did and I cracked my LED display when I pulled on it. It doesn't take much at all to do that....

I just got myself a 98.5 (C6) A62.8LQ. Surely, the radio is in SAFE mode and upon read on the post on the forum, I decided to give it a try myself. [Dealers want $95.00 to do the job!!!].

Anyway, don't have the tool but what I found is that you can go to CVS or any convenient store, buy 2 stainless stell nail trimer. Works great!!! I will post some pictures in the near future for the step by step radio removal.

Thanks, everyone on AudiWorld.