Same here. It's the cold.

A German friend once told me, "Europeans don't care if their brakes squeak as long as the car stops. Americans don't care if the car stops as long as the brakes don't squeak."

No problems with my '11 2.0T PP+ but then again I live in Northern California and it's been above 50 pretty much all winter.

I must be one of those rare Americans who wants the car to stop and the brakes to not squeal. It can be done.

I do like the brakes on my Q5 it's the noise when they are cold and/or damp that I could do without.

Personally I'm more offended by all the g*d*mned brake dust. What is it about German cars? I see expensive Beemers, Mercedes, Audis, even Porsches whose wheels are jet-black from the stuff. Don't see it on Japanese, or American, or other cars (lots of Fiats here now). I'd forgotten what a PITA this is, coming from my Mazda CX-9 which was infrequently washed and never had this issue.

My 2013 with the squeal has virtually no brake dust, which I REALLY like. It must be the difference in the brakes between 2011 and 2013.

Audi is using Brembos brake pads on the newer models, and the brake dust has not been an issue like in past years.

My 2014 SQ5 squeaks like crazy but NO brake dust. My 2010 S5 never did squeak but tons of brakes dust. I washed the wheels about every forth day over the four years of ownership. My SQ5 only has 2700 miles on it. 2500 of those are highway miles. I am hoping it gets better when they wear in a bit.

I think bedding the brakes solves this problem.

My 2014 TDI started squeaking a few days after delivery. It always happened first thing in the morning and only lasted for 1-3 depressions of the brake pedal. I ran through the brake bedding proceedure a few days ago, and I have not heard a squeak since then.

You may hear it again 5000 miles later every time after long parking. My 2013 Q5 had no problem but now it's really bad.

I remember changing out the pads in my wife's A4 way back and that solved the dust problem. Can't remember the brand, though -- it was a long time ago -- just remember it was very popular among Audi enthusiasts at the time.