E46 part (seat switch) compatible with E53?
 

Hi, my driver power seats and column adjust have gone (had the slow response/click click now nothing) and I swapped over the passenger control unit and found motors working ok so guessing the relays/switches are at fault.

It appears from some online sites that the 3 series E46 models use the same base switch - it looks identical and I can get one where I am a lot cheaper than an E53 version. And I have found a seller who says it works with both cars...

Does anyone know for certain if they are or definitely not interchangeable? My other concern is the column adjust - not sure that was available on the E46?

Thanks...

E46 has a manually adjustable steering column if that matters to your decision.

Which switch do you have? If you look up the part nbr in one of the part databases like www.bmwfans.info using your car's VIN (or selecting your model/model year/build date)...you can cross reference the part nbrs by moving your cursor to the right of the part nbr and clinking on the blue "i" that appears. This will give you a list of other BMW models that use the same part nbr.

For instance, using my 2006 X5 4.4 VIN...when I pull up the front seat switches...I can look up either item #1 or #2. Item #1 lists the e46 as being compatible...but item #2 (seat module w/memory) only lists the e83 as being compatible:

e46 and e53 is not compatible for memory seat switch.

I used realoem.com to compare part numbers - mine is listed as E53 only and the one I'm looking at for an E46 is also listed for 6 series, but definitely not E53.

I have a 2003 3.0d UK RHD car with part # 61317119868. Same as per your diagram when I look under 'seat switches' - interestingly the image does not correspond (it has separate headreast switch when my vehicle has none)

I am aware E46 has manual column adjust so that function might be missing. I can get the E46 version for 20GBP, or X5 for 85GBP hence my query...

I think I'll shop around for a X5 part...as I need the steering adjust function back too...

Since there are TWO seat control modules for the driver's side...the illustration shows the one that has ALL the options. When you look at the part nbr index...there should be a listing for the module that has COMFORT SEATS (option code S456A)...those seats DO have electric headrests plus an upper articulating back that is controlled by that extra button you don't have. Again, the illustration shows the control module for the comfort seats with electric headrests & upper articulating back...but when you look down at the part nbr index...that's where the explanation is that asks if you have the comfort seat option or not.

Its a no win situation for the illustrator...if they show the seat module without the headrest button...then those with the comfort seats would have the complaint that their control module isn't drawn in the illustration. So instead of drawing two control modules with memory seat buttons...one with the electric headrest & upper articulating back and the one without...they provide text in the supplemental column of the part nbr index to explain the differences for the various configurations. :)