Funny, i was looking up this info in the Bentlly work shop manual last night. I had the X at the dealer for the oil sep upgrade and i told then to check out this issue:
If i use my memory key and it will move the seats, steering wheel and side mirrors to my setting then i lock the doors. Next if my wife going to use the memory key to unlock the doors it will move to her setting but the side mirrors will (some time the passenger side and some time the drivers side) get stuck in the lowest position but then if we press the memory button on the seat it will move back (this happens if my wifes locks the doors then i unlock them). Funny part is we have the same settings for the side mirror but they move due to the error.

The master tech told me it was the seat memory module need to be replaced and will cost $700 w/ labor! I told him to hold off and i will look into it. I am glad that i do not have to take the door panel off!!!

My steering wheel, seat movement, and mirror all work only that the mirror gets stuck down in the lowest postion. I will get a new memory seat module soon so we do not burn out the mirror motors.

If you have the Bently work shop manual they have a diagram who the memory key works and controls the drivers seat, mirrors, and steering wheel. SO they are all linked together.

back from the dead ;) i still haven't fixed the steering issue. I gave the x5 to my wife and got me a e39 and my wife didn't care she couldn't adjust the steering wheel. However i swapped out the sport steering wheel with my e39 heated steering wheel and now she needs to adjust the wheel since the heated is little bit different angle. Anyways i called bavarian auto recycling and guess what!! they had the actuation unit in stock and only for $150 + $35 to ship to canada. If you guys need one, call bavarian auto recycling.

My steering tilt went out also...couple days later it worked, like nothing happened :dunno:

I can get the new BMW actuation module from the local stealer with my BMWCCA discount for $309 plus tax, do yo guys think I'm better off buying the new or a used piece?

Wouldn't I want to get the updated part that they corrected instead of the same part number? Assuming one of the posters was correct that there is indeed a newer part number.

That's up to you I guess. If you want to buy the part new from the dealer it will cost you over $400, I got one used for $200 and its been working fine for over a year now.

I installed a brand new one today and I still have the same problem :(

I can adjust the steering wheel down but I have to let up and adjust numerous times to get it to the position I want...

It also doesn't go to the correct setting when I get in the car. The wheel ALSO has a tendancy to move all the way to the top position without me hitting anything, it does this when I am driving. Really not good. I just wasted $330 on a unit that didn't fix the problem.

One thing I didn't do is reset the battery, could this be the issue?

This sucks!! I just bought the piece and now I don't feel confident putting in the car... I don't know if I can return it...

Try resetting the battery for sure, unplug negative battery for about 15-20min, and see if that helps. I think you are the first person to still have this issue after replacing the unit.

I hope that works for him, please keep us posted; thanks.