I have replaced that module twice (mine and a friend's) with part # 61.31-7 119 867 and have not needed any coding or reset from the dealer. Good luck... hope that solves it for you.

Ncx... sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but I am having the same issue (power seats and steering wheels have been failing and this morning won't move). Thank you for posting some of the pics... just a quick question. did you have to disconnect the battery to do this at all? or was it a straight unplug and plug of the actuator?

Thank you for your help.

I didn't disconnect the battery for the swap. Just unplugged and removed the bad one, plugged in the new one, made sure it worked, then popped everything back in place. :thumbup:

Thank you NCX, I appreciate the help.

Thread revival,

My steering wheel have decided to stop retract/move to the right position anymore, it will work when it feels like it (manually) while my seat adjusting is fine.
Same issue?

Yes, the actuation unit could be failing. Easy to fix if that is the problem.

So the control module is on the driver's side .....? One module that control both steering wheel and seat.
Only the Steering wheel function decided to crap itself?

Just to be sure :).

Yes, the actuation unit is located at the driver's side seat controls and it handles the user memory settings for the seat, steering wheel position, and mirrors. On mine and on some other's, the problem started with just one of the three before having trouble with all of them eventually.

Keep in mind that the actual movement of those three things (for user memory settings) is done by electric motors that are told what to do by the actuation unit. The motors and worm gears that move the steering wheel have been known to fail for some here, but the majority of the time it is the actuation unit.

When you turn the key on, does the steering wheel move down automatically? And when you turn the key off does it move up automatically? Those entry/exit functions are part of key memory too. If those key memory functions aren't working for the steering position you might want to consider looking into the steering wheel motors and key function programming. However, if that part is fine and it is only your stored memory settings that aren't working, take a look at the actuation unit.

Best of luck. :thumbup:

Are you saying my key battery level might be LOW?

Well it suppose to move/retract when i turn the key or take it out but it doesn't anymore, even when i manually adjust it.

I never bother set my seat memory but normally, the car will remember my setting in term of steering wheel position .... not anymore.

You say that the wheel position used to change with your key, but doesn't any more. That can point to programming. Do you have another key? If so, is the steering wheel behavior any different for that one? To confirm key battery charge, you should be able to unlock your X5 with your remote from more than a few feet away. Key battery is a separate issue and there are lots of threads on that.

Before you go to any more trouble, try reprogramming your key(s). The alternate procedure here has worked for many of us. After doing that, program your preferred seat and wheel position settings with memory 1 and see if those settings are retained next time you use that key. You can manually move them out of position and see if using your key puts them back into place. If not, press memory 1... then let us know if only the seat memory setting is retained, or both seat and steering wheel, or neither.