Memory Seat function wont work...
 

Just found out today that the memory seat function is not working.
Wife drove the X last and had it on her setting. Mine is #1, so i clicked it and nothing.
I did some searching here and people had issues but was linked with the steering.

On mine, the telescoping steering works, i can adjust my seat, just the memory function is not working. The red button still lights up, i set my position to #1 again...then change the position and click #1, wont work.

Anyone experience this? Ideas/Advise?

Also, i'm taking my X in for service next week...so wondering if this is covered under CPO?
I read online at BMW and under what's not covered and i didnt see anything on Seat electronics. Any thoughts on this? i cant get the dealer to call me back on this.

Thanks
Franklin

That is how my problem started... just the seat memory stopped working. Later on it led to failure of mirror memory and steering column memory. In my case, the problem was the seat memory module ("actuation unit left"). The part number on mine was "61.31-4 318 615" which has been replaced by part number "61.31-7 119 867". Easy to replace but an expensive part.

Good luck.

Electronics should be covered by CPO. It seems to vary from dealer to dealer but I had a LKM replaced under CPO. Very glad they paid!
$$$$$$$$

i met a bmw tech earlier...and he said CPO covers switches and modules, but not software. So hopefully my dealer will cover this, and not lead to other problems.
If not, i'll try another dealer. last resort, i'll buy that part...thanks for the part number.

Franklin

NCX, can you post the instruction: How to remove the driver seat memory modual? Thanks

It is pretty simple. Get under there with a flashlight and look from the front of the seat to the rear, you will see the clips and how they are attached. Here's a couple of quick pics with my cell phone:

- Remove the screw in the rear of the plastic trim
http://www.margraves.net/toys/x5/seat/seatcontrols3.jpg

- Use a flat blade screwdriver or similar to detach the clips. I started by removing the clip on the front first, then worked toward the rear.
http://www.margraves.net/toys/x5/seat/seatcontrols2.jpg

- Once it is out, you unplug the harnesses (carefully) and remove the actuator from the plastic trim.
http://www.margraves.net/toys/x5/seat/seatcontrols5.jpg

http://www.margraves.net/toys/x5/seat/seatcontrols4.jpg

http://www.margraves.net/toys/x5/seat/seatcontrols1.jpg


- To reinstall just snap the new actuator back into place, install the harnesses, pop the trim clips back into place and replace the screw in the rear.

Hope that helps.

Thank you very much. In my case, Memory set quit first, then the driver seat and steer wheel quit (all fuses are good), but they come back from time to time ( even you push forward, they go back, wired), finally seat can be adjusted not the steer wheel. I'm not sure if the new acutation unit will fix it all.

Your symptoms do sound like the actuation unit has failed. If you kow someone with an X5, you could 'borrow' their actuation unit for a minute to see if that solves the issue before you go buy one.
Good luck.

Thanks, NCX. Now start looking for replacement.

I'm sorry to be bringing this thread back from the dead.... but my 2003 X5's memory seat module failed as well. I left the door open for a long time one day, came back outside, started the car, pressed my preset and nothing happened. The memory button would light up but wouldn't allow me to program it. Checked everything I could (fuses, wiring, etc) to no avail. A few months went by and my steering wheel stopped rising when I switched off the ignition. I dissected the seat and double-checked all the connections, blew everything off with compressed air.

Anyways -- my dealer says list is $410, wholesale $320 or so. Still too expensive for what it is if you ask me. I found a used one from a 2004 X3, part number 61317119869, which is said to be compatible with the X5s as well according to the EPC. But the actuation unit for the X5 is part 61317119867. I can't fathom why BMW would have two part numbers listed, one that is compatible with the E53 and E83, and one that is only compatible with the E53.

I went ahead and ordered it, hopefully I can sell it if it doesn't work for me. Compatibility ambiguity aside, am I going to run into any problems installing it myself? I had read somewhere that the dealer had to reset it so it could "learn" the steering wheel's home position, etc. Has anyone who replaced their actuator had to do this?

Thanks