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 The part number on mine was "61.31-4 318 615" which has been replaced by part number "61.31-7 119 867".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

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.

Now my seats wont' work too.....

Can i buy this anywhere online or it has to be from BMW?

Cheers

bavauto.com can get them, last time I checked it was $331 USD. There are some used ones available on ebay sometimes and other parts sites too. I know of several BMW dealers in the US that have them in stock but I don't know about shipping to Melbourne. You would want to check your local dealer's price to compare to having one shipped. And make sure you double check the part number on your actuation unit before buying one. Good luck.

Silly question but has anyone come up for a repair to these failed units? Instead of shelling out $300+ and having them fail again maybe there's someone out there that has found the problem and once properly repaired no more problems at all...?

If no repair for them if anyone has a bad unit I would be happy to take it off your hands so I could open it up and check it out as I do have techs that work for me that may be able to find something obvious that could be a simple fix.

Bill

I am sorry to revive this old thread, but I am trying to figure out why my driver's seat doesn't move when I unlock the car with my remote. Two dealers (one in Greece, one in Bulgaria) say they can't do it, because my radio is not the OEM BMW one. Some people in a forum say that this is BS, so I am at a loss.

When I check the car with NCS Expert etc, it doesn't have a SM (Seat Module) at all. However, I do have the memory controls on the driver's seat and the seat holds its assigned memory fine. I have programmed two positions, one for me, one for my wife and they work fine, except I can't get the seat to move when unlocking the car with the remote.

So I guess my real question is, could this part discussed here have a problem in my car? Is this part the "Seat Module" shown in the list of modules available in the car, when you use NCSExpert to read all the various computers the car has?

Seat positions (as well as steering wheel, mirrors, climate control settings, pathway lighting, DRLs, and in some cases radio presets) can be coded to specific keys. You have to visit a dealer and specifically request that your seat position be programmed to your key, and your wife's to hers. Visit this page.

Oh, and just in case anyone was wondering... yes, in my case, replacing the actuation unit solved everything. Oddly enough, I checked the manufacture date on the "new" one (actually a used one I got off eBay for $75), and it was 07/99. Odd how it is still working when my original built in 12/02 failed. My advice is live with it until you can find one either on eBay or a local salvage yard from a seller who doesn't quite know the value.

EDIT: Don't use part -869, use -867. -869 (from a 2004 E83) didn't work for me, even though EPC says it's compatible.

Well, I've taken the car to two BMW representatives, one in Greece and one in Bulgaria. They both told me the same story, that they can't program the driver's seat to move sccording to the key used to unlock the car. And they bith said that this is probably due to the fact that I have an after-market radio on my car. Which I do not believe.

I am currently in Ukraine and I've been visiting a local shop for some maintenance work. I plan to ask their electrician to check this problem too and see what he will tell me.

Only a dealer can do it, not an indy. Unless they have dealer software.

The guys in Greece and Bulgaria were "dealers" as you call them, the BMW representatives in their respective countries. The one here, is not. But as far as I saw, he has DIS/GT1, which I think is the tool BMW uses for this job.

The darn thing is that I have that too, but because I've installed it on a Macbook, instead of a Windows notebook, I can't use it!!! It doesn't work!!!

I've never heard of that restriction (of having to have the original radio and OBC), I thought the settings were stored in the general or EWS modules. Maybe reinstall the original radio? Send an email to BMW Corporate in your country and see if they can validate that.

Ditto e30mpower...the radio/obc has nothing to do with the seat memory functions.

I also don't have the software so as to where to look for it to program the seats...I don't have a clue. But from the info below...it appears that this "KEY MEMORY" function goes along with the "CAR MEMORY" features for initiating key memory/seat memory through the GM (general module):

Hello all
E53 X5 Memory Seat Issues
I bought my 2002 X5 4.6iS last Sept, my first BMW, and I love it. It has 276000 Km (172000 Mi) but was well maintained. I had what sounds like the typical progression, first the memory function wouldn't work when I first bought it, then steering wheel stopped working except for small incremental (2mm) each time the switch was engaged then the seat acting the same and ultimately the seat would not move at all. The fuse was fine and I could always hear the relays clicking. I checked for the seat module with 'BMW Scanner 1.4.0' it showed on the list as being connected but only showed 3 ??? in the error code box. I found a video on how to replace the module at (). but I am cheap and wanted to see if i could fix the module. I found a document explaining the system called "<Tab_7_Central_Body_Electronics.pdf>" and also extensive use of the wiring diagrams at BMWPlanet.com. I removed the module and inspected it for broken solder joints or burned components all to no avail. My theory is that one of the circuit board IC's is bad or lost programming because it is not a power to module or connector problem. One possibility is that because it uses a ripple counter at the motors to determine seat and steering motor position and limit points the module gets confused and thinks its always at limit. Thats why the relays click but no seat or wheel movement. Make sure you get the updated module P/N 61317119867 and not the old number if buying used or NOS. I got mine at FCP Euro for just under $200.00 + shipping and duty up to Canda. It was a very easy install, about 15 min, only one screw at the back of the seat just be carefull not to break the plastic clips. I didn't need to program or code the new module it was straight up plug-N-play. Im not recomending it but i didn't even disconnect the battery. Now all movement and memory functions are back to normal. Its nice to have the steering wheel move out of the way when exiting the vehicle again. I hope this helps any who are struggling with the same issue.

Thanks for the update & info

I had to buy new switch too. Bought used from ebay for $100.

A Couple of Comments
 

Two comments:
1. I found it very difficult to see and identify the two top clips that OP suggested could be seen from beneath the assembly. (The two bottom clips are easy to see and find.) Even with the seat on full forward and full up I couldn't find the *!?*()^ things. Had to snap one off--reattached with epoxy--all good.

2. Pull the switch out of the escutcheon before removing connectors--much easier that way. Then reattach connectors to new switch before re-snapping into position on the escutcheon.