BMW iX Massage Seat Malfunction, Switch Issues & Fixes

Hi there! I have some experience with EVs and actually faced a similar issue with my 2020 BMW i4 (love the BMW electric lineup, including the iX!). Had the exact same problem with the massage function acting weird. After some back and forth with my workshop, turned out it was just a loose connection in the seat wiring harness. The mechanic showed me where the cables had come slightly undone. Total fix was 95 Euro, mainly labor costs for taking apart the seat and reconnecting everything properly. Can you share your exact error code? Also, does this happen with both front seats or just one side? This info would help figure out if you're dealing with the same connection issue I had. Hope this helps! Let me know if you need more details.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's a bit different though, it's happening only on the driver's side. Just had my service done last week at 119445 KM, and this started right after. Really interesting about the loose connection you found, that's definitely something I'll mention to my mechanic. I tried the basic troubleshooting like resetting the system and checking the seat settings in iDrive, but no luck. The error keeps popping up out of nowhere, especially during longer drives. Do you remember if your connection issue caused any weird sounds too?

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. You know, when I had my issue, it also started acting up after a service visit, what a coincidence! But mine didn't make any strange sounds. Actually, thinking back, my connection problem was also on the driver's side, but it would only act up after about 15-20 minutes of driving. That's interesting that you've already tried resetting the iDrive system. I did that too before taking it to the workshop, but like you, it didn't help. Since you mentioned it's happening after your recent service, I'm wondering if someone might have accidentally disturbed the wiring while working on something else. That's exactly what happened in my case, turned out the technician had moved some cables while doing routine maintenance and didn't secure them properly. I'd definitely suggest having them check specifically around the area where they were working during your service. The loose connection in my case was actually near the seat base, not the switch itself like I initially thought. Since you're getting the error during longer drives, it sounds really similar to what I experienced, the connection would get worse as the seat warmed up from use. Have you noticed if it happens more when you're using other seat functions, like the heating or position adjustment? That might help narrow down where the loose connection might be.

Thanks so much for that detailed response! Yeah, thinking about it now, it does happen more when I use the seat heater. So I called my mechanic and told them about everything you mentioned, especially about checking the wiring near where they worked during the service. They're going to take a look tomorrow, focusing specifically on the connection points around the seat base. They admitted they did have to move some wiring during the service, so your experience might be spot-on here. I'm feeling much better about this now, sounds like it won't be a major repair if it's just a loose connection. Mine isn't making those weird sounds anymore either, which is a relief. I'll definitely update once the mechanic checks it out. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, helped me avoid potentially more expensive repairs by looking in the wrong places!