BMW iX3 Power Seat Malfunction: Help Needed

Hey there! I have some experience working on EVs. I faced a similar issue with my 2021 BMW iX, and my i4 had comparable electronics. The symptoms were exactly like yours, seat adjustments not working properly and throwing error codes. Turned out my battery was heavily discharged, affecting the seat control module. Took it to my regular workshop, and they diagnosed it quickly with their diagnostic tools. They had to recharge the battery and reset the seat control module. The whole thing cost me 290 Euro, but it's been working perfectly since then. Before suggesting anything specific though, could you share: How long have you had these symptoms? Are there any other electrical issues? Does this happen consistently or intermittently? This would help me determine if you're dealing with the same problem I had.

Thanks for your response! I've had my iX3 since last service about 3 months ago (currently at 17893 KM), and these seat issues started just last week. It's happening consistently now, no other electrical problems that I can notice. The error codes pop up every single time I try to adjust the seat before starting up. Really appreciate the insight about the battery discharge possibility. That's actually quite helpful, hadn't thought about that connection. Might explain why it works after the car's fully powered up. I'll definitely get it checked out at my next service appointment. Were your error codes similar to mine, the ones specifically related to the seat module? Just trying to confirm if we're dealing with the same thing here.

Hey again! Thanks for the additional details about your iX3. Actually, after reading your response, I'm thinking your issue might be different from what I experienced. While my problem was battery-related, yours showing up right after service and being so consistent makes me think differently now. In my case, the error codes were more general, pointing to low voltage across multiple systems. But yours being specifically seat-module related and only happening before start-up sounds more like a software glitch, especially since it works fine after the car's running. Since you mentioned it started after your service, I'd definitely recommend getting back to them. When my i4 had a similar software-related issue (not with seats, but with the climate control), it turned out to be a simple programming update they needed to do. They did it under warranty, no questions asked. Quick question though, have you tried doing a complete power cycle? Like, locking the car, waiting for about 15 minutes, then starting fresh? This sometimes helps reset the module. Worked for me a couple times with minor glitches. Let me know if you try that. Really curious if it helps, as it might save you a trip to the service center.

Thanks so much for the follow-up! You've given me a lot to think about. I actually tried your power cycle suggestion right after reading your message, locked the car and waited about 20 minutes. Interestingly, it seemed to help a bit! The seat adjusted for a few minutes before going back to its old behavior. At least now I have a temporary fix when I really need it. You're probably right about this being different from your battery issue. The fact that it started after service and the power cycle partially worked definitely points more toward a software problem. I've called my service center and they've agreed to take a look next week, mentioned something about a possible incomplete software update during my last visit. Really appreciate you taking the time to help me troubleshoot this. I'll probably update the forum once I get it sorted out, in case anyone else runs into similar issues with their iX3. Thanks again for all your help!