BMW 5 Series Massage Seats Malfunction: Switch Issues

Hey! I've got some experience with car electronics. Had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW 3 Series Hybrid last year. The massage seat went crazy, got stuck, and threw error codes too. Took it to my regular workshop, and turns out it was just a loose connection in the wiring harness under the seat. The mechanic found a damaged cable that was causing intermittent connections. Total fix was 95 Euro, mostly labor costs for accessing and repairing the connection. Works perfectly now. What trim level is your 5 Series? Also, did you notice if this started happening after any recent work was done on the seats or after getting the car washed? This info could help pinpoint if it's the same issue I had.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine seems a bit different though, my M Sport trim has been showing this issue for about 2 weeks now, and no recent work or car wash triggered it. Had my latest service just 3 weeks ago at 144517 KM, and everything was working fine then. The error code keeps popping up out of nowhere, even when I'm not using the massage function at all. Guess I'll need to get it checked professionally since it seems more like an electronic glitch than a simple loose wire. Really hoping it won't be a major repair bill!

Hey again! After reading about your symptoms, I'm actually starting to think our issues might be more similar than I initially thought. You know what's funny, my 3 Series also started showing unusual error codes before the complete failure, even when I wasn't using the massage function. While mine turned out to be a loose wire, the unusual error codes popping up sounds exactly like what I experienced. The techs told me that intermittent electrical issues often show up this way first, giving false signals even when the system isn't in use. I'd still bet it's electrical rather than mechanical, especially since it started happening without any obvious trigger. The only difference is that yours seems to be more gradual, while mine went from occasional glitches to full failure pretty quickly. Before you take it in, maybe try disconnecting your car battery for about 15 minutes? This sometimes resets the electrical systems. It didn't work for me in the end, but it's worth a shot before paying for diagnostics. Though given the mileage you mentioned, it might be time for a proper check anyway. Let me know what you find out, really curious if it ends up being something similar to my issue!

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! You've actually made me feel a bit better about this whole situation. I just tried the battery disconnect trick you suggested, no luck unfortunately, but worth a shot! I've scheduled an appointment for next week at my service center. You're right about the similarities in how the problem's showing up, those unusual error codes are definitely suspicious. The more we discuss this, the more I'm hoping it's just an electrical gremlin like yours was. The gradual progression of the issue in my case is weird, but maybe that's just how these things go sometimes. I'll keep track of when the errors pop up until my appointment, might help the techs diagnose it faster. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and suggestions. I'll update you once I find out what's actually causing the problem. Fingers crossed it's just a wiring issue and not something more complex!