BMW X1 Power Seat Controls Dead Until Engine Starts

Hey there! I have some experience working on BMWs and had a similar issue with my 2017 BMW X3. The symptoms you're describing remind me exactly of what I went through last year. In my case, it turned out the battery was heavily discharged, which affected all the electronic components, including the seat controls. Initially, I thought it was just a seat module issue, but my mechanic ran a diagnostic and found the battery was the culprit. Got it replaced for about 290 Euro, and all the seat functions started working perfectly again. Quick question, have you noticed any other electrical issues, like slow startup or dimming lights? Also, which engine variant is your X1? This info would help me give you more specific advice since different configurations can have varying power demands. Just to be safe, I'd recommend getting a proper diagnostic done rather than just assuming it's the seat electronics. Battery issues can cause all sorts of weird electronic glitches in these cars.

Thanks for your input! Just had my service done last month at 68436 KM, and yeah, I've actually noticed some dimming lights and slightly slower startup recently with my X1. That's really helpful to know about the battery being the potential culprit, I was totally focused on the seat electronics and didn't even consider the battery could be causing these issues. Running gasoline engine here, and I'll definitely get that battery checked out first before diving into more complex repairs. Really appreciate the heads-up about the diagnostic check too, makes a lot more sense to start there rather than jumping to conclusions about the seat modules.

Hey again! Glad to hear back from you, and those additional symptoms you mentioned definitely strengthen my initial suspicion about the battery. When you mentioned the dimming lights and slower startup, it's exactly what I experienced with my X3 before getting it fixed. The fact that you're also running a gasoline engine like mine makes the comparison even more relevant. These modern BMWs have really complex electronic systems that can act up in weird ways when the battery starts getting weak, even if it's still strong enough to start the car. Since you just had your service done, maybe check with your service center if they did a battery health check? Sometimes these issues can develop pretty quickly, especially if you're doing lots of short trips where the battery doesn't get fully charged. My battery died about six months after my regular service, and the symptoms crept up gradually. Quick tip from my experience, if you do end up needing a battery replacement, make sure they register the new battery in the car's computer system. My mechanic explained this is super important for BMW's charging system to work properly. Let me know how it goes!

Thanks so much for all this detailed advice! I just called my service center, and you're right, they didn't do a specific battery health check during my last service. I've booked it in for tomorrow morning to get that checked out. Really good to know about registering the new battery in the computer system too, that's exactly the kind of thing I would have never known about. Would have probably just grabbed a battery from an auto parts store and tried to DIY it! The symptoms match up perfectly with what you experienced, especially since they've been getting gradually worse. Will definitely update you once I get the results back from the service center. You've saved me from what could have been an expensive wild goose chase looking for seat module problems!