BMW X4 Seat Massage System Not Working, Fix Needed

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars, though I wouldn't call myself an expert. I actually faced a similar issue with my 2017 BMW X3 last year. The massage function was acting up just like yours, sometimes wouldn't start, other times wouldn't stop. Took it to my regular workshop and turns out it was just a loose connection in the wiring harness under the seat. They had to remove the seat cover to access it, fixed the connection and checked all the plugs. Cost me 95 Euro and it's been working perfectly since then. Just to help you better, could you tell me if you notice any error messages on the screen when trying to use the massage function? Also, does this happen with both front seats or just one side? This info would help determine if your issue is similar to what I experienced. BTW, my cousin had the same problem with his X5, so it seems to be a somewhat common issue with these models.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My X4 has done 137003 KM and had its last service three months ago. The issue is only with the driver's seat and there's no error message on the display. It's totally unusual, sometimes works fine for days, then acts up again. Tried resetting the iDrive system but no luck. Good to know about the wiring harness fix, that gives me hope it might be something simple rather than having to replace the entire module. Will get it checked this week.

Hey again! Thanks for the additional details about your X4. You know what's interesting, my X3 had almost the same mileage (around 135k) when this issue started popping up. The symptoms you're describing are exactly like what I experienced, that unusual on/off behavior with no error messages was driving me nuts! Since you mentioned it's only the driver's seat, that's actually good news. In my case, the wiring issue was also on the driver's side, which makes sense since it gets the most use and movement. The constant getting in and out can definitely strain those connections over time. Just a heads up, when my mechanic fixed it, they also found that some of the connector pins were slightly corroded. They cleaned those up while they were in there, which probably helped prevent the issue from coming back. Might be worth asking your workshop to check for that too when they look at it. Also, make sure they test it thoroughly after the repair. My mechanic ran the massage function through a complete cycle several times to ensure everything was properly connected. Let us know how it goes after you get it checked!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! Really helpful to know about the connector pins too, I'll definitely mention that to my workshop when I take it in. It's quite reassuring to hear that you had such a similar situation and got it sorted without any major drama. I was worried it might be something more serious (and expensive!). Just booked an appointment for tomorrow morning, and I'll make sure they check both the wiring harness and those connector pins you mentioned. Will also ask them to do a thorough test cycle like your mechanic did. Good to know these quirks aren't uncommon in our BMW models! Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's made me feel much more confident about getting this fixed. Will update the thread once it's sorted in case anyone else runs into the same issue.