i asked this question before [ i thought, but can't find the post]

my 01 740i occasionally randomly adjusts the seat and steering wheel while driving. my wife [her car] complained of this about 6mos ago, said it did it twice while she was driving [gee, that's safe] so i drove it around at the time and got it to do it once for a second but that's all. then it went away.

now it's back, did it once to her a week ago and once to me while i was driving it trying to troubleshoot a ses light. only moved about an inch but still freaks you out.

can any tell me which million dollar part would be causing this ?

where it is would be helpful to, once i get that i can see if it's just a bad plug connection or if the unit is shot.

thanks for any help

e

is it possible that maybe, the memory buttons on the door are being "accidentally" pressed...by a leg perhaps? those are the only switches that I know of that will/can adjust the seat and steering wheel simultaneously?

I assume you have already checked your battery (and alternator) since all kinds of weird gremilns manifest themselves with a dead or dying battery.

IN case you want to poke around the seat switches, here's some pics of a DIY: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/214311/7

If you ever need to find any of your old posts...it's VERY EASY. Just click on the search link at the top of the page, and choose ADVANCED SEARCH.

This will open up a search page with more choices...on the top right you will see the option of searching by user name. If you type in your user name, you can also choose to look for ALL threads you've replied to...OR...you can choose only threads that you started.

I've already gone ahead and choose the threads you started...here's a direct link: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/search.php?searchid=7052626

If you click on the link above, you will see the previous thread that you started on 10/19/07...and you'll also see that I responded with a suggest to try. Hopefully you can replicate the mysterious movement by using my suggestion...if it works then you'll know what the problem is.

I was curious as to why you never responded if you had read any of the reponses you received...now I know why. :)

ok regarding the previous post, maybe it's me but i click on your link and i get

Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms.

i've had problems getting the search to work on here before, after phraseing different ways i usually get something but not always relevant info.

i'll try that search using my username, and see what you suggested.

the battery is the original but is still putting out i believe 12.7 v and 13.7 w/ engine running.
my first thought was she bumped the door button, she says no and since it has happened to me i tend to believe not.

it acts like when you first get in and put the key in the ignition if someone has messed with the seat and it's readjusting to the seat position the key is set to. but, it doesn't do a complete set and she's the only one who drives it so the position shouldn't change.

the lod key took a dive so i got a new one, all functions seem to work with the new key, all seat functions work properly.

there has to be some module that controls the seat memory position that is dictated by the key or the door buttons.

maybe i'll learn something from the other post.

thanks for your help and suggestions

e

found the post, thanks

i'll give it a shot ....... don't even want to ask what the visor has to do with the ignition switch ........... german engineering .

weird thing is, no other issues on the car electrical or otherwise.

i've been thinking about changing the battery , though it's still doing it's job it's getting old and it's probably time.

guess it's time to do another search for a battery that will work in this car. asked at napa and their distributer doesn't offer one.

i'll let you know if the visor trick does anything.

actually now that i think about it i did a web search and found a thread on another forum. guy had the same issue and changed the battery among other things but couldn't get it to do it when he had it at the dealer. from what i remember he hadn't solved it.

guess it's time to do another search for a battery that will work in this car. asked at napa and their distributer doesn't offer one.

the knowledge is already stickied here: www.e38.org
Then share it with NAPA (BTW, Duralast 49DL is what I will get from Autozone when the current unit craps out). Pic below borrowed from link posted by QSilver7 (stickied @ www.e38.org: ) http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/311653


http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/739005_80_full.jpg

I can testify to the saving grace that the Duralast 49-DL ($70 at Autozone) had brought to me and my car.