Hmm, if you are referring to the convenience exit feature that moves the steering wheel upward when the ignition is turned off, then back to its previous position when the ignition is turned on...then that feature is controlled by the control module behind the large rectangular seat switch.

I'm pretty sure anyone with an e39 or e38 built prior to 9/97 would be willing to swap seat switches with you. That would be the easiest way to rid yourself of that feature. Other than that, you'd probably have to go into the wiring harness and remove the wires that control it.

Again, that feature is controlled by something in the seat switch pictured below...which also communicates with the GM (general module) and the memory seat switch (in the door). The "convenience exit" steering wheel movement only occurs if you have the "specific" switch that you have...an older switch doesn't have it:



item #7 in diagram below prior to 9/97 build date don't have the convenience exit feature:

Thanks. If I get seats that don't have that switch how would I be able to move the steering column to my liking?

The old fashioned way...with the stalk on the left side of the steering column.

Al's540i said:

Thanks. If I get seats that don't have that switch how would I be able to move the steering column to my liking?

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Right but that moves electronically. If there is no current going to it, it doesn't move.

QSilver7 said:

The old fashioned way...with the stalk on the left side of the steering column.

Click to expand...

Al's540i said:

Thanks. If I get seats that don't have that switch how would I be able to move the steering column to my liking?

Click to expand...

Al's540i said:

Right but that moves electronically. If there is no current going to it, it doesn't move.

Click to expand...

I think you misunderstood what I meant about the seat switch.

Up until 9/97 build date...the e38 & e39 steering wheel didn't move up/down automatically when the ignition was turned off/on. The only way to move the steering wheel was with it's lever on the side of the column. It always stayed where you put it.

Then BMW updated the seat switch and added the convenient exit feature. The only thing that is different between the pre 9/97 seats is the automatic movement. BMW doesn't even sell the old switch any longer...so you can only get it used from older e38s & e39s built before 9/97.

If you totally disconnect the harness from the switch...then you will lose ALL seat movement ..if you have a wiring diagram...you probably could figure out what each wire going to the harness is for...and possibly pull the ones that are connected to the steering wheel. The wiring harness to the steering wheel switch on the column would still be connected to the GM...so I would think that you'd still be able to "manually" control the steering wheel.

(this is all just supposition...I've never looked at the wiring diagrams for these connections.)

Cross references ...

Tips for replacing driver seat adjustment controls:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=282360

Power seat switch failure:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=352072

Which connection in the steering column:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=322524

Telescoping steering wheel:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=313528

DIY on the notorious seat switch:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1147866

Fuse Problems:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...72&postcount=2

OK, found this thread and waking up. So, my steering wheel sometimes moves up and down, sometimes starts and stops. Occasionally, it loses all the memory settings.

Is the fuse going bad?

Note -- I'm only asking about the steering wheel, not the seat. Thanks!

All though there is a fuse for the steering wheel...if it was blown, you'd never get any movement from the steering wheel (like pulling the plug on a lamp). Erratic movement would indicate a breakdown in communications from its control modules, or electro/mechanical failure of the drives that operate the column's movement. The "commands" for the steering wheel comes over the P-Bus from the GM to the seat module:

I'd still vote for the seat switch in your case. It may have erratic contact, looseness, etc that's causing this behavior, since it also controls the steering wheel. Pretty sure the fuses either work or they don't. Anyway simple to check a fuse and replace with a spare, there are spares in the glovebox.

Edgy36-39 said:

OK, found this thread and waking up. So, my steering wheel sometimes moves up and down, sometimes starts and stops. Occasionally, it loses all the memory settings.

Is the fuse going bad?

Note -- I'm only asking about the steering wheel, not the seat. Thanks!

Click to expand...