How to defeat the automatic steering wheel dance?

[RenoHuskerDu]

I don't need the steering wheel to move when I get in and out.  Others surely find it useful but in my case it's just wasted wear and tear for the car.  Same goes for the power seat adjustment. I have it set just where I want it, lumbar and all.

I looked around in I-drive but found no way to turn that feature off.  Anybody BTDT? (been there, done that)

[Sanj]

Don't own one, but is there a dedicated fuse you can remove?

[X5Sport]

The seat and wheel both store in key memory so as long as you use the same key then it should not move.  The steering wheel position is part of the easy access function so as Sanj says you'll need to find the fuse although it's likely to be a shared circuit.

Not seen a write up anywhere of said system being switched off, but it might be a programmable function in the main software rather than the iDrive.

Richard

[RenoHuskerDu]

[quote="X5Sport"]
[...]
Not seen a write up anywhere of said system being switched off, but it might be a programmable function in the main software rather than the iDrive.
[/quote]

Do we have a door into that programming? My background is rdbms so I can code a bit.

[X5Sport]

Have a look at bmwcoders on the web.  They're heavily into the coding of cars and will be able to help with the systems/software/hardware you might need.

Richard

[Nine468]

Ive got exactly the same problem.
I dont need the wheel to retract etc everytime i remove the key... ::)
And ive asked the same question before with no success...
So ill be watching this closely....

[RenoHuskerDu]

I just signed up for bwmcoders and posed the question there.  Looks like a boatload of good info on the site!

Thanks for the tip.

[X5-D-Sport]

you could just drop the steering wheel under-panel & disconnect the connector plug to the mechanism once its in the right place & it will never move again..... BUT, may throw up a warning of a failure on the instrument cluster instead.....

Personally, I like the quirkiness of it & ignor it...