[aikputte]

I don't have a BMW yet but I'm looking into it.

About 80% of the 5-series I see for sale in Sweden in my price range have electric seat buttons on the side (some with lumbar and some without).

But there is no Set or Preset buttons on the door.

Does that mean the seat and mirror adjustmens can't be saved?

I also see that electric operated steering wheel is not standard when you have electric seats?

See pics for example:

[AiredaleDad]

I am pretty sure you are looking at the most basic configuration of the most basic models, the 520i or 520d. These have what the owners manual calls Semi-electric seats. The basic functions of up/down. seat back tilt and headrest height as well as lumbar support are there. But the rest of it is manual. And there are no memory functions. There is a lever in the bottom of the front of the seat for front/back, and another for the thigh support. Also the steering wheel is manual with a lever to unlatch it, you manually set it where you want, and then secure the lever again. I don't know if these even have adjustable bolsters in the seat back. Do they have a sunroof?

These manual seats are not available in US models. I don't think the manual steering wheel is either.

Keep in mind in the EU, BMW, Mercedes etc.. have models/trims not available in some other markets. I remember when I bought my last BMW 325i in 1993 MY, I also lived here in Spain back then. The base model European (There was no EU Yet) versions had no sunroof, the seats and steering wheel were manual, No Cruise Control, and only the front windows were electric. The rear seats had.......wait for it......hand cranks! They also had cloth seats, where that was unavailable in the US market. You could get leather or leatherette, but not cloth.

The EU Spec Mercedes CLC200 CDI I just sold when I received my BMW 540iX had manual, cloth seats, Manual Steering wheel, and Manual Transmission. That would be unsellable for a US Model Mercedes Benz. Therefore my Mercedes was not a model sold in the US.

BMW, Volvo, Mercedes, Land Rover, and other European manufacturers have to build cars for the markets they can sell to. How much does that Base model BMW 5er you are looking at cost in Euros? In the US a base 530i runs about $60,000 US Dollars (57,721.45 Euro) Plus tax. And that is with not selecting any options at all available to us. No X Drive, no fancy electronics etc. The cheapest one we can buy. And it still has an electric Sunroof, steering wheel, Harman Kardon Surround Sound, and Driver only electric memory sport seats. Because that is the lowest trim level and equipment that people who can afford a BMW 530i in the USA expect for the premium price they are paying. And some still complain at that and feel cheated.

But if you brought that same base 520i/d you are likely looking at to the USA, it likely would not sell. Because in the US, BMW is not just another basic transportation car like Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, Mazda, Nissan, Ford, etc. Even though you can get high priced premium models of those as well. It is considered to be one of the MOST premium brands of sporty car/SUV you can buy, that is not an Exotic like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce etc... And Nobody will buy a base equipped BMW 5er for the premium price BMW would have to sell it for, when you could have a much more upscale trim Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, or Kia Optima for less. They want, and expect the premium vehicle they buy to be special.

So therefore Our base model US Spec BMW 5er is likely your middle to upper tier model with a few of the more useful, nice to have and options packages like Parking Assist, and better seats, etc. And our Premium Fully loaded with all available options Model BMW is your "Oh. My. God!, That's just ridiculous" model.

[aikputte]

Thank you for your answer.

This specific one is a 530e xDrive Active Launch Edition with no sunroof.

Many 530e (even M sport) I see for sale doesn't have these memory buttons either.

This car is for sale for around 61.000 EUR.

I have also seen 520d with M sport and sunroof for around the same price without memory buttons.

It seems you need to step up to 550e to make sure you get it.

[Vitoco]

Tjena,
It's an option inbedded in one of the packages. The ones you are looking at are just poorly specced by the dealers.

[aikputte]

Originally Posted by Vitoco

Tjena,
It's an option inbedded in one of the packages. The ones you are looking at are just poorly specced by the dealers.

Tjena!

So basically every car without those door buttons is a no go because its cheaply specced.

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by aikputte

Thank you for your answer.

This specific one is a 530e xDrive Active Launch Edition with no sunroof.

Many 530e (even M sport) I see for sale doesn't have these memory buttons either.

This car is for sale for around 61.000 EUR.

I have also seen 520d with M sport and sunroof for around the same price without memory buttons.

It seems you need to step up to 550e to make sure you get it.

I'm surprised. The 530e is not available in the US for 2025. But I would not think a 530e X Drive would be so poorly Specced. You may be able to custom order your car and get the seating package for not too much more.

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by aikputte

Tjena!

So basically every car without those door buttons is a no go because its cheaply specced.

Or it's maybe not a highly sought out option in your country. If a car is usually a single driver only and once you set the seats and steering it never changes, then why bother? In my 540iX, I have the luxury seating package and both the driver and front passenger have 2 memory settings. So my wife can set the passenger seat for her in 2 modes, 1 for sitting up, and one for sleeping. Same for me. I have the second setting for if I need to rest for awhile on a long trip, I pull over into a parking lot and set the seat.

[Vitoco]

Originally Posted by AiredaleDad

I'm surprised. The 530e is not available in the US for 2025. But I would not think a 530e X Drive would be so poorly Specced. You may be able to custom order your car and get the seating package for not too much more.

Of course it's possible, I have about every option on my 530e here in Sweden. You can specc it with everything if you want, except for the premium ambient lighting but that seems to change now that it becomes standard on all cars.

[Valvecap]

I have the 530e m sport pro with tech plus and pano roof (uk market). Mine doesn’t have seat memory, nor does it have power forward and backwards - it does have electric recline, lumbar support and height adjust - I was told by the dealer that that’s part of the comfort plus pack (linked to 4 zone climate) along with electric steering wheel adjust. Bit naughty of BMW really as all of that used to be standard with the basic comfort pack in the uk.

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by Valvecap

I have the 530e m sport pro with tech plus and pano roof (uk market). Mine doesn’t have seat memory, nor does it have power forward and backwards - it does have electric recline, lumbar support and height adjust - I was told by the dealer that that’s part of the comfort plus pack (linked to 4 zone climate) along with electric steering wheel adjust. Bit naughty of BMW really as all of that used to be standard with the basic comfort pack in the uk.

Yeah, They all do it, not just BMW. instead of A-La-Carte options, They include the features you really want in a package along with stuff you could care less about, in order to force you to get them as well. But because you want that one thing, you will pay for the package to get it.

Example. In the US, you can ONLY get the glass controls if you get the Executive package. I did not want the Panoramic roof. I wanted the opening Sunroof. But the Executive package does not allow you to get the opening sunroof. You are forced to get the Panoramic Non-Opening Roof. So I settled for the less expensive premium package with the opening sunroof, and got all the rest of the options (except the glass controls not available) from the executive package A-la-carte.

I don't understand this though. If the X5, & 7 series, and even the X-1 and 2 series can be bought with an opening Panoramic roof, why did BMW choose to make the 5er with a Fixed glass Panoramic roof? I would have paid the extra $$ and gotten the executive package it if it only opened.

[Vitoco]

Originally Posted by AiredaleDad

Yeah, They all do it, not just BMW. instead of A-La-Carte options, They include the features you really want in a package along with stuff you could care less about, in order to force you to get them as well. But because you want that one thing, you will pay for the package to get it.

And THAT is exactly how I got the memory seats in question; I paid 3000 EUR for the package it was included in along with stuff I could care less about at the moment. But in retrospect, the 4-zone climate and rear heated seats would be a huge mistake not to get so I'm kinda glad I was desperate enough to actually pay up for that package

[AiredaleDad]

Originally Posted by Vitoco

And THAT is exactly how I got the memory seats in question; I paid 3000 EUR for the package it was included in along with stuff I could care less about at the moment. But in retrospect, the 4-zone climate and rear heated seats would be a huge mistake not to get so I'm kinda glad I was desperate enough to actually pay up for that package

Whereas for us, the luxury seating package is $1350 standalone option. It does add the memory functions for the passenger as well and more adjustable seats, electric thigh extensions, Front Ventilated seats, rear heated seats etc. But no 4-Zone Climate. That was not available in the US until now except for BMW Individual. And you kind of had to know the trick to order it. it was not on the Options list. But the base (Our cheapest model for USA) 530i already has electric seats and steering wheel adjustment.