thanks so much for the help and direction in this issue, i really apreciate you taking the time to help, in the new year, we will source an air flow meter, as in the back of my mind the teribble repair job on the MAF has bothered me. like i've tried to explain to my brother, we were never 100% sure that the MAF was right. so rekon a good place to start is that, it wont hurt the car if it doesnt solve the problem it actually helps with future problems as my and his bmw are both over 340000 km's, mine obvouisly will out last as i've been serviceing and looking after it for the past 3 years, while his has been in and out of different workshops.
thanks again and have a great new year