Haha yes I've been driving without maf for the last few days, had a code p0102 and trans fail error, the car would jerk as well.
Someone gave me a smaller maf from another bmw engine and said the sensor is the same and it would work. Just the housing was smaller.
So I pried off the sensor and glued it to my original maf housing.
The car wouldn't run at all, would shut down right away. So I disconnected maf and drove without it.
That's why I can definitely say this $15 maf sensor does work.
And with this maf my rpm at 100kmph went from 3000 to 2000