Well everyone it's finally working. All my testing led me to believe it was the switch. But after buying three supposedly working switches from three different sellers that all had the same fault I began to doubt myself..

Went ahead and bought a fourth switch and it only goes and works... Should have trusted my own diagnosis but another job ticked off.

Now dare I tackle the sunroof next? Maybe in the summer...

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2006 X5 3.0D Auto RHD