Weasel:
Your tagline is most appropriate and quite fitting for this thread, at least the first one.
My wife is on her way courtesy of a friend. I'm working on the wedge method and have a tool hopefully on the way. Also, Kudo's to BMW's warranty, which apparently covers acts of "assholedom". unfortunately, no service provider will come out in 20 inches of snow. Can't say I blame them.
Thanks for the advice. Still working on it