THANKS for that reply - sounds like the exact issue as mine. Curious if you did the "rag" test with the fuel rail pulled under pressure?
My gut is telling me it is a leaky injector but I watched them at one point for a full 15 min and never saw any evidence of gas or a leak.
Where did you get the used rail and injectors for $50? good deal!

I may bite the bullet and buy one new injector and swap it down the rail and see if it changes anything. RIDICULOUS clip system that hold the elec. connectors on - another example of German over engineering......

THANKS!

I had the car at an indy for diagnosis and indeed started with checking the fuel pressure drop but the leak in pressure was within range. I am pretty sure the leak I had was bad enough to flood the cylinder and cause the starting problem but not bad enough to show on instruments. Beside that issue the car was running perfect.
You should be able to find these used injectors locally for cheap. I found them on kijiji, a Canadian 'craigslist' equivalent locally. The guy was selling an m62 engine and I just asked if he was willing to sell just the injectors. Good luck!

I say go out and rent a fuel pressure tester and make sure you are within spec for pressure while running and see if it actually does or does not hold the proper pressure with the key off. It's never a good idea to rush out and buy stuff just because that is what the problem is thought to be, that's an easy way to end up broke and still with problems.

I like new parts, :)
(but not being broke)

TOTALLY appreciate the suggestions but I am pretty sure its at zero pressure at the schrader valve after sitting overnight.
I was due for a gas filter and wanted to pro actively change the fuel pump and the injector O rings were cheap, so until I buy an injector I am not "throwing parts at it"..... yet!

I want to check out the lines at the fuel filter this weekend -(hate dropping that pan and wrestling the bolts around the rear end). And then follow the line from tank to rail and if I don't see/feel/hear evidence of pressure leak then I will get an injector to keep swapping down the rail.

THANKS!

Here's what your pressure should be on the fuel rail. A recent post on another thread.

https://xoutpost.com/1127161-post17.html