mike_dmt... unless you have input in the thread maybe you should keep quiet.

I started this thread and most things said to date (besides your post) have been about the problem and information towards it.

Keep the thread alive!

It is summer here in Australia and the leak seems to have basically gone away. It seems to be something that only occurs when the engine gets very cold (hence why it happens after a couple of days of no use).
Im sure when winter comes back the leak will re-appear and i'll be looking at this thread to see what others have done and what i should do to fix it.

my 2c.
Dale

Your best bet to isolate coolant leaks is with presure test.
So many places on BMW V8 to leak, o-ring, gaskets and hoses etc. I thought I had VP gasket leak (signature symptoms, leak at bell housing only after cool down etc). It turns out to be o-ring of the coolant pipes pinched after WP replacement on M62 engine (N62 has one pipe tha leaks as well and even harder to get to).
this is the kit I bought (could've saved me hours of work):
Radiator Pressure Tester Kit