it was fuel injectors.

pulled the car out of storage, running like a dump, swapped in my used but rebuilt EV6 greenies and she fired right up, purrs like a large growly cat.

all fixed.
fuel injectors took a dump at 105k miles for those reading this thread in the future with a similar set of problems!

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1992 850i 6 speed
1991 M3 S54B32 swap
2007 328iT/6 RWD sport wagon
1987 325E 330iZHP engine swap
2004 Vespa 200GT
1976 W115 240D getting a much bigger engine. 5.5L
1997 R129 SL600 5AT