M42 w/ DASC hard start mystery ?

[Pursuit]

Sorting out this new to me m42 w/DASC... I've had this looked at by the local BMW specialist and he's unsure but he also is unfamiliar with the DASC set up.

When starting the car, it takes two or three tries to start. It's consistent, maybe once it started on the first try when relatively warm but still had to crank a bit. The odd thing is the motor stops turning over completely after the first two cranks, with the key still in the crank position. Then key off, then crank position, cranks two or three times, then stops completely. Key off, then cranks a few times and starts up perfectly and immediately settles into idle.

I'm not sure about the fuel pressure, haven't hooked a gauge up but the car does have the RFPR (and I'm not sure of the setting, seems comparable to some threads I've searched).

Car pulls hard, doesn't seem limited by fuel, doesn't seem to be running lean or rich.

The only thing I've found is that the + terminal was a bit loose but after tightening symptom is still there.

The 'seizing' is a bit worrying, but when it does start it seems fine.

Thoughts?

Thanks ~