Pete - thanks for the re-assurance. I've changed the MAF and the DV's and other bits and bobs and like I said I use excellent quality Oil and change them + plugs and filters every 4-5k miles, as soon as the oil goes off colour, it is drained. I have to say that this method worked very well on my previous car an M3 Evo (3.2, 32 valve job). I had 107k miles on that when I sold her and of all the 6 or 7 BMW services she had, the only thing mechanically on engine I had to change was a by-pass oil pressure valve. Not bad considering I was living on the med and used to drive back to UK every 6 weeks, at an average speed of well over 100mph....
My rear diff seals look okay (touch wood), but I'll get under the car for a look. Only thing left to do now is to chnage the fuel filter (

)....shitty job....
On the 165k RS2 front, a looooooong time ago I had a Fiat Uno Turbo, 1.3, 4cyl turbo producing 105bhp std, I had a new wastegate actuator fitted and increased the power significantly, not sure what too but this thing would wheel spin the wheels in 3rd gear in the wet when flooring it.....she had regular oil changes and I sold the car at 130k, with no major faults. Turbo used to spin by hand and had no obvious imbalance....