Update - finally fixed (I think!) after being off the road for 6 weeks and a bill of £1100.

It turns out it was the air bag control module that had become faulty.

It took it to the local Indy but they eventually sent it to the BMW Main Dealer for diagnosis and repair.

Lesson learned!

Time for a ...

I connected up the Scanner tonight and it could only communicate with a handful of modules.

I reckon I'm beaten.  Something seems to be taking one or more of the buses down.

I'm going to get it booked into an Indy and see what they say.

Ross.

Thanks Steamy.

I ordered a Scanner at the weekend and it's due for delivery tomorrow. I'll see what that says.

When I plugged the battery back in on Saturday after a full charge the central locking started working again - with the button on the central console and with the key in the drivers lock ...

I've now stripped out the rear seats, rear carpet section and front seats and have the carpets drying. I've charged the battery again overnight to be on the safe side. But other than the wet carpets there's no sign of water or corrosion elsewhere.

I should also say I've checked fuses both front and ...

I've got a 2005 E53 3.0d Sport with 83k miles. It's been well maintained and with the exception of the drivers door handle carrier failure (which I fixed thanks to these forums) it's been very reliable in the 18 months I've owned it.

Until last night! I went out to the car last night and it wouldn ...