Turns out it *WAS* the buttons!!!!
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16367
I just updated there.....But if you disconnect the mmi buttons, the whole system goes down, rather than it working and you just can't use the buttons!
Oh and the start/stop & Parking break are totally separate!
Pondering opening the Control Head to see if I can rip my firmware - I may swap the newer gateway on too. Things i do for fun!!!