E46 intake cam sensor

[buggalugs]

Every now and then, maybe 1 start in 10, it takes about 3 or 4 seconds cranking to fire and then runs badly. key off/on brings it back to normal. Annoying.

This is the code -

65    Signal Camshaft sensor intake
Error frequency : 1 
Logistic counter: 39

Engine speed                               128.00  1/min
engine condition = start                     2.00  --
oel temperature                             76.99  Grad C
Battery Voltage                             11.73  V
appear before (rel.)                         0.40  h

Signal nicht plausibel
CARB-Fehler
Fehler nach Entprellung gespeichert
Fehler momentan nicht vorhanden
sporadischer Fehler

Errorcode: 41 B8 01 27 04 02 9D 73 D2 53

Only problem is, I've changed the sensor twice now. First time I could see the old one was knackered, split/swollen and leaking oil through it. I changed it for a Febi. Engine felt much better but this no-start fault was still there. So then I changed both intake and exhaust sensors for Delphi ones; still getting this code.

I'm just not buying that two brand new sensors from two decent manufacturers were faulty, so what else could it be??

Engine's on nearly 220k miles if that makes a difference.

Thanks!