Thank you for further feedback. One thing is clear to me, I should try a few other potential culprits before pursuing the "defunct ECU" route. I will advise once I have had time to investigate the matter further.

Thank you to all who responded. Yes, Pretoria South Africa, and the car has automatic transmission. The car merely cut out (immediately, i.e. without stuttering) just after I had started it. Thereafter it refused to start (as though there was no spark). The dealer diagnosis indicated flooding, expla...

My service dealer were unable to fix my 850R and proclaimed an ECM is unobtainable anywhere. I am now starting a private search for the part.