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gti cabby electrical or fueling problem?????

sorry for bringing up a common question but there is more to it than the usual!

"OLD PROBLEM"

I recently had a problem with my 1.8 gti 8v cabby, i stupidly let it run out of petrol, after filling up it would start but exactly the same amount of time after starting (about 2-3minutes) it would just cut out, even standing idle. i took it to a mechanic who changed the fuel pump relay switch which seemed to solve the problem. the only difference is now that when i deactivate my immobiliser to start her up the fuel pump makes a groaning noise for a few seconds as if it is starting up or something ???. i dont know if this is normal but it never used to do it, not a mojor worry just giving details that might be helpfull.

Anyway i drove it for a few days and it was fine then randomly it would start chugging as if it was being starved of petrol but i upped the revs and it seemed to clear and carry on. i presumed this was because i had let it run out of petrol and the crap from the tank had gotten into the fueling system. after a few weeks it then started to cut out completely and refuse to restart then i'd come back the next day it would start then a few minutes down the road it would stall and refuse to start again even tho it sounded like it wanted to.

i stopped using it for a couple of weeks cos it was to unpredictable and unreliable. then i got round to changing the fuel filter because i thought it might be clogged up and was probably due to be done. I also sprayed injector cleaner into the system and bought a new battery as the old one wouldn't jump or charge. i started it up, it fired out a load of crap out of the exhaust (dark grey smoke) after all that it drove lovely for a few weeks, probably the best it ever has done in the 3 years i've owned it, very smooth and not spluttering or miss fireing.

not expecting it to run so well i planned to do the usual things like clean the tank out and the injectors and lines but as this seemed to solve my problem and my fuel filler neck looked good too i thought there wasn't any point.

"NEW PROBLEM"

then a few weeks later it got into it one morning after only using it the night before 10hours max and the battery was totally dead. thought i had left the lights on but haddn't. i had no time to look into it but thought maybe the new battery was a dud. i put another battery in yesturday and it fired up first time, great. took it for a spin and was on my way to take the "so called" dud battery back to the shop then all of a sudden it just lost power and pulled to a stop. as i rolled to the side of the road there was a load pop/bang. tryed to start her up again and she nearly did then there was another pop, it sounded like it came from the exhaust then i tried to start her a third time, but the battery had totally drained like the last one. i cant believe both batterys are duds. in fact over this whole story i have written i have mentioned 3 different batterys all of which have died quickly.

Could the two problems be related???

something is telling me that it is no longer the fuel starvation problem but some sort of electrical problem, although how would that explain the popping from the exhaust. i really dont know and am very confused thats why i'm picking the brains of u experts. i hope what i've written makes sense.

any help appreciated!!!