After trying many attempts to start my car, still no luck.

I got a spark and fuel, but its still not quite starting.

Not done a compression test yet, but hopefully going to check that tomorrow.

The car has half a tank of fuel in it from when I started work on it about 10 months ago.

Just wondering if the petrol could have deteriorated over this time causing it not to start?

yes its possible petrol does go off, altho i think it takes longer than that.

did you check the spark at the plugs or on the coil? (ht leads?)

petrol doesn't really go off, it just looses its octane level. it will still be able to ignite just not with as much of a bang as new stuff.

ok cheers

spark plugs are fine, no problems with ignition or fuel, just refuses to start

timing issues???

nope, timing is spot on aswell.

I have put a K&N on it which wasnt on it when it was running before I put the new head on.

Have you checked the ignition timing and the cam timing?

If you have fuel and spark, its hard to see how it can be much else

same here, both are fine, ignition timing and cam timing are as one, so theres nothing that can go wrong there.

timing between the top and bottom is also spot on as i said, its about to spark as the piston reaches the top.

immobiliser????

i have a device on my car, that lets the engine turn over but wont let it start, and i've fooked around for hours with the engine until i noticed the switch had been flicked, talk about feeling stooopid... doh...

no immobiliser

did a compression test today and they were all above 10 bar, even with a drained battery.

next thing is a tow round the block and try and start it in gear

joe some cars have a fuel cut off that activates in an accident or it can go off if the car has a bump on the front, or sometimes if the battery goes flat.. they can also trip if accidentaly caught by ur foot.. i had one in my old car just under the dash in the drivers footwell... dunno if bmw's have them, its just a thought...

nah, deffo getting fuel, I keep flooding it every time and have to keep taking my plugs out so it evaporates lol

spoke to chris bmw today and he said fuel goes 'stale' after about 6 months and its probably not helping it start, so I will syphon the half tank I have into a 25 litre barrel he's lent me and fill it with fresh fuel.

Is the injector loom connected correctly, and is the firing order correct - ie HT Leads in the right order...?

As already mentioned, fuel will go off, but it really only tends to lose octane pts - it should still fire OK. I know cars that have started after standing for 2-3 years!!!

Sell it to Paddy fella...

I dont know if its exactly the same as when i was there Joe?

It turns over with some resistance on the up crank,
it occasionally gives a back pop, but that's as good as
it gets, and the battery doesn't hold out too long,
but long enough to get a typical stubborn car going.

My gut feeling was timing.
As the occasional pop back was an indication IMO.
Plenty of smell of petrol from the exhaust area.

Did you find out Joe if the timing was okay?
Did you explain about the locking pin for the fly wheel?

timing is right, it has popped once or twice since, but I dont think its doing it anymore.

Theres no knocking from the engine as it sounded like there was when you were there.

Chris is also confused as to why it wont start and hes asked one of his mates who is a mechanic and he suggested either using a 24v truck battery to start it or towing it round the block in gear and try and start it like that.

so I'll be getting it towed next week hopefully after putting fresh fuel in

Fingers crossed and stranger things have happened.

Would like to think the fresh fuel will help.