Have spark and fuel, but no start - REVELATION!

[Beej '86 325es]

Sir, You are one lucky guy. Engine could have blown being off that much. Hopefully that solves the issue for you.

I'm surprised as well. Especially since I have 11:1 pistons in there, I would have expected some valve contact.

[M///BMW]

It sure was. It's lined up much better now.
I can't believe I've been fighting this lean idle/running issue for about 4-5 years now...and thousands of dollars, only to find this. I was about to scrap the whole project.

I hope to God this fixes my issue.

Sir, You are one lucky guy. Engine could have blown being off that much. Hopefully that solves the issue for you.

[Beej '86 325es]

It sure was. It's lined up much better now.
I can't believe I've been fighting this lean idle/running issue for about 4-5 years now...and thousands of dollars, only to find this. I was about to scrap the whole project.

I hope to God this fixes my issue.

[328ijunkie]

One tooth off.

[Beej '86 325es]

Revelation!

Mother of God... :o:o:o

I think I just solved my running issue.

I completely removed the exhaust sprocket mounting bolts and the cover plate and found that my sprocket appears to be mounted incorrectly by the engine builder...

Turned CCW:


Turned CW:


Does that crap look right? It looks like the cams have less than half the travel that they should when the Vanos actuates.

Video also...(I don't know how to do the embedding)

http://youtu.be/PkbqoUWYs9c

[devon.818]

check timeing.
check compression.

if you have spark and fuel, then those are the only other two things, i mean we can almost garantee you have air so...

[328ijunkie]

Eeek.

[Beej '86 325es]

Well, the timing somehow got off when I reinstalled the vanos. I broke the secondary tensioner with the piece of garbage sprocket tool in the process of removing it again.
FML

[Beej '86 325es]

Engine misttimed?

Possible. I locked the cams in place, but the engine doesn't have such an audible thump-thump-thump of cylinder compression when I crank it now. It felt like I got the vanos reinstalled correctly with the cam turning tool, but it's possible it's not. I may have to tear the valve cover off again and check it out.

[328ijunkie]

Engine misttimed?

[Rugbyfan]

I did a leak-down before I fixed the vanos. Is it possible that the 40psi I used could have screwed up some sensor?

If you have tested that you have spark from each coil, and if you've pulled your injector rail and cranked the motor with it aimed at some towels, then I'm not clear how it couldn't fire.

[Beej '86 325es]

Nothing changed with CPS?

I don't think so, not intentionally anyway. I found some oil that dripped down onto the crank sensor from the work, but that shouldn't affect anything...additionally, it was replaced a couple of months ago. I didn't touch the cam sensor either...again, not intentionally.

if you have spark and fuel and you can see/smell gas in the cylinders, then perhaps its just flooded from all the cranking?

I don't think so, because I've off-and-on tried starting it for 3 days now, never cranking for more than 4-5 seconds. Also they are brand new plugs I installed since I had the head torn apart.

I did a leak-down before I fixed the vanos. Is it possible that the 40psi I used could have screwed up some sensor?

[Rugbyfan]

I have spark and fuel!

if you have spark and fuel and you can see/smell gas in the cylinders, then perhaps its just flooded from all the cranking?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Nothing changed with CPS?

[Beej '86 325es]

Didn't remove any grounds?

you didn't say what engine but is the ground from fuel rail connected?
on M50tu usually fastened by bolt at engine lift bracket

It's an S50.

I only removed the fuel rail ground so I could remove the vanos unit, but it's reconnected. Plus I can smell fuel in the cylinder, so the injectors must be firing.