Needing help asap! Timing issues

[ZomBAR15]

Having a timing problem in my 84 318i m10. Car starts and runs but idles very rough, Sound like it has a big cam and keeps backfiring. Have the firing order set correct at 1342 rotating counter clockwise? Im lost and need help! Thanks guys

[ZomBAR15]

Alright well I got it all figured out luckily.Turned out to be the vacume advance on the distributor. Unhooked the vac advance hose and after that it ran smoothly. Was able to set the timing by ear and then took it for a test drive. Ran great, was ripping to redline and pulling harder than it had before even before o started having this issue

[TobyB]

Suggestion.

Buy a timing light.

They're worth it...

t

[Andy.B]

From my experience, setting timing by ear results in overly advanced timing. I 2nd the timing light suggestion.

[delamaize]

after spending way more time than I should have trying to time a M10 by ear, then finally broke out the timing light, and realized how far off we were.....

So, Yeah....I'm thirding the timing light usage.