Valvebounce

That's my last resort. I don't doubt I'm fully capable of finding out why it doesn't run. I've rewired entire cars before. It's just that these cars are completely new to me. Ask me about a Datsun or a valiant and I don't even need to consult the manual. This thing is going to run if it kill me.

I got 10 mins to play with it today. The leads for my multi meter are rooted. (I bought some from Jaycar today, but they didn't fit :-( ) But using my test light there is definately power at the coil. I had coffee with my mate who I bought it off at lunch today. He also remembered that there wasn't power there when we were f-ing with it while it was still his. If I can get the right leads for my meter tomorrow, I can begin looking at the other stuff.

Cheers again dude! Damn your avatar is hard case too.

So I just re read and digested the how to posted by Will again. (Takes me a few goes for stuff to sink in sometimes) I'm not able to test between pin 47 and the two plugs as I can't see the plugs. They're facing down, up under the manifold. And I can only just feel that they're there. Can I be a PITA and ask what the X20 plug looks like/where I might find it?

I checked the +ve terminal of the low tension side of the coil with a meter, and there was no voltage shown, even when cranking. Yes I have all dashlights etc, as it's got the oil level sensor warning flashing up on the dash. However I was at my mates house who I bought the car from for a BBQ last night, and the old motor still has an oil level sensor with a plug that matches the "spare" plug I have floating around. So that's one mystery solved. I'll have to try what Will has offered up, and see what I can find. Since it will run sans the spark plug lead sensor, if I can get juice to the coil, (and if the injectors are working there's only two ways the CPS can go. I think part of me was hoping that it was something as simple as plugs being wrong, and that a stupidly easy fix was starring me in the face. Cars huh, who'd want to spanner them for fun?

Thanks Will! Great info there. The car does have an old Alpine alarm. There are no remotes, so I assume it's long defunct. I did put "alpine alarm" into google. And some of the search results were for E34 BMW's. So could have been factory fitted? some said it was prefered to interupt the spark (and maybe injectors?) feed as a crank disabled car could still be tow started. People did say it was a mofo of a job to remove the whole alarm. One guy said he removed a "bushell" of wire. Another guy said it was a drum full. I did try the "factory alarm deactivate" preceedure. But no change to speak of. definately some good stuff to try there. But it's all kinda moot when I don't even know if the engine is connected to the car correctly or not. All input is greatly appreciated guys!

you make an excellent point there Grant. Thanks. Somewhere the previous owners brother printed off a list of things to check for no power at coil. Check circuit between +ve low tension wire, and some terminal at the ecu. (I don't actually know where they put that piece of paper, but I'm sure it will turn up) I've asked elsewhere on the WWW where the plugs belong too. It's hard when someone has been there before and muddled things up.

There's no power at the coil. And no spark coming out the plug wire for number one. (I'm not sure if I've tried the wire out of the secondary side of the coil yet) I've been digesting the fault finding in a haynes manual, (I haven't begun wading through the Bently one yet) but I need to know where everything goes 1st) Oil level I think.

Thanks Grant! Yeah I'm getting the oil level sensor warning on the dash too. Actually I think the sensor on the drivers side got damaged while the motor was out, so I'm going to swap it out for the one off the original engine which is still sitting on my mates driveway, leaching oil. While searching the www I found another bmw site where some anorak said that oil sender warnings wouldn't prevent it from starting. I've tried those two plugs both ways around, and no spark has been seen. Thats why I need to know which way around they're supposed to go. Following the fault fiding flow chart is a waste of time unless evevrything else is right 1st. I was hoping that someone who owns one would take a look at theirs and give me a definitive answer. Then I'll sort the oil sender issue too. All the fault finding in the world aint worth a pinch of the proverbial if it's put together wrong...........

Right, Yeah it's a '88 NZ new manual E34. With the M20B25 engine. There are no plugs near the T/stat housing. The plug on both the Spark plug thingee (What is the proper name for that BTW?) and the crank sensor are the same. Like I say there is one random (female) plug alone which lies somewhere above the alternator. and two more which are part of the loom which attaches to the underside of the inlet. I took a bunch of pics today with my work phone. And I see this forum allows pics to be attached. I'm pretty retarded with computers etc, so I'll have a go at putting some up.

Sorry guys. It's a 2.5 sohc. I'm pretty new with the bavarian money wasters. Does someone have a car they can look at to tell me where they go? Also what route the pulse generator wire is supposed to take?

So I took leave of my sences, and against my better judgement, (And the wishes of my heavily pregnant mrs) I just bought an E34. I bought it off a mate, kinda to do him a favour, and kinda because my current daily is giving me a sore back. (I'm getting too old for daily-ing a car with coil overs etc) So I bought this car, and it doesn't even run. My mate had been screwing it, and the motor ate some rocker arms/dropped some cylinders. Cam was badly worn. Bought a donor vehicle, (With an alleged rebuilt motor) and swapped the donk over. All the sensors, injectors etc etc off the original engine were reused. The car had run, (although not on 6) so we're assuming that all those parts worked. now with the new engine, the car is yet to fire. I've been reading through three workshop manuals that my mate downloaded, printed, and threw in with the car. So I have a bunch of things to test. But since it was the thick end of two and a half years since the OG motor came out, the "where" that some bits are meant to go are a bit murky. Main questions are, Pulse generator Plug. Where does this plug into? There is a loose plug on it's own which it can fit, and then there are two more plugs which it can also fit up underneath the manifold. (One nearer the front of the engine, and one a little farther back) Obviously if that's not plugged into the right hole it aint never gonna go. Pulse sensor on the number 6 spark plug lead. This has the same flavour of plug as the pulse generator. So it too fits the lone loose plug on a wire, and the two other plugs which are part of the loom up under the manifold. So if one of you fine E34 anorak's could kindly steer me in the right dierection regarding these two plugs, I can begin wading into some fault finding proper. Also, on the fuel rail, which is the fuel supply line, and which is the return? Kind regards, Bart.