bmwe21.net forums

After been stored in garage for approx 10 years, I made the fatal mistake of trying to start my 323i after having put a can of new fuel into an already half full tank.
The car won't idle, it runs then stops and I have replaced the Distributer cap & new rotor arm, the plugs have been cleaned & all spark & fuel comes out of fuel pipe. The old fuel pump & filter have been taken off & replaced.
The fuel tank was drained & smelt of old varnish, and had tar like stuff in it .
What do you suggest the next step should be?
Cheers
Gary

If the fuel was that old, I'd be very worried about the state of the metering head. I've rebuilt them on VW's before and inside is all finely machined steel parts that will not take kindly to any gumming up of the fuel, or moisture being allowed to sit for a decade. I'm not familiar with K-jet on E21's, but on a VW I'd pull the injectors and stick them in jars, and then hot wire the fuel pump and actuate the metering flap by hand and check the spray pattern and volume, if it's smooth and even accross all 6, then that's obviously good, but at idle when the pressure to the injectors is low if there are small differences, it'll make a bigger difference to how even all 6 are and could be screwing up the idle.

Thanks for the advice..I will get on with that this week !
Cheers

Yup, the injectors and the fuel distributor may be gummed up, cleaning may help. Be careful pulling the fuel dizzy apart though, usually you'll only end up with leaks. There was a thread (a recent one, perhaps 1-2 months ago) on the fuel distributor and how to get the piston moving again but I can't find it anymore, can anyone help us out here? By just doing that, using excessive quantities of fuel system cleaner in your fuel tank and with clean injectors you may be able to pull this off.

Thanks Jeroen... have noted your helpful advice & will do that as well.
Many Thanks !!
Gary