Situation:

Car is a fully restored 1974 BMW 2002 manual transmission. It was my father in laws who passed away last year. It has sat in a garage for the last year. Don't know if fuel stabilzer was used, all others fluid checked out well. Battery charged, tires fine, carberautor fine.....but cant get her started......

5/26/2012 9:39:39 PM

put an LS1 in it...

then start that.

5/26/2012 9:45:00 PM

empty the tank and put fresh gas in.

how many times did you try to start it?

5/26/2012 10:44:04 PM

3 times, no more than 5 turns on the starter

5/26/2012 10:54:28 PM

Try simple trouble shooting first.
Check for spark.
I don't know 2002's. electric fuel pump? See if you are even getting gas to the carb.

5/26/2012 11:20:15 PM

unless you know for a fact that he used ethanol free fuel, get all that old fuel out of the tank.

5/26/2012 11:49:45 PM

What's the best method?

5/27/2012 12:28:13 AM

drop the tank and pour it out would be best. if you don't want to do that, get a cheap fuel pump, a 12v battery, some plastic tubing, a few buckets, and a case of beer.

5/27/2012 12:30:30 AM

It would still start and run with year old gas.

5/27/2012 8:50:41 AM

for a while

5/27/2012 11:54:53 AM

i would change the oil first before trying to do anything further, though. surely there's condensation in the oil. afterwards, try a little starter fluid in the carb. easiest way to check for spark since if it's got it you'll at least hear the engine try to fire from the ether. if it's fully restored i doubt there are any mechanical issues. i think it just needs to little kick in the ass to get it going. you really didn't try very hard to get it started if you only tried 3 times.

also, how much do you know about the mechanics of the car? does it have manual or auto choke?



[Edited on May 27, 2012 at 12:00 PM. Reason : -]

5/27/2012 11:57:17 AM

Ok so it has a manual choke....was able to get it startewith fluid into the carb, but once that runs out car dies. Found the fuel filter, pump, and sightglass (yes it has one)....sightglass is empty, and need to figure out how to prime the system to get fuel into the carb

5/27/2012 1:16:18 PM

Mechanical fuel pump?

5/27/2012 1:33:21 PM

Yeah mechanical fuel pump.

the diaphram inside the mechanical fuel pump is probably dried/split from sitting.

I think i may have to look at the check valve to aid against backflow of fuel to the tank to make sure that's not clogged up/ stuck, etc

This is getting frustrating......so much for a fun weekend drive in her......have to take the z4 out instead

5/27/2012 3:05:33 PM

What a hassle. Sell it to me.

5/27/2012 5:08:06 PM

^^ if he knew he would be letting it sit for a long period of time did he put in a fuel shut off valve?

5/27/2012 7:47:02 PM

^or if a vacuum line has popped off or is cracked on the fuel pump.

5/27/2012 8:06:54 PM

There never was a plan to let it sit, but death does tend to impact plans. Hopefully will get it running soon....at least it was a good day to drive the 2010 Z4

5/27/2012 10:45:14 PM

^if you find that truly enjoyable, waste no more time. you will not like the 2002 & I can come get it tomorrow.

5/28/2012 11:14:31 PM