howdy and a No Start question

[Da Tow'd]

Howdy folks,
We live out in the sticks in the frozen north of British Columbia Canada. Almost 1000km from the nearest BMW dealer or shop that is into working on them. It has been -25 to -35*C for the last week- colder than usual
My friends 1990 735il E32 M30 quit running but before it quit he noticed the exhaust manifold and cat were red hot. Hotter than normal.
Now it will turn over but not start. I don't hear the fuel pump but smell lots of gas.
we did a compression test and came up with 160psi across but the plugs were Black.
tomorrow we will check the fuel pressure.
We did the stomp test and got a oxygen sensor as one of the problems.
The EML lights on the dash does NOT light up.
The way the plugs looked the Oxygen sensor has to be plugged and maybe the cat- there is some exhaust coming out the tail pipes.

we called up a shop and was told that the OBD is useless and the EML light didn't matter which goes against what I've read here.

We got a DVD from eBay that hasn't been much help most of the info we found here. We will be ordering a Bentley manual but until then are there any checks that you would suggest?

nice site
cheers
hank

[shogun]

the question is, if your 735 has EML at all or not. EML - the throttling cable is not existing, there is a motor which drives the throttling valve. If there is a bowden cable, no EML.
If there is EML, light must come on first and then disappear after 2-3 seconds.
Maybe the cat is blocked. Check the distributor and rotor. All other things to check are on my website below and here
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/e32
http://www.e38.org/e32/
including wiring diagrams and locations of fuses and relais.

[Da Tow'd]

This 735 does have a bowden cable throttle and it also has the twin bulbs for the EML light in the panel.
tested the fuel pressure and got 60psi.
cleaned the dist cap and rotor and get spark - not sure about the timing
we did find a vacuum hose(maybe PVC) from valve cover to the flex hose in air intake that was cracked.

we drilled two holes in the exhaust pipe instead of taking the cat off to see if it would run but still no go.

we are going to pull the injectors and look at them next
new o2 sensor ordered
thanks for all the spiritual guidance we have got from reading here
Best wishes for the New Year
Hank






Thanks for all the BMW info that is here to read

[Da Tow'd]

we would like to pull the injectors and inspect them
Are there any links that show photos of fuel rack and fuel system?

[shogun]

Hank,
If your car has throttle valve with bowden cable, then it has no EML. But the cluster has them as standard, but not used on your car.

This will help
http://bmwfans.info/
you can see the injectors
and here
http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/tech_main.htm

[Da Tow'd]

Thanks for all the help Shogun
the pelican site has some good info
I'll let you guys know how we made out
best wishes for the New Year
hank