Tming problem

[Jona1971]

Hi,

I've got a 1987 prefacelift 318i Auto M10B18.

Yesterday, I adjusted the timing with a strobe (first time), disconnected the battery.

This morning I adjusted the tappets and reconnected the battery.

The engine starts up fine, ticks over well and revs happily. Sounds much better with no tappet noise.

However,

1. engine seems to wobble on its mounts a bit on tickover until revved up over 1000rpm.
2. drives VERY sluggishly until 3000 rpm and back fires when I lift off throttle.

Have I messed up my timing or has the ECU forgotten what day it is? Or something else?

Help greatfully received,

[Jona1971]

I've sorted it now: the distributor rotates anticlockwise so I had 3 and 2 HT leads the wrong way round - doofus.

Incidently - the timing marks through the bellhousing are not labelled "OT" or "OZ" as Mr. Haines would have you believe. They are in fact 2 posts - a long one at TDC and a shorter one at 30 degrees BTDC. I painted them with Tipex and it was easy to do the timing from there on.

Alternatively, the TDC marking on the vibration damper is labelled "OT" at TDC, the distance from there to 30 degrees BTDC is 31mm anticlockwise when looking on from the front of the car.

I'm sure the above is obvious to most but I hope this helps someone else in need as I was