I have an 83 bmw that turns over but won't start there is power in to the coil and out I have fuel but still no spark I replaced the rotor tried it nothing I mechanic buddie said you need a distributor so I tried to order one there isn't even one on it so I am still confused and don't know what to try next

check ignition coil, distributor cap and rotor and spark plug wires. Check the rotor good I had a car that would not start and we couldn't figure it out cause all looked well but the screw that holds the rotor in place had fallen out so the car would crank but since the rotor didn't turn to send a spark to ignite the gas the car would not start.

Probably a bad rotor, replace the distributor cap & rotor.

change the ignition pick up coil assembly normally located on the distributor under the rotor on the bottom of the distributor or just replace the distributor

Yellow means weak spark should be blue check the coil tower where the coil wire attaches on the coil for corrosion. Also check the spark plugs for wear.

Check for spark at any of the sparkplugs.If there is no spark at the plug then replace the distributor ignition pickup coil.

might be the ign.rotor,they have a habit of arcing thru to the dist. shaft.
Hard to see tho,if there is spark at the coil,make sure the dist. is turning and that the shaft is not loose(side to side play) if the bushing in the housing fails,the magnet on the pick up coil won't work.

you said you repl dist cap that means you don't have a crank sensor you have electronic ing module. remove your elec ing module have it tested most auto parts stores could test your module, or check your coil at the neg terminal. should have power. if not you lost your primary volt from your batt.your secondary power is coming from your electronic ing module from the module to the pos terminal on the coil, when the eng cranks,from the coil to the dist cap , from the dist cap center to the rotor then out to the plugs,this all happen pervided the timing belt or timing chain is ok. the cumbustion chainber needs 3 things , thats fuel, air, and spark.

recheck everything again. check for spark. if no spark, then your distributor is not getting power(12v). if you have spark, then check for fuel pressure. spray starting fluid in the carburator and see if it starts. if it does then your not getting fuel. if you have both then take out the distributor, put your #1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke and reinstall your distributor and try again, your timing may be off. Good luck.

basic thing need to be check, are you getting sparks and fuel. no spark, can be bad coil,rotor, distributor and sensor. no fuel, can be fuse, relay, fuel pump or sensor. The car need to things to fire and run, that's gas and fuel..check those first and see what happens.

Sounds like bad distributor cap or rotor. If ones bad, might as well change both. Take off the cap and if there is a black color on the ends of the prongs, or on the end of the rotor, time to replace. Is it getting fuel into motor?