I have just started my 900i Convertible for the first time since October. It started fine but when setting in motion it started to splutter and had no power. Is this a simple case of drying the distributer cap? also the exhaust fumes were very smokey. Any ideas on resolving this? It was running perfectly when I garaged it in October - Thanks.

Could be there's no cold-start enrichment. Cracked/wet distributor car would cause a misfire under load.

A full service would be a good idea after the car's be sitting for so long.

Was the car garaged?

Yes the car has been garaged.

Did you use fuel stabalizer and fill the tank before you put the car away for a few months? If not you could have a bit of water in the gas (from condensation). Also, during storage the rings may have taken a set in their lands (on the pistions) which could give a loss of compression and some oil blow-by (oil getting into the combustion chambers) - they'll free themselves up after a bit of running OR you could try something like "marvels mystery oil" or other "top end" oil (which serves to free up rings - sometimes these things work - sometimes they don't).
You might also check the air cleaner box - sometimes small rodents (mice and the like) will take up residence in these areas and build nests - which will cause an over-rich condition (lack of air) when you start the car and run it.
It would seem unlikely that during storage a distributor cap would crack -
Best of luck

Steve

Did you use fuel stabalizer and fill the tank before you put the car away for a few months? If not you could have a bit of water in the gas (from condensation).

That would have been my question. I don't know how long it takes but gas degenerates. I have a Plymouth Voyager that sat for about a month and half with a blown head gasket and a full tank of gas. It's fixed now and starts and runs fine but mileage so far on that tank has been horrible. I've also noticed while pulling fuel-related items from my parts car that the gas in it smells very different than "fresh" gas.

-- Christian

Depending on formulation, storage conditions, temperature etc., the following is generally true:

2 month old gas will work the same as new, 1 year old gas will work OK in most cars, 2 year old gas smells like varnish but will work in most car and truck engines. After that, the symptoms of old gas are: backfiring, hesitation, popping back through the intake, misfiring under load; the exhaust will smell awful.

I left my T8 for about three weeks over the Christmas period and found it to misfire under load. I changed the distributor cap and rotor arm (for good measure, since it looked a little old) and that sorted the problem. I think for what they cost, you might as well buy new anyway.