Thanks for the input, I checked the crank position sensor and it was dirty, so I cleaned it up and still no start. I read in another message that someone had a similar problem and that they would tap the side of the console, beside the drivers footwell. I gave it a tap and it started. I was able to drive the car home and will look at it tonight. I guess that the problem is in the CEU - but I will have to check. Thank goodness for this board it probably saved me
$ 250.00 in costs today once you add towing in to the equation.
Cheers,

A 90 740 GLE should be a 16-valve car... and when they don't run, it often means that the timing belt broke. Make sure that the cams are turning- pull off the cam cover or check the distributor rotor. If they don't turn when you try to start it, call around. You need another car..... because it costs less to get another 740 than it does to fix a 16-valve engine with a broken timing belt. The oil leak is the culprit actually- it leaked onto the belts and weakened them. I hope it's not this bad, but I've got a feeling that's what it is.
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '86 244DL- 215K, 87 244DL- 230K, 88 744GLE- 198K, 91 244 180K

Check the FAQ under the drop down menu titled -FEATURES-

You should find a description or two fitting yours, a no-start, or maybe just hot-start problem related to ignition. The '90 has a crank (or is it flywheel?) position sensor that tells the ignition brain how fast the motor's spinning.

Anyway this is probably a no-no but I'll save you the trip to the FAQ pages. You should still check them out for yourself as you'll learn a lot about your car (and maybe help the honest mechanic a little bit too).

copy and paste starts here:

Failure to Start; Flywheel Sensor Bad. [Query:]My 1990 740GL has been having trouble starting for the last few months. I replaced the cap, rotor, plugs and fuel pump relay. The wiring harness looks fine. Today it refused to start at all. Cranks fine, but no spark. I unplugged and re-plugged the flywheel position sensor at the firewall and it started! The contacts looked OK, but I cleaned them and put on some dielectric grease. Now we'll see if that did it. Question: I remember some talk on the list awhile back about a recall or TSB on faulty flywheel position sensors (impulse sensor) on late '80s 740s. I can't find the message on my hard drive. I seem to recall that the model with a yellow band was either the good one or the bad one. Mine is yellow. [Response:] The newer kind has a white band, as opposed to the older style yellow band. Replacement takes about 10 minutes. \

So good luck-
-Dylan

ps always replace computer last, unless someone will buy it back from you.