HELP- M54 Motor not firing, Vanos advice

[AussieAlan]

Sorry for starting another thread on my X5 3.0i not starting issue, I think I have narrowed down my starting problem to the timing after replacing the oil filter housing. I have pulled out the new spark plugs and there is a smell of fuel on them and the electrodes has carbon on them, so there must be fuel & spark getting to the chambers, how much of each is an unknown. That leaves the timing or the ecu. Does anyone know if the vanos unit is not working due to worn seals or no oil feed, can the timing go out to the point of the motor not firing at all. Thanks