Need help starting car after 8 months

[BMW///Mike]

So here is my story I'm new to the e36 forum, I've been on bimmerforums for over a year now but decided to come here since I have no use with information about any other BMW model. So my first car was a 98 328is that I had for a few years and had a lot of fun in. Then I got my baby my 95 m3 with active autowerke supercharger. Sorry about all of that just wanted to say a little about my self.

So here's the problem I worked for a man who had a 97 328is just sitting around and I talked to him about it and told him how I'm a huge fan of BMW and at the end of my job he gives the car to me as a tip. I towed it home to get the car ready. So I haven't started it yet he said he changed the oil last Summer and it hasn't been started since august. He said it has a small tick coming from the motor and he said the last time he started it it had a small amount of smoke coming from what seemed to be the valve cover. So I don't know how I should start the car after that long of a sit. How should I prep the car to start it and not harm the motor in any way?

Thanks, sorry about the long story