connected only to the components of the leftmost cylinder it will be understood that such a connection is present for the similar components of all the other engine cylinders 2 the cold starting method according to the invention advantageously utilizes the fact that in electromagnetic valve drives of the u201c swinging u201d type when the electromagnets are in a de energized state the cylinder valves assume a position which corresponds to one half of the valve stroke in such a position the valves are thus in an open state this circumstance makes it possible to rotate the crankshaft by the starter without compression so that on the one hand a lubricating film may immediately build up and on the other hand because of the absence of the resistance to compression a higher crankshaft rpm may be obtained than in a conventional internal combustion engine having the same starter power it is however also feasible to energize the electromagnets early so that the engine valves start an early oscillation such an oscillation start may be effected so that the cylinder valves are at least partially opened and therefore the crankshaft may be rotated without or at least with a reduced compression as soon as the starter rotates the crankshaft the cylinder valves the fuel injection device and the ignition device of at least one of the cylinders are operated in a predeterminable cycle by means of the engine control the fully variably controllable electromagnetic drives of the cylinder valves make possible to predetermine for the.