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"Tapping" engine & maintenance

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ShineyT
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"Tapping" engine & maintenance

Post by ShineyT » Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:48 pm

Afternoon people,

My M Coupe seems to have developed a progressively louder tapping from the engine. It doesn't seem to my (untrained) ear to be coming from the valves, seems further down.

I know S54's are prone to VANOS issues. Is it likely related & if so, what is the recommended course of treatment?

Car is only doing 3k~ miles a year now, so isn't being used as much as I would like!

Second question - the car recently ticked over 70k miles, is there any age based bits people would recommend doing? Not noticed any other issues with the car what-so-ever, however prevention is better than cure....
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mr wilks
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Post by mr wilks » Thu Jan 04, 2018 6:03 pm

If its not the top then it could well be the bottom :cry: jmo but i wouldn't risk driving it far at all :( get someone who knows these engines to take a look asap . In the meantime there are many forum members who documented similar noises , the latest of which would be here https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=100915 worth a read even if it doesn't turn out to be something serious
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"Tapping" engine & maintenance

Post by ShineyT » Fri Jan 05, 2018 3:18 pm

Will get it in to a garage as soon as possible then,.

It is nowhere near as severe as the one on the linked thread (the video on there was much worse), however rather be safe than sorry.
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"Tapping" engine & maintenance

Post by Smartbear » Fri Jan 05, 2018 3:32 pm

ShineyT wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:48 pmAfternoon people,

My M Coupe seems to have developed a progressively louder tapping from the engine. It doesn't seem to my (untrained) ear to be coming from the valves, seems further down.

I know S54's are prone to VANOS issues. Is it likely related & if so, what is the recommended course of treatment?

Car is only doing 3k~ miles a year now, so isn't being used as much as I would like!

Second question - the car recently ticked over 70k miles, is there any age based bits people would recommend doing? Not noticed any other issues with the car what-so-ever, however prevention is better than cure....
Hi, doesn’t sound likely to be the vanos as that’s in line with the cams & not further down as suspected (crank bearings?)
The fact it’s getting louder isn’t great, get it to a garage asap :cry:
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"Tapping" engine & maintenance

Post by T1berious » Fri Jan 05, 2018 4:28 pm

With the voice of recent experience please do the following:

1) Stop driving the car (like, seriously)

2) Get booked into a reputable local indy (if poss get it recovered)

3) Wait for the diagnosis from your indy

It might be nothing (sounds top end to me though) and you'll breathe a sigh of relief if it is but if it is something you'd want it looked at before it comes anywhere near this sorry tale https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=100915.

Just my 2 pennies
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ShineyT
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"Tapping" engine & maintenance

Post by ShineyT » Fri Jan 05, 2018 6:39 pm

Thanks for the replies guys.

Will contact my usual specialist Monday and put the car into garage in the mean time.

For reference, I have taken a quick video to give an idea.

https://youtu.be/qxuOXxbq1fc
Last edited by ShineyT on Fri Jan 05, 2018 7:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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mr wilks
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Post by mr wilks » Fri Jan 05, 2018 7:29 pm

Listening on my phone it just sounds like any S54 :? when was last oil change ?
Last valve clearance ?
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Post by ShineyT » Fri Jan 05, 2018 7:33 pm

Well that sounds reassuring! I have owned the car 4 years and honestly never noticed it previously.

Oil change was about 2k miles/6 months ago, valve clearance was 8k miles/18 months @ inspection service.
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Post by Beedub » Fri Jan 05, 2018 7:35 pm

sounds abit like theirs an exhaust blow , but could be just poor video quality , as you move over the engine... tbh it sounds fine, As above, she could be due a valve clearance check, whats the history like? are you competent to have a crack yourself?

EDIT ; just seen your post above.
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Post by ShineyT » Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:28 pm

Exhaust noise is probably because of RPi backboxes and Rogue x-pipe.. I’m sure you’ll know from yours :)

Well you have both put me at ease a bit, will get the valve clearances checked as a point of course this week however.

Thanks gents, helpful as ever!
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Post by Beedub » Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:37 pm

ShineyT wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:28 pmExhaust noise is probably because of RPi backboxes and Rogue x-pipe.. I’m sure you’ll know from yours :)

Well you have both put me at ease a bit, will get the valve clearances checked as a point of course this week however.

Thanks gents, helpful as ever!

How do you live with it on a daily basis???? Painfully loud exhaust setup ....
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Post by BMWZ4MC » Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:42 pm

The valve gear sounds a little noisy but it doesn’t sound like a single follower is to blame, rather that the whole top end is a little tappety. However, it’s very difficult to capture subtle noises from the top of the engine using a mobile phone.
I would suggest that a noise that is new from your experience after four years of ownership is more relevant than a new owner worrying about the normal tappety nature of the S54. I’d recommend not driving it and getting an experienced ///M mechanic to have a listen.
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Post by BMWZ4MC » Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:45 pm

Beedub wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:37 pm
ShineyT wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:28 pmExhaust noise is probably because of RPi backboxes and Rogue x-pipe.. I’m sure you’ll know from yours :)

Well you have both put me at ease a bit, will get the valve clearances checked as a point of course this week however.

Thanks gents, helpful as ever!

How do you live with it on a daily basis???? Painfully loud exhaust setup ....
Maybe its less intense in a coupe? :pinch:
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Post by srhutch » Fri Jan 05, 2018 9:48 pm

As above, nothing obvious except you strut brace is on the wrong way round :wink:
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Post by MrPT » Fri Jan 05, 2018 10:03 pm

Agree - that doesn’t sound too bad. There is “tappety” and then there is the sort of rhythmic knocking sound you start to get when something has gone wrong. Usually picked up very clearly on mobile phone vids.
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