2011 23i n52 z4 ticking noise when startup

[Greer4411]

Hi folks,

Had my z4 from new sept 2011.

Done about 4000 miles in it. The last couple of weeks on start up I've heard this ticking noise that gets faster with engine speed.

It goes once the engine is warm.

Booked it into the dealers today who have just called to say its normal and they started another couple of 23i and they sounded the same.

Ive only started hearing it in the last couple of weeks, so how can it be normal. Some days it seems louder than others.

Any 23i owners confirm anything.

Regards

Jamie

 

[3rdPillar]

Mine is the same. Ive done the oil check through the iDrive and levels are good. So keep us upto date if you find anything.

 

[Paul c]

Yep mine does it sometimes sounds a bit tappity :?

 

[Greer4411]

I also checked my oil with I drive etc and it said all was good. Just hope that is reliable as it does sound like something is not getting oil etc. or tappets maybe.

Did a quick google search and it seems engines upto 2008 did have a problem with tappets and heads on the n52 engine. Which where replaced with a new design head etc.

But most of the info seems to be on USA forums etc e90 post and x3 posts

 

[Maniac]

N52 is well known for this valve/rocker noise, its to do with oil circulation. BMW state that it is just noise and will not add to wear rates. Clearly though even though we're talking BMW, metal on metal will result in wear.

BMW consider this normal.

 

[EdP]

My '09 N52 had also a ticking sound in the first minutes of a cold start. At the moment, 50000km 'older', it doesn't tick anymore.

 

[Taz]

if this is the HVA's problem then this is worrying, i thought they had changed the heads on the N52 engine to rectify the fault

 

[envy]

my 20i sounds like a diesel but im not worried about it...... would prefer it to be silent but i only ever hear it when the roof is down

 

[TitanTim]

Yepp the N20 engines are a tad noisy too when cold i.e. quite tappety although it doesn't tick but once fully warmed up is very smooth, oh and it whines when cold

As opposed to the Z3 which is smooth from the word go and sounds like a petrol :? seems BMW like to take backword steps



Tim.

 

[Maniac]

The noise in the N20 is injector piezo impulses. Sounds like a tap/diesel knock (except quieter).

 

[JVE89]

My 30i does it a wee bit too, just after cold startup when the idling drops to around 600rpm I can hear it a bit too (have to listen outside the car though) It's not doing it long. Seen the same complaint on a German Z4 forum too, no solution and the've been told not to worry as it's not doing any damage.

 

[envy]

well its good to know that its not serious

although when you buy a 36k petrol car, you kinda hope it doesnt sound like a diesel or bag of spanners when you start it up and the people admiring it asking if its a diesel

 

[JVE89]

It doesn't sound like a diesel, it's not that loud lol, well atleast mine isn't

 

[envy]

mine does...... well maybe a tad quieter

 

[BeemerMad]

People pay 20k for ducati bikes they sound tappety but awesome