HVA questions - N52

R

RyanB88

Member
Hi

Looking at an 80k mile 30si tomorrow and was wondering about the HVA

Does the noise cause permanent damage?

What is the fix and approx how much?

Was there some kind of recall?

If it's not making the noise now is it likely never to?

Anything else you could tell me about this. I've already YouTubed it so know what to listen for

Thanks in advance
 
BMW didn't seem too concerned with it when I asked them.

Srhutch had the head changed on his 2.5si and I think he posted the invoice in the related thread.

My 3.0si was a daily for 2 years and I never heard the tapping.
 
Hi, the tapping has never caused any damage that I've heard of, never a recall but if owners whined enough there was a redesigned head that held onto the oil better once turned off.
More regular oil changes & longer runs seems to keep it in check :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Smartbear said:
Hi, the tapping has never caused any damage that I've heard of, never a recall but if owners whined enough there was a redesigned head that held onto the oil better once turned off.
More regular oil changes & longer runs seems to keep it in check :thumbsup:
Rob
Click to expand...

Not quite true. As soon as the dealer heard mine they changed the head under the puma bulletin. It would appear though after a while they changed their stance and only replaced one or two affected HVA's on affected cars, presumably to save cost.
 
I would definitely try and get to listen to a cold start, you will feel mugged off if yours clatters the first cold start after you have bought it, there is no other inspection test for this problem.

In 2009 BMW issued an updated service information bulletin for N52 cars built up to approx Dec 2008 when up-rated HVA/Head parts were fitted. They deleted previous advice to bleed the system and advised replacement of the head/HVA and associated parts.

Example of noise, harmless!? my old diesel sounded better! :o
https://youtu.be/lk_XKnPJKAo

SIB Extract dated September 2009
This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B11 09 07 dated January 2009.
SUBJECT
Intermittent Hydraulic Valve Adjuster (HVA) Noise
MODEL
All E82, E83, E88, E85, E86, E60, E61, E70, E90, E91, E92 and E93 vehicles with N51, N52 or N52K engines produced approximately up to November 31st 2008; refer to cylinder head casting identification attachment.
SITUATION
An occasional ticking or rattling noise from the camshaft hydraulic valve lifters (HVA) may occur during cold engine starts, due to frequent short-distance driving, or the noise may occur for an extended period of time even though the engine is at operating temperature.
Improved parts were phased into production beginning on 10/1/2008 and fully implemented on November 31st 2008.
CORRECTION
Do not perform the bleeding procedure that was previously provided in SI B11 09 07 which has now been deleted.
All vehicles produced between 10/1/2008 and 11/31/2008 must have each vehicle’s cylinder head casting number identified before hydraulic valve lifters (HVA) replacement, due to staggered implementation. Refer to the attachment for the casting number location. Vehicles produced after 11/31/2008 have already been fitted with improved parts. Vehicles produced prior to 10/1/2008 will require the new parts.
 
Ewazix said:
I would definitely try and get to listen to a cold start, you will feel mugged off if yours clatters the first cold start after you have bought it, there is no other inspection test for this problem.

In 2009 BMW issued an updated service information bulletin for N52 cars built up to approx Dec 2008 when up-rated HVA/Head parts were fitted. They deleted previous advice to bleed the system and advised replacement of the head/HVA and associated parts.

Example of noise, harmless!? my old diesel sounded better! :o
https://youtu.be/lk_XKnPJKAo

SIB Extract dated September 2009
This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B11 09 07 dated January 2009.
SUBJECT
Intermittent Hydraulic Valve Adjuster (HVA) Noise
MODEL
All E82, E83, E88, E85, E86, E60, E61, E70, E90, E91, E92 and E93 vehicles with N51, N52 or N52K engines produced approximately up to November 31st 2008; refer to cylinder head casting identification attachment.
SITUATION
An occasional ticking or rattling noise from the camshaft hydraulic valve lifters (HVA) may occur during cold engine starts, due to frequent short-distance driving, or the noise may occur for an extended period of time even though the engine is at operating temperature.
Improved parts were phased into production beginning on 10/1/2008 and fully implemented on November 31st 2008.
CORRECTION
Do not perform the bleeding procedure that was previously provided in SI B11 09 07 which has now been deleted.
All vehicles produced between 10/1/2008 and 11/31/2008 must have each vehicle’s cylinder head casting number identified before hydraulic valve lifters (HVA) replacement, due to staggered implementation. Refer to the attachment for the casting number location. Vehicles produced after 11/31/2008 have already been fitted with improved parts. Vehicles produced prior to 10/1/2008 will require the new parts.
Click to expand...

Is that the kind of noise they make when there's something wrong? The YouTube video you posted? Sounds awful!
 
Is there a specific mileage these go at?

So if it hppens how much approx will it cost to fix?

This sounds as bad as the n47 timing chain problems!
 
Cost? Big money, it's a new head! Mine is my daily and has only done it when moving off the drive or a very short distance.
 
RyanB88 said:
Is there a specific mileage these go at?

So if it hppens how much approx will it cost to fix?

This sounds as bad as the n47 timing chain problems!
Click to expand...

Its highly unlikely you will experience it with a 80k car that's covered regular use up to operating temp & had regular oil changes ( which i know the car has no documentation for 30k of its life )
The noise can't be masked or hidden , you will know from the off & if it shows no sign then keep the oil clean ( & buy decent stuff ) plus get the car used properly & not just nipping to Sainsbury's :oops:
 
RyanB88 said:
Is there a specific mileage these go at?

So if it hppens how much approx will it cost to fix?

This sounds as bad as the n47 timing chain problems!
Click to expand...

This is the issue, either they do it or they don't, it isn't necessarily mileage related, it was a manufacturing tolerance fault on some pre Dec 2008 N52 engines where insufficient oil was retained in the lifters once the engine is off. When cold started, particularly having been left for a while insufficient oil gets back into the lifters so the lifters clatter and air-lock can keep it that way until the air is shifted - hence the advice from others to rev them once warmed-up. Personally I think it defies common sense to believe that high speed engine components flapping around starved of oil making that noise is harmless, presumably why BMW swapped heads at huge expense.
 
RyanB88 said:
Is there a specific mileage these go at?

So if it hppens how much approx will it cost to fix?

This sounds as bad as the n47 timing chain problems!
Click to expand...

If the car has 80K on it chances are it fine.

Mine was under 3 years old with around 20K on the clock, but first started with only 2K on the clock. The car was also driven at least every other day on my commute which was a 50 mile round trip so had plenty of use.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10937
 
Hmm wonder what BMW's stance would be today if someone ran one in for the same issue. Although well out of warranty it would appear they've acknowledged a design flaw with the old head
 
I know exactly what they would say! They took a lot of pushing to honour the warranty on a new brake light when that cracked...
 
I thought I had this problem but my N52 is nothing like as noisy as in the videos. So mine is probably the engine being "normal".
 
RyanB88 said:
Is there a specific mileage these go at?

So if it hppens how much approx will it cost to fix?

This sounds as bad as the n47 timing chain problems!
Click to expand...


Hardly comparable, a timing chain letting go will destroy an engine while I've never heard of a noisy lifter causing any issues apart from the sound :roll:
Rob
 
Smartbear said:
RyanB88 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:44 pm
Is there a specific mileage these go at?

So if it hppens how much approx will it cost to fix?

This sounds as bad as the n47 timing chain problems!

Hardly comparable, a timing chain letting go will destroy an engine while I've never heard of a noisy lifter causing any issues apart from the sound
Rob
Click to expand...

Thanks Rob, I'm with you on that (especially as I sold a 123d with the N47 when I bought my first Z4)!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom