Knocking noise 2006 2.5 z4

[z4dan]

Hi, ive attached this youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9N-f6IbrVw as my z4 is making exactly the same noise and wondered if anyone knew what it is? on the youtube comments they go on about oil but ive only just topped mine up and dash reads oil is ok. any help would be appriciated

 

[mr wilks]

Its not uncommon with Si N52 & by many accounts is not likely to end in any sort of engine failure .
Fix for it can be relatively expensive ( £1k/£1500 if you can find a decent indy to do it ) & elusive if whoever undertakes it doesn't have the tooling so unless its intolerable to you id learn to live with it .
& before folks suggest a decent drive , changing oil grade or flushing engine none of those is likely to work if the noise is as the vid clip .

 

[z4dan]

Its not uncommon with Si N52 & by many accounts is not likely to end in any sort of engine failure .
Fix for it can be relatively expensive ( £1k/£1500 if you can find a decent indy to do it ) & elusive if whoever undertakes it doesn't have the tooling so unless its intolerable to you id learn to live with it .
& before folks suggest a decent drive , changing oil grade or flushing engine none of those is likely to work if the noise is as the vid clip .

I can definitely live with it. I don't really hear it when im driving especially if I have music on

 

[Mr Tidy]

Definitely not unusual - my E86 does it if I haven't used it for a while, albeit not as loud as in that clip.

My E91 325i (also an N52 engine) used to do it a bit as well.

I can't hear it on the move, so have just lived with it!

 

[Jonny3777]

It kinda sounds like the timing chain might be loose, the tensioner might need looking at

 

[ph001]

If it was timing chain you would hear it resonate at certain points in the rev range, unfortunately video doesn’t go that far but sounds like classic hydraulic tappet not filling properly. Needs taking out for a good Italian tune up.

 

[Davz]

Ph001 has it Spot on. I take It that as it has only done 19k miles it is left standing for long periods? If so the oil has drained from the lifters, leaving it at tickover just creates condensation and air traps in the lifters. Take it for a good long run, the trapped air will be replaced by oil and it will sound fine. If you are leaving it in the garage for long periods don't start the engine now and again, it just builds up condensation and makes the problem worse.

 

[mr wilks]

Ph001 has it Spot on. I take It that as it has only done 19k miles it is left standing for long periods?

Have I skipped a chapter on the miles :? 19k covered :?
If the Ops car sounds like that link it needs more than a decent run to fettle it

 

[idej_z4]

Ph001 has it Spot on. I take It that as it has only done 19k miles it is left standing for long periods?

Have I skipped a chapter on the miles :? 19k covered :?
If the Ops car sounds like that link it needs more than a decent run to fettle it

I think Davz has assumed the op's car is the one being shown in the video (which he shows as being at 19k). The video was from 2011 though...

 

[mr wilks]

Ph001 has it Spot on. I take It that as it has only done 19k miles it is left standing for long periods?

Have I skipped a chapter on the miles :? 19k covered :?
If the Ops car sounds like that link it needs more than a decent run to fettle it

I think Davz has assumed the op's car is the one being shown in the video (which he shows as being at 19k). The video was from 2011 though...

Pretty sure the Op's car has 120k plus on it , so plenty of miles to have cleared off any related issues from being stood or from short journeys

 

[z4dan]

Ph001 has it Spot on. I take It that as it has only done 19k miles it is left standing for long periods? If so the oil has drained from the lifters, leaving it at tickover just creates condensation and air traps in the lifters. Take it for a good long run, the trapped air will be replaced by oil and it will sound fine. If you are leaving it in the garage for long periods don't start the engine now and again, it just builds up condensation and makes the problem worse.

Its done 123000 miles and I use it every day and its not garaged. funny though as the noise has gone since I wrote this post but im sure it will come back again

 

[thecookie125]

It’s your hydraulic lifers, they bleed oil pressure on 2009 backwards N52 engines. The fix procedure is basically get the engine up to temp and give it a few pulls to red line or 5k rpm to repressurise the lifters.

You can avoid it coming back by driving it further and harder, a lot of them that do tap are babied and driven very short journeys.

 

[z4dan]

It’s your hydraulic lifers, they bleed oil pressure on 2009 backwards N52 engines. The fix procedure is basically get the engine up to temp and give it a few pulls to red line or 5k rpm to repressurise the lifters.

You can avoid it coming back by driving it further and harder, a lot of them that do tap are babied and driven very short journeys.

sounds like a good idea!! thanks