N52 Lifter Noise and Fix

[gazoff]

Hi All

I am new on here and have just put a deposit on a 006 Coupe. I am concerned about the issues with the Hydraulic Valve Adjuster issues reported with this engine.
Please could you advise on. Car has done 63000 mls

If the engine has the loud ticking noise? buy or not

Likelihood of the engine developing this issue.

And can this issue be fixed?

Many thanks, I have looked high and low for a good example and love this car, but a little nervous now.

Garry

 

[Smartbear]

dont worry, i dont think a single car has ever suffered engine damage due to the tick so its a bit of a non-issue.
Regular use seems to keep them quiet.
regards

 

[srhutch]

I would disagree with "regular use keeps them quiet" as that wasn't the case with mine.

Personally if it doesn't stop within a few seconds I would walk away, plenty of other cars out there. Even if it doesn't cause any issues when you come to sell it will put people off.

 

[Dewi]

This is a subject I looked into before buying my car last year, researched on a few different BMW forums and Google in general. The problem appears to affect cars that are used for mainly short runs. It was something that interested me as my car had just 19k miles it on when I bought it, so I had to make sure it didn't have the tapping - it didn't and it doesn't. Apparently a good long run keeping the engine at "lively" revs will cure it if no permanent damage has been done and the oil isn't knackered - regular servicing using the correct oil / filter is your guide here. As mentioned above by Smartbear, I've never yet heard of an engine going into meltdown due to this "problem". Z4s have many foibles but this doesn't appear to be a huge one - in the UK anyway!

 

[srhutch]

This is a subject I looked into before buying my car last year, researched on a few different BMW forums and Google in general. The problem appears to affect cars that are used for mainly short runs. It was something that interested me as my car had just 19k miles it on when I bought it, so I had to make sure it didn't have the tapping - it didn't and it doesn't. Apparently a good long run keeping the engine at "lively" revs will cure it if no permanent damage has been done and the oil isn't knackered - regular servicing using the correct oil / filter is your guide here. As mentioned above by Smartbear, I've never yet heard of an engine going into meltdown due to this "problem". Z4s have many foibles but this doesn't appear to be a huge one - in the UK anyway!

Again the above is not true. My car did 2 25 mile journeys every day for work. I'm also an enthusiastic driver but the problem persisted. Bottom line is there is no pattern. If the problem like mine was picked up early you might find the cylinder head has been replaced with the revised one, which is the only definite fix.

As I said above though if you are looking at a car that does tap for more than a few seconds then walk away.

 

[AndyBeech]

Surely the fact that there is no pattern would make you walk away from any 3.0si you consider buying? If it can manifest on your car in your ownership regardless of what you do then you should walk away from all these car's because it's too risky buying one and you wouldn't want to be lumbered with one!

It's a nonsense, no offense srhutch, I know you had the problem on yours and you went through a lot of hassle trying to get it fixed but why bother? It doesn't affect the engine or performance that we know of, it's just a noise that generally disappears when the engine warms up. By that logic all N52's will eventually get this problem and all should be destined for the scrapheap for what is basically a non-issue?

Maybe it's just me but I got kind of cheesed off when selling my 3.0si and various people (not all) asking 'do the HVA's tick' with no reason as to why they should be worried or why they were asking about this problem, just that they had 'heard about it' on the internet making it out to be some hideous thing which, as so far (9 years after the release of the 3.0si) has caused no engine failures or other problems......

Each to their own obviously and it's up to the individual buyer, yes it's an issue, but an issue in what respect? That it's a (very) slightly annoying noise that disappears quite quickly? Some problem's need highlighting, roof motor's, broken springs etc. as they are actually problems to look out for. HVA's, not in my opinion. If the rest of the car is sound and to your liking I really wouldn't worry. You could buy a N52 engine car without the ticking and a month into your ownership it develops it, it's a 'risk' you take.

 

[GuidoK]

Still I'd rather have broken rear springs than a ticking engine.
The first one is a £150 fix, the latter one a lot more annoying. It's not something you'd like to hear on an otherwise silkysmooth inline 6.
Isn't there some cunning kit that converts the exhaust side to solid lifters?

 

[srhutch]

Surely the fact that there is no pattern would make you walk away from any 3.0si you consider buying? If it can manifest on your car in your ownership regardless of what you do then you should walk away from all these car's because it's too risky buying one and you wouldn't want to be lumbered with one!

It's a nonsense, no offense srhutch, I know you had the problem on yours and you went through a lot of hassle trying to get it fixed but why bother? It doesn't affect the engine or performance that we know of, it's just a noise that generally disappears when the engine warms up. By that logic all N52's will eventually get this problem and all should be destined for the scrapheap for what is basically a non-issue?

Maybe it's just me but I got kind of cheesed off when selling my 3.0si and various people (not all) asking 'do the HVA's tick' with no reason as to why they should be worried or why they were asking about this problem, just that they had 'heard about it' on the internet making it out to be some hideous thing which, as so far (9 years after the release of the 3.0si) has caused no engine failures or other problems......

Each to their own obviously and it's up to the individual buyer, yes it's an issue, but an issue in what respect? That it's a (very) slightly annoying noise that disappears quite quickly? Some problem's need highlighting, roof motor's, broken springs etc. as they are actually problems to look out for. HVA's, not in my opinion. If the rest of the car is sound and to your liking I really wouldn't worry. You could buy a N52 engine car without the ticking and a month into your ownership it develops it, it's a 'risk' you take.

I got mine fixed because after driving 3 miles on occasions it still sounded like a tank.

I wouldn't avoid these cars, BUT if one exhibits this for more than a few seconds why risk it.

 

[gazoff]

Great Thanks for the information.

Some great advice, good to here this does not lead to major failure ,but could develop anytime.

srhutch - when you say got it fixed, was this a new head from bmw ?

Interested to see what the cost is to quieten it down if it does get noisy. Either at BMW or a independent Specialist.

Put my mind at rest on a few issues and am looking forward to my coupe ownership

 

[chris6]

Just to add I had the replacement head fitted to mine . Car was a low use car .I still had lifter noise on a couple of occasions. So the new head is not a cure unfortunately. Daily use , clean oil & maybe different grade helps if an issue.

 

[srhutch]

Just to add I had the replacement head fitted to mine . Car was a low use car .I still had lifter noise on a couple of occasions. So the new head is not a cure unfortunately. Daily use , clean oil & maybe different grade helps if an issue.

If the new head is from BMW and is the revised model then it should cure the problem.

 

[srhutch]

Great Thanks for the information.

Some great advice, good to here this does not lead to major failure ,but could develop anytime.

srhutch - when you say got it fixed, was this a new head from bmw ?

Interested to see what the cost is to quieten it down if it does get noisy. Either at BMW or a independent Specialist.

Put my mind at rest on a few issues and am looking forward to my coupe ownership

It was, under warranty luckily

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10937#p161535

 

[Taz]

what ever srhutch, says I would totally agree with, I think he is our forum expert on this subject

 

[chris6]

If the new head is from BMW and is the revised model then it should cure the problem.[/quote]

The new revised head was fitted under warranty by BMW to my 58 plate coupe.As said it was not the cure . Have any later e89 owners with the n52 had the same issues.If so then I wasn't just unlucky with the head I had fitted.

 

[srhutch]

If the new head is from BMW and is the revised model then it should cure the problem.

The new revised head was fitted under warranty by BMW to my 58 plate coupe.As said it was not the cure . Have any later e89 owners with the n52 had the same issues.If so then I wasn't just unlucky with the head I had fitted.[/quote]

Knowing what dealers are like, are you sure they didn't just replace the HVA's. Not long after getting mine done they stopped changing the heads so readily, no doubt due to cost. As a result many have had the HVA's replaced as this is all BMW will do but still suffer with the issue.

 

[chris6]

If the new head is from BMW and is the revised model then it should cure the problem.

The new revised head was fitted under warranty by BMW to my 58 plate coupe.As said it was not the cure . Have any later e89 owners with the n52 had the same issues.If so then I wasn't just unlucky with the head I had fitted.

Knowing what dealers are like, are you sure they didn't just replace the HVA's. Not long after getting mine done they stopped changing the heads so readily, no doubt due to cost. As a result many have had the HVA's replaced as this is all BMW will do but still suffer with the issue.[/quote]

No revised head was fitted , I have a copy of the parts fitted showing the head , bolts , gasket set oil& filter etc .Lifters were done first, when this failed to cure the head was changed . This was done in March 2012 to an August build September 2008 registered car. I might add my local westerly dealership have always been good with any issues I have had.

 

[Stingray468]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum and bought a 3.0Si Coupe for 2 weeks ago. When I was testing the car before buying the car was in a warm garage (maybe 15 degre C) and the lifters was Silent (cool Engine).
Now when i have the car outside (0-5 degre C) the lifters are noisy for maybe 5-10 second.

Has anyone tried to change the oilgrade, to minimize the lifter oil bleed? What grades are you running 0w-30, 5w-30 or other? I prefer Castrol Edge FST in my other BMW (none N52).

//Lasse

 

[NathanZ4C]

I tried Fuchs Titan Race Pro S 5W-40 Ester Synthetic as recommended by oilman @ opieoils but it didnt resolve the issue.

Not sure if i should try something else?

 

[Markos_Z4]

200 a 250 ml ATF oil mixed with your engine oil that will help !
works for me! got a 2006 3.0si

 

[Mike6]

Never used it but you can buy lifter fluid from Eurocarparts - might be worth a try. Also what about oil treatments like Wynns which quitened down a previous car of mine a treat. Personally I would never run anything other than a new car on very thin oils - min I would go for would be 5/30 but best to use 10/40