New sound from engine

[tomrdy]

Fired up the car today (cold) and heard a momentary squeak - it's just one of the pullies I assume and it's been intermittent so this wasn't a source of worry for me.

I had the hood up though and thought I'd give the bay a quick lookover

I then noticed a sound - sounded like something small hitting plastic.

I isolated it to the front of the rocker cover right where the vanos/chain sits.

To my surprise, with my hand on the cover I actually felt a "flick" - like something was flicking the inside of the cover.

This was totally rhythmic and not constant - so a few seconds of cycle and "flick".

After minute though it started being hard to discern and after my drive up to temp, completely gone.

The car has just had an oil service and the vanos seals were done months ago.

Not super concerned but wondering if you guys have any thoughts?

My initial reaction is vanos rattle/chain tensioner.

Car has fresh oil and vanos seals were done months ago M54.

 

[Smartbear]

I thought that the vanos rattle occurred under load at low rpm, not at idle speed? :?
Rob

 

[buzyg]

Just hypothesising, but a slightly stiff link in a chain might act like you described.

 

[tomrdy]

I thought that the vanos rattle occurred under load at low rpm, not at idle speed? :?
Rob

You could be totally right - I'm actually not that clued up on it but it was something I heard about and it popped in my head!

Just hypothesising, but a slightly stiff link in a chain might act like you described.

That would make sense. It was particularly colder today so perhaps things were a bit tighter while waiting for the oil to circulate. It did go away pretty quickly once the motor was awake.

If no one reads this and thinks "oh crap that's going to grenade because XYZ reason!" Then I won't bother myself about it :roll: