"Tapping" engine & maintenance

[ShineyT]

Afternoon people,

My M Coupe seems to have developed a progressively louder tapping from the engine. It doesn't seem to my (untrained) ear to be coming from the valves, seems further down.

I know S54's are prone to VANOS issues. Is it likely related & if so, what is the recommended course of treatment?

Car is only doing 3k~ miles a year now, so isn't being used as much as I would like!

Second question - the car recently ticked over 70k miles, is there any age based bits people would recommend doing? Not noticed any other issues with the car what-so-ever, however prevention is better than cure....

 

[mr wilks]

If its not the top then it could well be the bottom jmo but i wouldn't risk driving it far at all get someone who knows these engines to take a look asap . In the meantime there are many forum members who documented similar noises , the latest of which would be here https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=100915 worth a read even if it doesn't turn out to be something serious

 

[ShineyT]

Will get it in to a garage as soon as possible then,.

It is nowhere near as severe as the one on the linked thread (the video on there was much worse), however rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Smartbear]

Afternoon people,

My M Coupe seems to have developed a progressively louder tapping from the engine. It doesn't seem to my (untrained) ear to be coming from the valves, seems further down.

I know S54's are prone to VANOS issues. Is it likely related & if so, what is the recommended course of treatment?

Car is only doing 3k~ miles a year now, so isn't being used as much as I would like!

Second question - the car recently ticked over 70k miles, is there any age based bits people would recommend doing? Not noticed any other issues with the car what-so-ever, however prevention is better than cure....

Hi, doesn’t sound likely to be the vanos as that’s in line with the cams & not further down as suspected (crank bearings?)
The fact it’s getting louder isn’t great, get it to a garage asap
Rob

 

[T1berious]

With the voice of recent experience please do the following:

1) Stop driving the car (like, seriously)

2) Get booked into a reputable local indy (if poss get it recovered)

3) Wait for the diagnosis from your indy

It might be nothing (sounds top end to me though) and you'll breathe a sigh of relief if it is but if it is something you'd want it looked at before it comes anywhere near this sorry tale https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=100915.

Just my 2 pennies

 

[ShineyT]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Will contact my usual specialist Monday and put the car into garage in the mean time.

For reference, I have taken a quick video to give an idea.

https://youtu.be/qxuOXxbq1fc

 

[mr wilks]

Listening on my phone it just sounds like any S54 :? when was last oil change ?
Last valve clearance ?

 

[ShineyT]

Well that sounds reassuring! I have owned the car 4 years and honestly never noticed it previously.

Oil change was about 2k miles/6 months ago, valve clearance was 8k miles/18 months @ inspection service.

 

[Beedub]

sounds abit like theirs an exhaust blow , but could be just poor video quality , as you move over the engine... tbh it sounds fine, As above, she could be due a valve clearance check, whats the history like? are you competent to have a crack yourself?

EDIT ; just seen your post above.

 

[ShineyT]

Exhaust noise is probably because of RPi backboxes and Rogue x-pipe.. I’m sure you’ll know from yours

Well you have both put me at ease a bit, will get the valve clearances checked as a point of course this week however.

Thanks gents, helpful as ever!

 

[Beedub]

Exhaust noise is probably because of RPi backboxes and Rogue x-pipe.. I’m sure you’ll know from yours

Well you have both put me at ease a bit, will get the valve clearances checked as a point of course this week however.

Thanks gents, helpful as ever!

How do you live with it on a daily basis???? Painfully loud exhaust setup ....

 

[BMWZ4MC]

The valve gear sounds a little noisy but it doesn’t sound like a single follower is to blame, rather that the whole top end is a little tappety. However, it’s very difficult to capture subtle noises from the top of the engine using a mobile phone.
I would suggest that a noise that is new from your experience after four years of ownership is more relevant than a new owner worrying about the normal tappety nature of the S54. I’d recommend not driving it and getting an experienced ///M mechanic to have a listen.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Exhaust noise is probably because of RPi backboxes and Rogue x-pipe.. I’m sure you’ll know from yours

Well you have both put me at ease a bit, will get the valve clearances checked as a point of course this week however.

Thanks gents, helpful as ever!

How do you live with it on a daily basis???? Painfully loud exhaust setup ....

Maybe its less intense in a coupe? inch:

 

[srhutch]

As above, nothing obvious except you strut brace is on the wrong way round :wink:

 

[MrPT]

Agree - that doesn’t sound too bad. There is “tappety” and then there is the sort of rhythmic knocking sound you start to get when something has gone wrong. Usually picked up very clearly on mobile phone vids.

 

[Spaniarduk]

Mine also sounds a bit 'clicky' in general. This is something that always obsessed me and worried me even though the car has only 27k miles. The other day i started it and stuck my ear right in on and around the engine block. I think i managed to locate the clicks and ticks from the admission side but no specifoc spot in particular. As if it came from difgerent spots, but all the same. I suddenly realised that my ear was hovering over the injectors! The electomagnets opening and closing each injectors. Something impossible to follow when you realise that at 1100 rpm (idle speed when cold) the injectors are firing in total 3300 times a minute! For peace of mind I also opened the oil filler cap. That allowed me to listen in for other ticks. Nothing at all. Smooth as cream. Also I stuck my ear onto the VANOS. It sounded a little rough for a about 15 seconds. I guess until oil finally got to the inners of it. It got noticeable quieter, not that it was alarmingly loud. Im only thankful me and my OCD-ness never got that stethoscope for Xmas

 

[mr wilks]

Well that sounds reassuring! I have owned the car 4 years and honestly never noticed it previously.

Oil change was about 2k miles/6 months ago, valve clearance was 8k miles/18 months @ inspection service.

18 months since last oil change ? You really need to stand next to it when cold & warm to comment but If it were mine I’d be changing the oil for some quality stuff (Millers CFS 10w 60 my only choice) .
Who did the valve check service 8k ago ? Trusted or maybe not ?

 

[dannytheduck1985]

Does it get louder when you rev the engine?.
On idle that sounds like mine did.

Put a clip on of the sound when you rev. If it’s the bottom end bearings, the knock sound will make you cringe

 

[ShineyT]

Well that sounds reassuring! I have owned the car 4 years and honestly never noticed it previously.

Oil change was about 2k miles/6 months ago, valve clearance was 8k miles/18 months @ inspection service.

18 months since last oil change ? You really need to stand next to it when cold & warm to comment but If it were mine I’d be changing the oil for some quality stuff (Millers CFS 10w 60 my only choice) .
Who did the valve check service 8k ago ? Trusted or maybe not ?

Last oil change 6 months ago/ 2k miles, last valve clearance check was 18 months. Done by a very reputable bmw specialist (Forza GB).

Will probably get an oil change done just because though. The car doesn’t get many miles.

 

[ShineyT]

Does it get louder when you rev the engine?.
On idle that sounds like mine did.

Put a clip on of the sound when you rev. If it’s the bottom end bearings, the knock sound will make you cringe

It goes away when not at idle actually, can’t hear anything untoward at all when moving up the revs.

Will try and get a video of some rev movement tomorrow though for clarity.