Tapping from the engine.

[Zowen]

Hi I would just like some advice for a tapping from my engine.
I don't currently have a video but another person did so here is a video of an identical sound https://youtu.be/wPMpIm9zrf4

I believe it's from the hydraulic arm/tappets and I was wondering if anyone could direct me to the fix for this. It is coming up to needing an oil change but it's not exactly had a lot of mileage (about 3k since last) and only around 8 months ago.

Would a fresh set of oil help with the problem? As I did a small 20 mile run to let it heat up to check if it'd go today and unfortunately not.

Thanks,
Zowen

 

[j3nks79]

Let it warm up and hold the revs at about 3k for 5 mins. That will get all the air out and the noise should go.
If you don’t use the car a lot they tend to have lifter tick.

 

[Mr Tidy]

All four N52 engines I've had have suffered from it when they sit for more than a couple of days without being used.

But it soon goes away, and doesn't seem to cause any damage.

 

[Zowen]

All four N52 engines I've had have suffered from it when they sit for more than a couple of days without being used.

But it soon goes away, and doesn't seem to cause any damage.

Is this the same with the M54 engine. as it does usually sit a few days between use and was sat for about a week before I noticed it due to mot running out so hopefully it'll go

 

[Mr Tidy]

Is this the same with the M54 engine. as it does usually sit a few days between use and was sat for about a week before I noticed it due to mot running out so hopefully it'll go

I've only had one car with an M54, an E46 Compact, but I do seem to remember it happening once on that.

Strangely it was when I used it for several 2 or 3 mile trips on the same day when I was helping a friend move house, and as well as ticking it ran rough and threw up an amber EML. But after I got it warmed up on my way home I turned it off for a few minutes then restarted it and it ran fine with no EML. Drove 200 miles home and it never happened again.

But I suppose any car with hydraulic lifters can suffer from oil draining out of them if they sit idle for any length of time. Hopefully yours will clear.

 

[Zowen]

Is this the same with the M54 engine. as it does usually sit a few days between use and was sat for about a week before I noticed it due to mot running out so hopefully it'll go

I've only had one car with an M54, an E46 Compact, but I do seem to remember it happening once on that.

Strangely it was when I used it for several 2 or 3 mile trips on the same day when I was helping a friend move house, and as well as ticking it ran rough and threw up an amber EML. But after I got it warmed up on my way home I turned it off for a few minutes then restarted it and it ran fine with no EML. Drove 200 miles home and it never happened again.

But I suppose any car with hydraulic lifters can suffer from oil draining out of them if they sit idle for any length of time. Hopefully yours will clear.

It's like your a magician did a couple trips today wasn't there at first, then came back for second trip, final trip home (longer one) it was gone! I'm entirely lost now and debating if I should leave it as a quirk of the car and just stick with the normal maintenance routine

 

[Mr Tidy]

It's like your a magician did a couple trips today wasn't there at first, then came back for second trip, final trip home (longer one) it was gone! I'm entirely lost now and debating if I should leave it as a quirk of the car and just stick with the normal maintenance routine

That sounds just like what I experienced!

I just stuck to the 2 yearly service intervals as mine didn't do the mileage to need one sooner, but I avoided multiple short trips.

 

[PedroSouth]

I currently have both a M54 and N52, both relatively high mileage but neither are daily driven.

Even if the M54 sits for a couple of weeks, I don't get any tappet noise, always very smooth and quiet.

When I bought the N52 it hadn't covered many miles over the previous 6 months and had a similar noise at start up but having used the car on some longer journeys its significantly quieter now every time I start it. I have had it checked by RBM and been advised as its all normal. No plans to address it and will just do an annual service.

 

[tomscott]

Stupid question but have you checked the oil level? Can't remember if these are electronic or have a dip stick.

 

[Zowen]

Stupid question but have you checked the oil level? Can't remember if these are electronic or have a dip stick.

Mine is dip stick on m54 I believe n52 was the first electronic oil.

Oil was fine just a weird quirk of the engine I guess!