Tapping sound from engine!

[mcbutler]

Hi All,

23i 2009 car, 76000mls.

I noticed the other day when I was sat in traffic that I could hear a light 'tapping' sound from the engine!
It disappears as soon as the car revs, it is present at all temperatures but not for the first minute or two after a cold start.
If I raise the bonnet it is actually very hard to hear it, even with your ear on the plastic cover.

Something else I noticed yesterday, I was making my way cautiously down a cobbled wall lane on tickover, I could hear the ticking sound but it came and went as I went over the various lumps and bumps!

Car drives beautifully, MPG is great.

Any ideas chaps???

 

[john-e89]

My thought is a loose pipe on the bulkhead, popped out of its clip etc, or a clip has broken. Be worth a look for nothing.

 

[mcbutler]

My thought is a loose pipe on the bulkhead, popped out of its clip etc, or a clip has broken. Be worth a look for nothing.

Good idea Sir, will check it out..

 

[ian-r]

Hi All,

23i 2009 car, 76000mls.

I noticed the other day when I was sat in traffic that I could hear a light 'tapping' sound from the engine!
It disappears as soon as the car revs, it is present at all temperatures but not for the first minute or two after a cold start.
If I raise the bonnet it is actually very hard to hear it, even with your ear on the plastic cover.

Something else I noticed yesterday, I was making my way cautiously down a cobbled wall lane on tickover, I could hear the ticking sound but it came and went as I went over the various lumps and bumps!

Car drives beautifully, MPG is great.

Any ideas chaps???

MPG is great? It must be broke then!

I thought a noisey tappet at first, but maybe not how you described it. Does the ticking noise get faster with engine RPM?

 

[mcbutler]

Hi All,

23i 2009 car, 76000mls.

I noticed the other day when I was sat in traffic that I could hear a light 'tapping' sound from the engine!
It disappears as soon as the car revs, it is present at all temperatures but not for the first minute or two after a cold start.
If I raise the bonnet it is actually very hard to hear it, even with your ear on the plastic cover.

Something else I noticed yesterday, I was making my way cautiously down a cobbled wall lane on tickover, I could hear the ticking sound but it came and went as I went over the various lumps and bumps!

Car drives beautifully, MPG is great.

Any ideas chaps???

MPG is great? It must be broke then!

I thought a noisey tappet at first, but maybe not how you described it. Does the ticking noise get faster with engine RPM?

Hi, as soon as you raise engine revs it disappears!

 

[mcbutler]

Ticking, actually more of a tapping sound is coming from low down on the drivers side of the engine (UK CAR). Not there until engine warms, is not regular like a tappet.
If you rev the car slowly it increases with revs but gets quieter, if you let revs drop to idle it takes a moment for it to return as though oil pressure may be an issue.
All very strange (and worrying)..

 

[mr wilks]

Have you suddenly noticed it after owning the car a while ?
How does the service record read ?
Is it due oil change ?
Has it had minimum changes or more so ?
Has it had a recent oil change & if so who by ?
I would follow the routine stuff but also don't go looking for problems that may not even be there .

 

[Ducklakeview]

Disa valve? Mine sounded like a taxi! Before and after videos in my thread here.. http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=97099&hilit=Disa

Mike

 

[john-e89]

Disa valve? Mine sounded like a taxi! Before and after videos in my thread here.. http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=97099&hilit=Disa

Mike

E89........

 

[Ducklakeview]

Disa valve? Mine sounded like a taxi! Before and after videos in my thread here.. http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=97099&hilit=Disa

Mike

E89........

Doh...

On my phone...

Mike

 

[mcbutler]

Have you suddenly noticed it after owning the car a while ?
How does the service record read ?
Is it due oil change ?
Has it had minimum changes or more so ?
Has it had a recent oil change & if so who by ?
I would follow the routine stuff but also don't go looking for problems that may not even be there .

Had the car two months
No service record from seller but it checks out with BMW
Oil change 2 months ago
All changes on time.

Sound is loudest when parked adjacent to a wall or similar, the reflection of the sound is really quite loud sometimes.
Very odd, it seems to come and go at times, a couple of taps, then silence before a few more taps and so on????

 

[mcbutler]

Could it be the water pump I wonder???

 

[Smartbear]

Could it be the water pump I wonder???

Never heard of mechanically noisy electronic pumps, they usually stay silent right up until they fail & fry your engine
Rob

 

[mcbutler]

Could it be the water pump I wonder???

Never heard of mechanically noisy electronic pumps, they usually stay silent right up until they fail & fry your engine
Rob

Thats worth knowing Rob, thank you.

 

[Smartbear]

Could it be the water pump I wonder???

Never heard of mechanically noisy electronic pumps, they usually stay silent right up until they fail & fry your engine
Rob

Thats worth knowing Rob, thank you.

From what I've picked up on here & my own experience they tend to fail electronically & not mechanically-mine rhythmically pulsed the radiator fan immediately after cold starts which is early warning of pending death throes :roll:
Rob

 

[mcbutler]

Never heard of mechanically noisy electronic pumps, they usually stay silent right up until they fail & fry your engine
Rob

Thats worth knowing Rob, thank you.

From what I've picked up on here & my own experience they tend to fail electronically & not mechanically-mine rhythmically pulsed the radiator fan immediately after cold starts which is early warning of pending death throes :roll:
Rob

"pending death throes" very dramatic, love it.... Personally I would say "gonna pop its clogs"

 

[mcbutler]

I am beginning to think that this is the timing chain and/or tensioners-guides.
Yesterday it was quiet as a mouse for 3 hours while messing around with Carly, today it sounds like a ball bearing is rattling around inside...

 

[Smartbear]

I am beginning to think that this is the timing chain and/or tensioners-guides.
Yesterday it was quiet as a mouse for 3 hours while messing around with Carly, today it sounds like a ball bearing is rattling around inside...

Those engines aren't renowned for chain/tensioner issues, have you tried the long screwdriver "stethoscope" test to try & pinpoint the noise?
Rob

 

[mcbutler]

Yip tried it to no avail. Their is a small valve in the side of the engine block according to diagrams on realOEM website. Might be that, or I need a longer screwdriver! I think I will drop it round to my local indy and see what they say.

 

[Rick Cockbain]

This is a common problem and in most cases it represents car not being used frequently or not being driven hard enough.
The valves will re-adjust via a purging process.
- Start the car and let it warm up (most important)
- Gradually rev engine in neutral to 2500 - 3000 rpm for 30 sec.
- Listen to see if tick is still happening as it may take up to 5 purges till valves adjust
As I do not use my Z4 that often, it will take a 2 to 3 purge process to quiet it down.
Should this not work, then the problem may require greater mechanical attention.

Redline till you Flatline