The Dreaded N52 Engine Knocking/Ticking

[edd_jedi]

For the first time last night after a very short journey to the supermarket I heard the knocking I've seen mentioned. I made a quick video and compared it to all the others online, and it's exactly the same so must be the HVA issue. I've done a fair bit of reading and found some useful threads such as this one:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10937&p=161535

However they're all quite old now (as are our cars!) so was just wondering if anybody has any recent experience.

Firstly, I'm not overly concerned as it only seems to do it when the engine is very cold and I rarely do a journey less than 5 miles (just been out again now and it was fine.) But are there any actual examples of damage caused by this issue yet? When it was first reported this engine was still pretty new so there were unlikely to be any horror stories, but now these engines are 5+ years old I thought maybe some stories will have emerged about premature wear, replacements etc.

Secondly I'm under no illusion that a 5 year old car with 108k on the clock is well out of warranty, but has anybody had any 'good will' success recently? For example I know engines with the Nikasil engine lining issue were being replaced for nearly 10 years.

Any comments appreciated.

 

[Zeld4]

I've had the same experience today and have had it once before and it sounds exactly the same as yours. It only happens when I've done lots of silly little journeys when the engine hasn't had a chance to warm up properly. Just took it for a 20 minute blast and the ticking sound has completely gone when I got it home. Doesn't seem to be down on power and when it happened before mpg wasn't effected. The only difference was the idle kept falling and wasn't steady.

 

[Nova2k7]

mine ticks all the time! had the DISA valve replaced and still the same 96k

 

[Yorkie Z]

You sure this isn't due to the cold weather, takes a while for the oil to warm up and circulate properly. Effectively your oil is 20 degrees warmer in the summer from a cold star.

 

[Nova2k7]

You sure this isn't due to the cold weather, takes a while for the oil to warm up and circulate properly. Effectively your oil is 20 degrees warmer in the summer from a cold star.

12 mile trip to work? temp is in the middle by about half way into the trip!

 

[edd_jedi]

To be fair that is the water temperature gauge (assuming your car isn't an ///M) it takes a lot longer for the oil to reach operating temperature. Before buying my Z I test drove a 6 series (which has an oil temp gauge) and even after a 15 minute drive the oil temperature was nowhere near normal. Don't start thrashing the car just because the water temp gauge reaches the middle!

 

[Caemon]

I don't think mine ticks .... anyone able to point me to the best videos online to check?

 

[edd_jedi]

The video in the first post of this thread shows it well:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10937&p=161535

A quiet ticking noise is normal, it has to be really loud (as in you can hear it from inside the car) for it to be the HVAs.

 

[Caemon]

The video in the first post of this thread shows it well:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10937&p=161535

A quiet ticking noise is normal, it has to be really loud (as in you can hear it from inside the car) for it to be the HVAs.

Thanks edd
Nope 'touch wood' mine doesn't sound anything like that loud...Phew :|

 

[Caemon]

I've had the same experience today and have had it once before and it sounds exactly the same as yours. It only happens when I've done lots of silly little journeys when the engine hasn't had a chance to warm up properly. Just took it for a 20 minute blast and the ticking sound has completely gone when I got it home. Doesn't seem to be down on power and when it happened before mpg wasn't effected. The only difference was the idle kept falling and wasn't steady.

Zeld4... whats your mileage if you don't mind me asking?

 

[jamesgarbett]

Mine did this for the first time the other day - it was just above freezing and I did a short journey of about 5 miles in traffic - was really noticeable when queuing - then I parked up for 10 mins and drove back and the noise was gone - my car is on 82K

Does the type of oil used have any effect on this?

 

[Nova2k7]

The video in the first post of this thread shows it well:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10937&p=161535

A quiet ticking noise is normal, it has to be really loud (as in you can hear it from inside the car) for it to be the HVAs.

god mines not like that! just a slight tapping

 

[srhutch]

The video in the first post of this thread shows it well:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10937&p=161535

A quiet ticking noise is normal, it has to be really loud (as in you can hear it from inside the car) for it to be the HVAs.

god mines not like that! just a slight tapping

You have the M54 engine not the N52 so you won't get this issue.

 

[Zeld4]

I've had the same experience today and have had it once before and it sounds exactly the same as yours. It only happens when I've done lots of silly little journeys when the engine hasn't had a chance to warm up properly. Just took it for a 20 minute blast and the ticking sound has completely gone when I got it home. Doesn't seem to be down on power and when it happened before mpg wasn't effected. The only difference was the idle kept falling and wasn't steady.

Zeld4... whats your mileage if you don't mind me asking?

I'm about to hit 70k miles

 

[edd_jedi]

More importantly, what's the build date of your car? They updated the N52 engine in 2008 apparently, but although my car is an 08 plate it was actually built in late 06. If your build date is after late 08 (which is feasible as it's on an 09 plate) then you shouldn't have the problem. But from what I've seen most coupes were built in 2006 regardless of when they were actually registered.

 

[Bumpy]

I only noticed my tick ('08 3.0si) when I was driving through for coffee. The sound reflected off of the wall.
As the car was still under warranty I mentioned it to my SA. I got the 3rd revision exhaust lifters installed and that was the end (so far) of that.
Apparently the issue is that the sound doesn't really effect the drive ability of the car.
Irritating, for sure, but it's not like the engine is going to grenade.
Not good, but if you are out of warranty and dealer goodwill, and don't have 3400 in the bank ....You can still drive.

 

[Dazz84z]

For the first time last night after a very short journey to the supermarket I heard the knocking I've seen mentioned. I made a quick video and compared it to all the others online, and it's exactly the same so must be the HVA issue. I've done a fair bit of reading and found some useful threads such as this one:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10937&p=161535

However they're all quite old now (as are our cars!) so was just wondering if anybody has any recent experience.

Firstly, I'm not overly concerned as it only seems to do it when the engine is very cold and I rarely do a journey less than 5 miles (just been out again now and it was fine.) But are there any actual examples of damage caused by this issue yet? When it was first reported this engine was still pretty new so there were unlikely to be any horror stories, but now these engines are 5+ years old I thought maybe some stories will have emerged about premature wear, replacements etc.

Secondly I'm under no illusion that a 5 year old car with 108k on the clock is well out of warranty, but has anybody had any 'good will' success recently? For example I know engines with the Nikasil engine lining issue were being replaced for nearly 10 years.

Any comments appreciated.

I've had the same thing happen once about a year ago after the car had been sat still for a month. I had started it up and moved it a few meters to clean it. After I restarted it I could hear the loud ticking. But after a 5 minute drive it stopped. Not happened since and never caused any problems was at about 50k then.
Think it will only be a problem if it's happening with every journey.

 

[sckow]

22,000 miles and my 2007 ticking quite loud. No warranty ...I'm getting ready to pull the valve cover , and replace the exhaust lifters and rockers myself...hopefully the new improved parts will cure the problem. Any one tackle the job themselves?

 

[AndyBeech]

Has anyone actually ever had a recorded engine failure from this? Just sayin'.
It sounds annoying but for the cost of sorting it, what's the point?

 

[srhutch]

22,000 miles and my 2007 ticking quite loud. No warranty ...I'm getting ready to pull the valve cover , and replace the exhaust lifters and rockers myself...hopefully the new improved parts will cure the problem. Any one tackle the job themselves?

Do some research, from memory these engines are very difficult to work on and you will need some special tools I think.