Z4 3.0 Si engine ticking noise?

[Bing]

Sounds just like mine - srhutch heard mine in person the other week and it's fine. So yours is fine. But I feel your paranoic pain, as I worried occasionally. Now I don't

 

[Jonny]

Ok thanks guys, much appreciate the feedback. I've read a lot about the Engine issues on my car and just wanted to get it checked before I cancel the extended warranty. It just doesn't sound quite as smooth as you'd expect when you open the bonnet.

 

[nightyard]

Mine did this after loads of short journeys...a good drive and it dissappeared...done it 2 or 3 times in total in last 5 months.. just rev it high once in a while when warm and it should stay away

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[jaykay192]

Hi All,
I managed to come across this thread by accident. However, I found I have a slight ticking noise for about a minute or two then completely gone when starting from cold. The car has very low mileage and I know it have been sat for a while due to the age. Anything I should be worried about? I don't have warranty, I usually do 25 miles a day Monday to Friday.
Cheers,

Jay

 

[Smartbear]

Hi, don't worry-this is a characteristic of little used cars and won't cause any harm. Longer runs & more frequent oil changes usually see it quietening after a period of time
Rob

 

[jaykay192]

Thanks for the guidance; after reading about the headers being replaced, I started to worry a bit.

 

[Smartbear]

Thanks for the guidance; after reading about the headers being replaced, I started to worry a bit.

Bmw did replace some cylinder heads if the customers complained enough :roll:
I've never heard of any harm being caused by this though, it just sounds un-bmw like.
Rob

 

[Paulr]

Thank goodness, with all this doom and gloom I am reading on forums about ticking engines, roof motors, power steering issues, I am constantly wondering what will go wrong and how much will it be!

It's got that bad that I might stop reading forums...

 

[Smartbear]

Thank goodness, with all this doom and gloom I am reading on forums about ticking engines, roof motors, power steering issues, I am constantly wondering what will go wrong and how much will it be!

It's got that bad that I might stop reading forums...

The problem is that hardly anyone posts that their car is in rude health, they mostly do it when there's an issue & it distorts the true picture
Rob

 

[chris6]

BMW Never cured this design fault . I had a replacement updated head fitted which still made the lifter clatter occasionally. My coupe wasn't used regularly & was only moved very short distance quite often . As said to minimise it happening use car reqularly & make sure oil gets up to operating temp . It might not happen again , don't let it put you off.

 

[srhutch]

Thanks for the guidance; after reading about the headers being replaced, I started to worry a bit.

Bmw did replace some cylinder heads if the customers complained enough :roll:
I've never heard of any harm being caused by this though, it just sounds un-bmw like.
Rob

Only in the early days, they stopped doing it and then replaced a few lifters.

Mine was not right though for sure. I could drive for a couple of miles and it still sounded like an old diesel. Back then it was used daily or every other day, as well doing 50 miles a day.

Cylinder head fixed the issue for me though.

 

[Chuffer]

I had this on my Z4 (N52 engine) when it was about 2 years old & under warranty. Took it to the main dealers and pointed out the problem & they sorted it. Never had the ticking noise again & that was three years ago. At the time they said they had reprogrammed the oil pump to push as much oil as it can up to the head on start up. Sounded plausible at the time and it seems to have worked. Hope this helps.

 

[ross101]

I had what I thought was this slightly last year and changed the oil which solved it for a few months. I then took warranty out in fear and sure enough it started again badly.

June this year they investigated it and replaced some lifters, reassembled and it did it again the next morning. So a new cylinder head was then put on which has solved it. Never had to push for them to do a new head, think the whole job came in at over £4k , thank God for warranty!!

 

[goldbcfc]

This is why i've stuck with the M54 engines for last 10 years with very little if any maintainence reqiured. I have recently bought 2.5si with same N52 engine and suspect this noise

 

[Mike6]

When I was in Eurocarparts recently I saw on the shelf a product which you added to the oil specifically for noisy lifters. No idea whether or not it works but always worth a try.

 

[goldbcfc]

thats good i will look out next time

 

[meitme]

Sorry to drag up an ancient thread, but I have this issue on startup: and it's really not anything to worry about? No damage is being caused; it's just a noise?

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've not had an issue as a result of it on my E86 in 13,000 miles, and didn't with my N52 engined 325i in 7,000 miles.

My current 330i (also N52 engine) has also not had an issue, but I've only done 4,000 miles with it so far. They all do it to a degree when cold, and it's more noticeable if they haven't been used for a few days. But a decent run (typically 30+ miles for me) and the ticking stops.

 

[DamianPinder-George]

+1. It's not a big issue from what I've read. It would appear that a decent oil flush and potentially a change in oil brand could reduce, or maybe eliminate it. As per usual, our friends across the pond (who have access to info and spare at a far more specific level than we do) have done a lot of research into the real nuts and bolts of this than we have over here. Linky:

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3615547/Cure_for_BMW_N52_Engine_Lifter

Short version? Its not a problem, but if its annoying you to the point that you can't sleep for thinking about it, then try an oil flush and re-fill with Castrol Edge. Or Magnatec. Or any High-Ester oil which helps the lifter bores to seal a little better.