ticking noise....

[foghat]

Hi all,

I know our engines make a lot of strange noises.

But can anyone comment on the ticking in video in the first post here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=795189

Normal, not normal, idea of cause?

My car makes the exact same noise. Consensus in the thread seems that it is not waste gate rattle, and there are varying opinions on whether the ticking is 'normal'.

Seems at the very least others are experiencing it with no ill effects.

Thanks.

[Sindarin]

Fuel tank vent valve/purge valve. It operates on a duty cycle, thus the ticking, and generally purges at idle. That is why everyone is saying the noise goes away when raising engine rpm.

Normal.

[rking117]

that is Direct Injection. The Newer vehicles have it and it is loud with the hood open. Almost sounds like a diesel. It is normal

[shah269]

Originally Posted by rking117

that is Direct Injection. The Newer vehicles have it and it is loud with the hood open. Almost sounds like a diesel. It is normal

I was going to say that.
These new DI injectors run at a much higher pressure than non DI injection systems. And as I understand it, and I may be wrong, per reading up on the matter the fuel mixture as it leaves the injector is under such pressure that it actually creates a mini sonic boom...in this case it sounds like a tick. Add to it that it's occurring in a metallic tube and it just gets louder.
What gets me and I applaud BMW for this, they did not install a plastic insulator over the engine block to cut down on the noise.

[foghat]

Right. But as the OP (and tiago as well) from the post I linked noted, this noise somewhat recently started. I think on my car too, it started up a about 3 or 4 months ago - though I can't be certain it wasn't always doing it (I've had car for about 8 months).

If it was DI noise or this purge valve, noise should have been there from day 1, no?

[shah269]

Oh it just started?
I got my car second hand and it always sounded like that and had it checked out and it turned out to be fine....
I wonder...and this is just a wild ass guess...if BMW slowly over a period of X number of miles increases the fuel pressure on these injectors? So that initially the car starts off quiet and that over a short period of time the pressure increases to it's full capacity and then the sound starts?

A friend of mine works for Volvo and for their new 2L T models that are coming out sound was a major issue with respect to their DI system. That tap tap tap was freaking out the Alpha testers.

[tmurphy2]

Originally Posted by Sindarin

Fuel tank vent valve/purge valve. It operates on a duty cycle, thus the ticking, and generally purges at idle. That is why everyone is saying the noise goes away when raising engine rpm.

Normal.

ive gotten this answer from a few techs, my question is still why start now after 5 years ive owned this car?

[Sindarin]

Originally Posted by tmurphy2

ive gotten this answer from a few techs, my question is still why start now after 5 years ive owned this car?

Don't know why they get more noisy over time. I wouldn't worry about it unless it starts setting a fault. If it bothers you that much there is a newer part number available (13907618652 approx $90) due to the older style leaking leading to evap emissions faults. I can't say if the newer part would be any quieter though.

[Adam135]

I heard the ticking for the first time today. Never noticed it before.

[mike the snake]

My car has that ticking when cold, once warm it's not audible.

To me it sounds like a tick coming from the valvetrain, lifter/rocker.

[foghat]

Originally Posted by Sindarin

Don't know why they get more noisy over time. I wouldn't worry about it unless it starts setting a fault. If it bothers you that much there is a newer part number available (13907618652 approx $90) due to the older style leaking leading to evap emissions faults. I can't say if the newer part would be any quieter though.

the valve is about $60 from mckenna parts. Do you know how difficult of an install this is? I assume this part lives in the engine bay?

If it is easy to do, even if the noise does not go away, for $60 it is worth a try.

Not that the noise really bothers me.

[135Pats]

As a general matter, I don't worry too much about ticking noises with our engine, the thing is a noise making machine esp. with the cowl off. Unless it's a rattle, if the car is running strong and logging clean, all is well. IMO.

[rking117]

Originally Posted by foghat

the valve is about $60 from mckenna parts. Do you know how difficult of an install this is? I assume this part lives in the engine bay?

If it is easy to do, even if the noise does not go away, for $60 it is worth a try.

Not that the noise really bothers me.

Values are what control the fuel and exhaust. the parts are cheap but to replace you have to remove the head off the engine and have them machined into it. (they have to set perfectly or they wont work) Then a replacement head gasket and coolant. That would be the minimum amount of preplacement items. If ever i were replacing my values I would also replace the entire rocker arm too. So in other words by the time you got done and if you did most of the work yourself you are looking at around $1000.00 USD to replace. That is parts, and machine shop expenses. If you had someone else do the entire job then you are looking at around $2000.00 USD maybe a little less.

[shah269]

Silly question, would this all go away if BMW had covered the engine with a good bit of that plastic that BMW and VW use to quiet their engine?

[foghat]

Originally Posted by rking117

Values are what control the fuel and exhaust. the parts are cheap but to replace you have to remove the head off the engine and have them machined into it. (they have to set perfectly or they wont work) Then a replacement head gasket and coolant. That would be the minimum amount of preplacement items. If ever i were replacing my values I would also replace the entire rocker arm too. So in other words by the time you got done and if you did most of the work yourself you are looking at around $1000.00 USD to replace. That is parts, and machine shop expenses. If you had someone else do the entire job then you are looking at around $2000.00 USD maybe a little less.

I am talking about the Fuel tank vent valve/purge valve mentioned by Sindarin. Which i assume is different than the 'valves' in the engine.

[foghat]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

As a general matter, I don't worry too much about ticking noises with our engine, the thing is a noise making machine esp. with the cowl off. Unless it's a rattle, if the car is running strong and logging clean, all is well. IMO.

I am tending to think along these lines as well.

[Cozy]

LOL, WG rattle.

This sounds exactly like the carbon canister, it's an emissions control system. It's been standard on VAG cars since around 2000, probably earlier but that's when we all started worrying about pollution. It's not new tech, just a way to make the car less polluting and more efficient. The purge valve causes the ticking I think and should only start when the car is up to temp or rather, off fast idle.

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5047404...ster-work.html

They are usually silent when new but get louder as they get older, like that video but it's hardly intrusive. You could just buy a new one if it bothers you, money wasted though as your current one is working properly. Just get some DP's and drown out the noise

[borabora]

This ticking noise was also reported on N51-N52 engines . It's reportedly related to the Intermittent Hydraulic Valve Adjuster (HVA) Noise / camshaft hydraulic valve lifters .

[rking117]

Originally Posted by foghat

I am talking about the Fuel tank vent valve/purge valve mentioned by Sindarin. Which i assume is different than the 'valves' in the engine.

my bad...

[Sindarin]

Originally Posted by foghat

the valve is about $60 from mckenna parts. Do you know how difficult of an install this is? I assume this part lives in the engine bay?

If it is easy to do, even if the noise does not go away, for $60 it is worth a try.

Not that the noise really bothers me.

Its fairly easy to get to. Its attached to the bottom of the intake manifold at the back. Held in place by a rubber slot you just push to get off, the electrical connector, and the two plastic quick disconnects. For easiest access you might have to remove the microfilter housing/cowl and possibly the engine air filter box.

[Sindarin]

Originally Posted by borabora

This ticking noise was also reported on N51-N52 engines . It's reportedly related to the Intermittent Hydraulic Valve Adjuster (HVA) Noise / camshaft hydraulic valve lifters .

True, but the N52 HVA bulletin does not apply to N54, FYI.

[pkim1079]

Just started noticing it on mine too. But my senses are heightened after driving really hard in the canyons this weekend. After one run the car read low oil. Read on the forums that its caused by parking on a slope nose down which i was. Freaked out and drove to the gas station and tested the oil levels and it was fine. Just got an oil change today. Now im just trippin out and hearing all these things. Could it be rod bearings ticking? Sounds sort of like my f30 328i. Just never noticed it on the 1er. Gonna go to the track in a couple weeks and dont want the motor to blow.

This is exactly what happened to my evo and the engine blew on the freeway out of nowhere so as you can imagine im just paranoid right now. Guess i can try some wot runs next time i get on the freeway or accelerate slow and hold gear to test it out. I hope bmw alerts anything fairly early so nothing catastrophic happens. I literally nuetraled it back to the gas station.

Am i hearing things?! Am i paranoid?! Please i need psychiatric help with this issue seriously.