Update on n52 ticking: *>Important<* information

[lib]

Originally Posted by romak47

I would like to know what this noise sounds like exactly?
I believe I have heard a ticking noise that is intermittent after only a few minutes after driving the car.
Its possible that this noise talked about in this thread is what im experiencing? Does anyone have a good example of what this sound is like, how often it ticks and so forth? A sound clip would be best.

Here's what it sounds like on mine....


This one is probably a better example:

[jbenington86]

Looks like I need to take my car in to get this fixed. My uncle who is watching my car says its making this ticking noise. It did it last year also but only when its cold outside never when its above 50 degrees or so outside.

[vv1803]

I have this exact same problem but not as severe. When revving the engine it goes away but back at idle it starts tickking. I was told that this was normal but I think that's a bunch of BS.

[hansenc]

Well my SA and his Manager are still saying its normal I just emailed him the YouTube video links and the entire SIB. Maybe this will help them in making their decision.

[wmj73]

Originally Posted by Phiberglass

Just got the car back. I'll let you guys know if I hear anymore clicking, only happened to me on cold startups mainly. Got my car back and them passenger headlight isn't working and the adaptive part isn't working. So off to the dealer again.

any feedback mate?

[hansenc]

My SA told me today that even though the noise my vehicle is making isn't NEARLY as bad as the video (call bullshit on that one) they will go ahead and do the replacement as outlined in the SIB.

Kind of wish i would of made a video of mine before having them fix it because it was pretty damn bad, esp with the hood up.

[plexiglass]

Private First Class

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I took my 2008 128i in a couple of weeks ago because I got tired of the valve train ticking. The first time I told them about it in February they told me the sound was normal but to bring it back in if it got worse...which it did. They replaced the lifters because they had " the wrong casting number". When I picked it up there was no ticking but a few days later it returned. I took it back in and the mech said that there was no unusual sound from the motor. I asked if he could bring up another 128 and let me compare the sound. They both sounded the same but I still think no motor made by BMW should sound anything but smooth and have no ticking at all..... I guess we will all have to see how things develop in the future after more miles are put on everyone's 128's and more people complain. And no.. a long trip at highway speeds does not make it go away.

[leesat]

My car is in dealer for checking the ticking sound. Tech said it is normal sound and the injecter? making the sound. Is it true??

[Dackelone]

This ticking noise is not normal.

For those of you out of warranty... have you tired using Seafoam in the engine oil and sucking it into the intake manifold ? I have been reseaching carbon build up on D.I. 135i's... and I came accross quite a few people that have used Seafoam to sure ticking and lots of carbon buildup. Of course that was for other car makes... but IF it worked on car "A" it should work on car "B"!

[Armada]

*sigh* the ticking is back on my car. I had the lifters replaced 6 or 7 months ago and a few days ago the sound is back. Going to take it in sometime this week and see what's up.

[Evice]

My lifters were replaced with new ones couple weeks back. The ticking noise is gone, but my WOT acceleration noise from engine is different now as well.

[Fireflyer239]

Wow, the ticking in the first video is totally unacceptable!

[jbenington86]

Originally Posted by Evice

My lifters were replaced with new ones couple weeks back. The ticking noise is gone, but my WOT acceleration noise from engine is different now as well.

Good different or bad different on the noise?

I got an appointment for Monday hope it doesn't take them very long. I always miss my car when I'm driving a loaner. :'( Then again it isn't the only thing wrong with it but that's for another thread.

[jksgoh]

hmmm.. i had the ticking way back in 08 and it went away after a decent drive and has never come back.
are there other factors at play apart from the lifters? because it seems that ppl are having multiple failures despite the lifters being replaced.
also does anyone actually know if there is any long term damage from the underlying cause of this noise?

[leesat]

Hmm.. how about N51 engine? Is there any ticking issue yet?

[ncutinelli]

i've had

- lifters change
- cylinder head changed
- BMW Australia service Manager look at it.....

still the same noise in the morning on cold start.....

said there is nothing that can be done???

i find this hard to believe.... why would some cars with the same engine make the noise and not others??

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by ncutinelli

i find this hard to believe.... why would some cars with the same engine make the noise and not others??

Simply: Type of oil being used AND more importantly OCI (oil change interval) I suspect plays a big role.

[Alex_bm]

No two cars identical even coming from the factory, that's a fact. I have driven several cars with N52 engine and each felt a little different than the other.

My 328 had oil changed at 5000km and it had an occasional ticking noise. It seemed that highway driving will reduce the occurences, but not eliminate them completely.

Also the first year it was driven mostly for short trips, around 3km each. That might be a factor.

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Simply: Type of oil being used AND more importantly OCI (oil change interval) I suspect plays a big role.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Alex_bm

Also the first year it was driven mostly for short trips, around 3km each. That might be a factor.

IF I were driving my car only 3 kms per week, I would be changing the oil every MONTH!!! The engine is never warming up!

[Alex_bm]

Let's not carry away, it's just a car. If I will spend more time maintaining then driving, I would use a bus.

It wasn't the my first car to be driven that way. This one was the first to tick like an old diesel.

Nothing will change the fact there is a design flaw with this particular engine.

Originally Posted by Dackelone

IF I were driving my car only 3 kms per week, I would be changing the oil every MONTH!!! The engine is never warming up!

[jksgoh]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Simply: Type of oil being used AND more importantly OCI (oil change interval) I suspect plays a big role.

what is this based on and what is the mechanism? if it was that simple im sure that bmw would have picked that up.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by jksgoh

what is this based on and what is the mechanism? if it was that simple im sure that bmw would have picked that up.

I am just saying that IF you are going with BMW OCI and your car starts ticking like a sewing machine - what do you expect!?!?

IF your car starts to make this ticking noise and you have followed BMW recs on OCI, what really can they do? They can do... 1).put some monkey slime in the oil to quiet it down. 2). change the head to the newer design with the check valve to hold oil in the lifters. 3). Replace the engine with a new one. 4). keep replacing parts and buying time until you get fed up and trade out of the car or switch brands. Or your warranty is over with or you are out of Lemon juice.

I have been following this thread in Bimmer Mag and even Mike Miller says there is no real fix. Even with a new designed head.

All I am saying is IF you don't want a loud engine you will need to do SOME preventative maintence - like some added oil changed over and beyound what BMW says/recs.