Both the N54 and N55 engines will make a ticking noise. The sound IS normal. It is from the direct injection. The fuel injectors are under very high system pressure and make some noise, like a diesel does, sort of. IF you think it is bad just run the engine with the plastic valve cover off (like when changing spark plugs) - and you will be shocked by how loud our engines are.
For the 135i's BMW has come out with a SW update for people like you who complain about this injector noise. And it does work - but it also guts the performance of the car. adds lots of turbo "lag" and believe me you do not want that. Some have said that just last week BMW has a new "fix" for this added lag. Because once BMW updates your SW there is no back dating it to a previous SW version. So you are stuck with the latest SW on your car.
Most people who encounter this new SW update with the "lag" end up getting BMW to give them a free PPK or a half price deal. But there is no PPK for the 1M.
Maybe BMW will also offer this SW for the 1M in time. Who knows. But then you would need to buy a M2 to fix that SW update(lag).
