ktlocklear

I know this seems to be common on the 545 but has anyone experienced this on a 550?

It's been doing it since I took ownership of it a couple of years ago. Car had 35k miles on it then, and now has 70k, so still under CPO

Symptoms: when engine is cold, and if I have the trans in M1,M2, etc, I hear a ticking noise that starts around 2900-3200 rpms under no load, just holding those rpms steady. As the engine warms up, I have to take the rpms a little higher to be able to hear it. After the engine is completely warmed up, the noise goes away.

The car is at the dealer now, and the mech and shop foreman have heard the tick. They are going to compare the noise against another 550.

Any ideas what the tick might be? I'm banking something with the valvetrain. I just hope they are proactive and take care of the issue with no hassle.

Mephistopheles

Not sure about the 550, but on my 528 the tick I get (which sounds exactly like you are describing) is the exhaust lifters. Been waiting on parts for a few weeks which, from what I have read, will immediatly remedy the issue..

ktlocklear

Ahh, good to know....still waiting to hear what they come up with. I'll pass this along to them if necessary.

I just noticed you are in AL....where at?

or_550i

545 and 550 have the same engine.

There are two lines of thought: Lifters and piston slap. There are confirmed cases of both. On cold mornings my N62 makes louder ticking noises from the lifters but it subsides as the oil warms and everything seems to lube up.

Mephistopheles

Huntsville..well, close to Huntsville..Owens Crossroads to be exact..

ktlocklear

I thought the 545 had a 4.4 and the 550 has a 4.8

Maybe the drivetrains are the same?

In anycase, I got a call from my SA. I guess they are going to pull the drivebelts off and take it for a short drive and see if the noise is still there. He said that would tell them if the tick is related to one of the accesseries, pulleys, etc. if the tick is gone, otherwise they said it would be drivetrain related. We'll see

ktlocklear

Oh ok, I'm in the Bham area. Are you in the HOD CCA by chance?

kane1111

[quote name='or_550i' timestamp='1289433844' post='1267815']
545 and 550 have the same engine.
FYI,
The 545 and the 550 DO NOT have the same motor..

or_550i

Same engine but different cylinder bore size and stroke length. Drivetrains are the same too. Everything is the same except the bore and stroke.

or_550i

You might want to alert Bentley Publishers and BMW so they can fix their FSM.