Jack-E61

Hi all,

Just another experience with a ticking V8 between 1,700 and 2,200 rpm (built May 2004):

Having driven more than 30,000 miles now and believing that the ticking has become a bit more intensive I had decided to complain - politely as distinctly - to my car dealer once more at least.

I must agree that until now the problem was even an engineer ( I am) could hardly detect the very silent ticking and neither my wife nor any service specialist sitting beside could confirm me ...!

Finally the BMW dealer did me the favor to invite a FSE (from Munich) to come in and examine my complaint.
Result: The FSE confirmed me after 30 seconds (driving himself, 2,000 rpm, slow speed, first or second gear fixed, no other traffic noise outside, all persons in the car keeping silent, radio off, ...) and agreed to servicing the Valvetronic on the right bank. This was a "known tolerance issue for BMW", he said.

After some weeks: The dealer did not succeed to fix the problem at least (for some reasons), so that the voluntary decision from Munich has been set up to spend me a new engine for free.
Next week I will get the car back with a brand new engine of 0 miles - great service! "Thank You, BMW!"

My advice to all other V8 tickers: Keep on trying hard to come into contact with a BMW FSE - the ticking is alive, it is not just your imagination. I personally blieve there are more V8 tickers outside than their owners have noticed yet, but most of them are not technicians, so their engineering perception is not trained to detect.
As this is only a matter of Valvetronic tolerances this will not affect the life time of the engine in the early miles, but I think it certainly will become an ugly noise after some more than 50,000.
So if you have decided to keep on moving your car for more than a lease period or you intend to sell to second hand interested parties at best price you should care about this problem early enough during guarentee ...!

I usely drive my cars for six years, handing over to my wife after three ...!


Good luck with your FSE.

Regards

EBMCS03

Is the ticking only under light load at speed? I can kind of hear a small ticking on the right side of my engine (drivers side) only when the hood is open. I do not hear it otherwise... it kind of sounds like a disel ticking. I'm not sure if mine is actually a problem because its so light. Others that have reported this problem says its much louder. I guess I'll just have to monitor it and see how it goes.

Jack-E61

Hi EBMCS03,

actually you can hear it better form being inside than outside (at perhaps opened copartment). And you should only SLIGHTLY accelerate (=light load), starting below 1,700 RPM. Being higher than 2,200 other noises (e.g. wheel's noise) coming up will overrule this ticking.

Resuming, no it is no diesel tacking, that would be louder and more "tacking" in my understanding. This "Diesel" noise I used to have at my older E34 V8 4.0 starting at cold and rainy weather in the first 30 to 60 seconds sometimes. And this engine had it more than 200,000 miles without any dammage ("Good" noise).

My E61 ticking is on the passenger's side bank (right side looking ahead)!

Regards

andy545

Thanks for the input Jack-E61. The valve tapping issue has been discussed quite a few times on the forum ( search "valve tapping" ) - and I am happy for you that something was done to resolve this problem.
I too have had this tapping issue on my V8. My dealer agreed to change the valvetronic levers on both sides, since it was discovered the manufacturing tolerances on a certain batch of levers between May 2004 and Oct 2004 were flawed. Mine fell within this period. Unfortunately this did not resolve the problem...the valvetronic levers and the axle they rotate around were also changed once more. Again, today I can still hear the clicking between 1700 -2200rpm, especially when cold.

My chief mechanic is at a loss. He believes it must be something to do with engine management ( ie. electrical/software ) but is not 100% sure. Surely I need a FSE to confirm. The tapping sounds are not normal.


1. Did you have as well your valvetronic levers replaced when you mention "serviced" ?
2. Could you please PM/email me the details of the FSE report - It would help my case when the FSE comes around to see my car. At least he should be aware of other FSE's solution to this nagging problem.

Thanks.

mr_djurgarden

Hi EBMCS03,

actually you can hear it better form being inside than outside (at perhaps opened copartment). And you should only SLIGHTLY accelerate (=light load), starting below 1,700 RPM. Being higher than 2,200 other noises (e.g. wheel's noise) coming up will overrule this ticking.

Resuming, no it is no diesel tacking, that would be louder and more "tacking" in my understanding. This "Diesel" noise I used to have at my older E34 V8 4.0 starting at cold and rainy weather in the first 30 to 60 seconds sometimes. And this engine had it more than 200,000 miles without any dammage ("Good" noise).

My E61 ticking is on the passenger's side bank (right side looking ahead)!

Regards
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Check the oil level. When I had my old E39 530 it sounded like a diesel when the the oil level was too low.

znod

Thanks much for the info. I'll be listening for ticking.

doug_999

My GS430 had a ticking noise (only when cold outside) that baffled the Lexus techs for months (they are not used to fixing cars you know!)

Turned out to be the brake lines rubbing up against the firewall. They insulated them and the problem went away for a year or so. It is back now, but the car goes bye bye on Mar 1, so I'm not going to deal with it again.

Jack-E61

Hi Andy,

yes, the levers had been replaced! The ticking seemed to be gone then.
Unfortunately I cannot confirm this with objectivity because a "Grinding Noise" now overlayed the typical V8 humming. This noise seemed to be generated from the camshaft not beeing adjusted in the right position, like the sound of an electric motor driven pepper mill ....
(Yes you are right, I couldn't believe that as well ...).
But the Service was very ashamed presenting me a noise even factors worse than before ...!
At once they guarenteed me to receive an engine free of any noise in best functionality at least.

They gave me the car back for two weeks to order new parts until starting a new repair.
I didn't ask any further questions because of past experiences I have deep confidence in my dealer. In this period I had driven fairly additional 1,000 miles without any problems except that terrible noise when accelerating the engine at low speed (only to hear inside during acceleration but not when idling or at open compartment !)

After another week in service the dealer informed me of the Munich decision to replace the engine against a brand new one. That is the whole story.

Unfortunately I didn't care about the FSE report, because of past good experiences with the dealer and the rapid acknowledgement of the FSE I was sure to get the problem solved anyway.

At my last conversation with the dealer they didn't give me an precise answer what happened exactly and what the cause of the Munich decision could be. And - you can imagine, these good news let me keep my mouth closed not troubling the water for any reason!

When the happy end of the story has become true I will give it another try.

Regards

paulwbenn

This sounds like the problem I had and described in a post a few weeks ago. The clatter noise was slight and at first I wasn't sure there was a problem - thought I was hearing things. On first visit to dealer, the visiting BMW tech couldn't hear it. It seemed to get worse and on the second visit, the dealership mechanic heard it. At BMW's instruction they replaced both heads and its definitely better, but I'm not sure its cured. Glad you got a new engine!

EBMCS03

Check the oil level. When I had my old E39 530 it sounded like a diesel when the the oil level was too low.
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Thanks I'll check that.