This happened 2x in the last week (the second time being this AM). I drive the car in the early AM to the gym (<1 mile). It sits there for about 2 hours, I leave the gym, start her up stop at Starbucks (but leave the car running). When I leave Starbucks I hear a tap, tap tap under the hood. It sure sounds like a stuck / sticky valve / lifter or sound from the manifold. Because it is so repetitive, I think it is more a lifter / valve matter than a manifold.

I head home to pick up the kids to take them to school and the sound is still there. By the time I drive them to school (3.5 miles at speeds not >30 mph) the tapping is gone and she sounds as good as new.

Any thoughts, ideas?

This is a CPO and I've had the car for a little over 2 weeks.

Thanks, in advance, for your input.

 

When was your last oil change and what type of oil you use?

 

The oil was changed by the dealer just before I purchased the car (as part of the CPO program). My supposition is BMW synthetic was used.

 

as far as i know it is a lifter tick.

i dont have an e60, but i do have an e36 m3 and this happened to me not too long ago.

either you are low on oil, or the oil you are using is to thick on start up.
imo find out what viscosity of oil bmw put in the car last and add 1/4 to 1/2 a quart and that should do the trick.

if you are adding any more than that, id have it checked out asap.

 

i have been experiencing the same noise for a while now. I took my car to the dealer they did a hva bleed test but it did not do anything. so i left it thier for a week and they didn't do a thing. they called me 3 weeks later and they are setting up another appointment for me. This noise gets very loud at times and is quiet at times, sometimes it goes for at least 30 minutes. I hate it, i will keep you posted on what they say it is and what they will do to fix it.

 

When you start the car how long til the next oil change does it say?

CPO's they usually don't change the oil unless its close to that time.

 

To add to above....

Some BMW's develope a slight tick over time and BMW stance is its normal and will not effect the life of the engine. I'm not sure at what point they consider it an issue and repair it under warranty. But I'm sure a customer pushing them they'd do it sooner then later.

Does this tick go completely away after the motor is warmed?

 

Ditto on the tick, seem my 06 530xi developed it right around 40K - Will question SA next time I'm at the dealer

 

Thanks all for your comments on the subject.

The ticking disappeared for a few days (since my original post) but reappeared today, which prompted me to ring up the dealership.

I spoke to my "new" SA today (had to make the switch after my first SA totally failed to keep me informed when I first had her in for the high battery drain error message and ultimately a BMW approved battery replacement under warranty. Sorry for the temporary digression). He advised that I will do no damage to the engine between now and the time that it is scheduled to come in for service (in a fortnight), and that is a relief.

When I bring her in, they will conduct a BMW mandated "bleed" of the lifters, and my SA claims that typically resolves the lifter tick 80% of the time (not bad odds if you ask me). I'll be without the car for a day, but will have a loaner.

If the problem isn't resolved by the "bleed," we will need to explore other options.