hey, i been having the lifter noise for quite a while now, but it comes and goes but these days i been getting it in the morning for about 10 seconds and it would go away, but today the valves were ticking for a while after my 3 mile drive to work. I know 3 miles is not a lot of driving but i am worried if the lifters cold cause any damage to the engine and is 0w-40 Mobil 1 oil the right oil for my 2008 528xi? (i live in Michigan)

Is this a repair needed right now? or is it just the engine oil type (i do self oil changes)?
Also what possible damage can this be causing?

 

google "BMW N52 valve tick".

It's a well documented problem with early production N52 engines. The casting for the cylinder head was updated sometime in 2010 if memory serves me right, to correct a design flaw in the lifter bores.

good luck with the car.

 

I did search quite a few forums and they replace the lifters first and then the head. But i am out of warranty so i dont want to be going around and spending 3k + on a cylinder head :/ ... I dont mind the sound much as i think changing the oil type will fix the issue. Just want to have some opinions on engine wear ?