Need Help Asap! Loud ticking noise at idle all of a sudden [Video]

Alan l. · 12-25-2010, 11:35 PM

I drove my car for a good 45mins prior and everything is completely fine. Power is there and nothing seems out of the ordinary. Just had my oil changed 2 months ago by BMW and it is at max level. The car has 8600 miles on it and the only mods are V4, catback and intake.

I pulled up to my friends house and immediately noticed a strange ticking noise coming from my hood. Sounds like lifter tap to me and the sound would go away the instant i applied any throttle. Once i let off the gas and let i idle for a few more seconds the tapping came back and went away on its own.

I then drove the car another 10mins back to my house and didn't hear the noise come back again even after i let it idle for 5-10mins.

After searching through youtube i found several videos of N54's making the same noise but none of them mentioned what the problem was.

Any ideas guys? I'm freaking out because the car never made this sound before

Notice how after i rev the motor lightly the sound goes away but comes back around the 1:15 mark, then it goes away completely on its own 6 seconds later.

forza1976 · 12-25-2010, 11:38 PM

Wastegate rattle

Alan l. · 12-25-2010, 11:42 PM

Here's another video i made after i drove home 10mins later. No more tapping and everything sounds like normal even letting it idle for few minutes. I drove the car semi aggressive on the way back and everything felt fine. What the hell could have caused that noise? wastegate rattle? Lifter tap? injector noise? bad gas?

ScaredOnce · 12-25-2010, 11:46 PM

Mine does that occasionally.

Alan l. · 12-25-2010, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forza1976

Wastegate rattle

Positive? I thought WG rattle usually occurs while you are driving and letting off the throttle?

Alan

Forcefed3 · 12-25-2010, 11:54 PM

Ticking is normal in these engines. Note that I have not yet watched the video.

Alan l. · 12-25-2010, 11:58 PM

Watch the video. I know ticking is normal in this DI engine but this noise that i am hearing is way louder than normal.

Here's another video i found on youtube of another 335 making the same exact noise as mine. He never found out the problem and it never came back according to him.

Not my car or video

MF80 · 12-26-2010, 12:16 AM

No idea about the problem but you have a nice E90, homie.

jun · 12-26-2010, 12:24 AM

it sounds like you the normal lifter ticking along with some other chirping. perhaps your belts/pulleys?

TwinTurboXI · 12-26-2010, 01:22 AM

I've had 2 335's and both of them have done this on a regular basis...

Alan l. · 12-26-2010, 01:33 AM

^^ Like every day? Cold and Hot weather?

I've had cars that did this during a very cold start for the first couple of minutes while the oil warms up and then go away. Never experienced it where it would come on like that after driving for an hour.

ScaredOnce · 12-26-2010, 01:50 AM

Is there any credence to the whole direct inject issue? So with a DI engine, all of those "super special" gasoline additives aren't going through the valvetrain. So, do the valves/etc not benefit at all?

We discussed this today over family dinner, while I was chastised for being the only family member not having a V8.

lol

**335i** · 12-26-2010, 01:56 AM

dont panic its normal

ticking is normal, if you dont hear ticking then its bad

Big Tom · 12-26-2010, 02:53 AM

It could be a loose spark plug.

Trojan4evr · 12-26-2010, 03:16 AM

It's the sound of direct injection. But if it's loud it could be an injector or even a belt. LOL at the watsegate rattle somebody said.

Penn999 · 12-26-2010, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trojan4evr

It's the sound of direct injection. But if it's loud it could be an injector or even a belt. LOL at the watsegate rattle somebody said.

+1, I experience the same thing on warm up on cold days, I dont remember this happening a whole lot on warmer days but time will tell. Unless it throws a code, you are most likely fine. There has been a recall on the injectors do some searching and you can find the BMWNA letter they sent out about it.

335iSSA · 12-26-2010, 08:32 AM

I've had the same noise since I got the car. It goes away, or below the threshold of notice, after it's warmed up. I'm not worried about it. I've talked to BMW about this and get the "it's normal" and have had other cars with pretty loud valve trains so... It's not wastegate rattle.

cn555ic · 12-26-2010, 08:43 AM

Alan its normal...I get that occasionally and it goes away...

Alan l. · 12-26-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Tom

It could be a loose spark plug.

I've never messed with my plugs on this car but wouldnt I experience other issues if this was the reason? Notice in the video the sound goes away and comes back....then stops on it's own.

kentgbr · 12-26-2010, 08:46 AM

Could be your HPFP. Mine would sometimes make a similar sound at startup for a minute or so. New pump and no more noises. Any other HPFP related symptoms?

Alan l. · 12-26-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn555ic

Alan its normal...I get that occasionally and it goes away...

Thx man. I'm starting to feel better about this since I'm not the only one with it.

Btw. I still need to stop by to go V5 lol.

Alan

Alan l. · 12-26-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kentgbr

Could be your HPFP. Mine would sometimes make a similar sound at startup for a minute or so. New pump and no more noises. Any other HPFP related symptoms?

Nope. I just got the new hpfp put in 2 months ago and haven't had any symptoms yet. I'll BT scan the car later just to make sure.

12-25-2010, 11:35 PM	#1
Alan l. Major General 5434 Rep 8,805 Posts Drives: 2020 F95 X5M Competition Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States iTrader: (9)	Need Help Asap! Loud ticking noise at idle all of a sudden [Video] I drove my car for a good 45mins prior and everything is completely fine. Power is there and nothing seems out of the ordinary. Just had my oil changed 2 months ago by BMW and it is at max level. The car has 8600 miles on it and the only mods are V4, catback and intake. I pulled up to my friends house and immediately noticed a strange ticking noise coming from my hood. Sounds like lifter tap to me and the sound would go away the instant i applied any throttle. Once i let off the gas and let i idle for a few more seconds the tapping came back and went away on its own. I then drove the car another 10mins back to my house and didn't hear the noise come back again even after i let it idle for 5-10mins. After searching through youtube i found several videos of N54's making the same noise but none of them mentioned what the problem was. Any ideas guys? I'm freaking out because the car never made this sound before Notice how after i rev the motor lightly the sound goes away but comes back around the 1:15 mark, then it goes away completely on its own 6 seconds later. __________________ Last edited by Alan l.; 12-26-2010 at 12:48 AM..
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12-25-2010, 11:38 PM	#2
forza1976 Major General 3398 Rep 6,589 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 49417 and 60610 iTrader: (13) Garage List 2022 BMW M3X [10.00]	Wastegate rattle
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12-25-2010, 11:42 PM	#3
Alan l. Major General 5434 Rep 8,805 Posts Drives: 2020 F95 X5M Competition Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States iTrader: (9)	Here's another video i made after i drove home 10mins later. No more tapping and everything sounds like normal even letting it idle for few minutes. I drove the car semi aggressive on the way back and everything felt fine. What the hell could have caused that noise? wastegate rattle? Lifter tap? injector noise? bad gas? __________________
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12-25-2010, 11:46 PM	#4
ScaredOnce Very Important 20 Rep 450 Posts Drives: 335xi (e92) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: PIT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335xi (e92) [9.00] 2008 Pontiac G8 GT [4.00] 2002 Pontiac Grand ... [0.00] 2001 Cadillac, Eldo ... [0.00]	Mine does that occasionally.
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12-25-2010, 11:54 PM	#6
Forcefed3 Banned 127 Rep 4,733 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: May 2010 Location: South iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [1.00]	Ticking is normal in these engines. Note that I have not yet watched the video.
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12-25-2010, 11:58 PM	#7
Alan l. Major General 5434 Rep 8,805 Posts Drives: 2020 F95 X5M Competition Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States iTrader: (9)	Watch the video. I know ticking is normal in this DI engine but this noise that i am hearing is way louder than normal. Here's another video i found on youtube of another 335 making the same exact noise as mine. He never found out the problem and it never came back according to him. Not my car or video __________________ Last edited by Alan l.; 12-26-2010 at 12:03 AM..
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12-26-2010, 12:16 AM	#8
MF80 Captain 45 Rep 809 Posts Drives: AW 2008 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Area51 iTrader: (10)	No idea about the problem but you have a nice E90, homie.
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12-26-2010, 12:24 AM	#9
jun First Lieutenant 17 Rep 306 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (0)	it sounds like you the normal lifter ticking along with some other chirping. perhaps your belts/pulleys?
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12-26-2010, 01:22 AM	#10
TwinTurboXI Lieutenant Colonel 158 Rep 1,523 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: . iTrader: (12)	I've had 2 335's and both of them have done this on a regular basis...
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12-26-2010, 01:33 AM	#11
Alan l. Major General 5434 Rep 8,805 Posts Drives: 2020 F95 X5M Competition Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States iTrader: (9)	^^ Like every day? Cold and Hot weather? I've had cars that did this during a very cold start for the first couple of minutes while the oil warms up and then go away. Never experienced it where it would come on like that after driving for an hour. __________________
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12-26-2010, 01:50 AM	#12
ScaredOnce Very Important 20 Rep 450 Posts Drives: 335xi (e92) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: PIT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335xi (e92) [9.00] 2008 Pontiac G8 GT [4.00] 2002 Pontiac Grand ... [0.00] 2001 Cadillac, Eldo ... [0.00]	Is there any credence to the whole direct inject issue? So with a DI engine, all of those "super special" gasoline additives aren't going through the valvetrain. So, do the valves/etc not benefit at all? We discussed this today over family dinner, while I was chastised for being the only family member not having a V8. lol
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12-26-2010, 01:56 AM	#13
335i Colonel 184 Rep 2,320 Posts Drives: TOYOTA & 2008 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Swiss iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 335i [9.00]	dont panic its normal ticking is normal, if you dont hear ticking then its bad __________________ E92 335i Black Saphire 6MT PROcede V5, BMS DCI, Big Tom IC, AR CL-DP's 3", AR Design OC, Forge DV's, OEM M3 side skirts, BMW Performance Wheels 19 inch 269 Black Gloss+Continental ContiSportContact 5P (400hp and 550nm) https://www.youtube.com/user/aistis7..._as=subscriber
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12-26-2010, 02:53 AM	#14
Big Tom Banned 57 Rep 1,054 Posts Drives: 335i n54 e92 MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Västerås iTrader: (0)	It could be a loose spark plug.
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12-26-2010, 03:16 AM	#15
Trojan4evr Lieutenant Colonel 494 Rep 1,923 Posts Drives: 2021 G80 M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Socal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW/ E82 135i [1.00] 2007 BMW/ E90 335i [5.50]	It's the sound of direct injection. But if it's loud it could be an injector or even a belt. LOL at the watsegate rattle somebody said.
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12-26-2010, 08:32 AM	#17
335iSSA Captain 15 Rep 603 Posts Drives: 07' E92 335i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Frederick, MD iTrader: (10)	I've had the same noise since I got the car. It goes away, or below the threshold of notice, after it's warmed up. I'm not worried about it. I've talked to BMW about this and get the "it's normal" and have had other cars with pretty loud valve trains so... It's not wastegate rattle.
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12-26-2010, 08:43 AM	#18
cn555ic 441 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	Alan its normal...I get that occasionally and it goes away...
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12-26-2010, 08:46 AM	#20
kentgbr Member 28 Rep 344 Posts Drives: 2016 340i Sedan Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Could be your HPFP. Mine would sometimes make a similar sound at startup for a minute or so. New pump and no more noises. Any other HPFP related symptoms? __________________ Present - 2016 340i, Alpine White, Black, M-sport, 6-spd, Track Handling, Tech pkgs Past - 2011 E90 335i, Alpine White, Ivory, Sport, Premium, Steptronic Past - 2008 E90 335i, Titanium Silver, Dakota Grey, ZSP, Steptronic, 6FL, Wagner FMIC, Bilstein B12 Pro-kit, M3 control arms, SS F/R brake lines
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