[Xtype0]

Originally Posted by Alpine

For those of us with the ticking:

Do you drive on the interstate very often? Do you mainly use your car for short in-town trips or for commuting?

It would seem to me that those of us that recognize the ticking the most are the ones who aren't driving at high rpms for a long time (which quiets the ticking). The problem could be in every e90, but only a few of us don't drive on the interstates regularly. Just a thought...

Yes, the short commutes probably contribute to the ticking, but i don't think its inherent in every 3 series. I use to drive a lot on the highway and the next morning, the car would sometimes tick nonetheless.

Anyways, just an update, 1+ week after the cylinder head replacement, no ticking has occurred. The weather suddenly got colder again here in TO, so normally, it would've ticked.

[Alpine]

Originally Posted by Xtype0

Anyways, just an update, 1+ week after the cylinder head replacement, no ticking has occurred. The weather suddenly got colder again here in TO, so normally, it would've ticked.

Maybe it was just me, but I didn't realize that the cylinder head replacement was a different part going in. I thought they just swapped it out with the very same part. A tech at BMW Nashville, volkswackin, said this:

Originally Posted by volkswackin

the new head has i believe a check ball installed in it or something to maintain more oil pressure in the head

I assume that's what you received, Xtype. Keep us updated.

[cn555ic]

Does anyone have besides the ticking...a noise like something is hitting a stick to a coconut lightly...This happens when the engine is warm and you throw it into drive or reverse for about 4 to 5 seconds i hear this stick lightly hitting a coconut sound is the best i can describe it...I get the ticking when the car is cold, but once it warms up i don't have this problem, but this strange hollow coconut sound!! Anyone else had experienced this?

[Arrowhead]

Alpine, I think you got the point! I used to drive the car only on Mon to Thur (98% city) with very short distances..about 14 miles per day. Even if I took it on highway sometimes, it will still tick on next day durind day and night!

Since i moved to a new place, now I have to triple up the mileage and almost 90% highway now. It's been one month since the lifters replaced and so far I haven't heard any ticking!

[Arrowhead]

I know there people still have the ticking issue after lifters replaced and probly cylinder head replacement is the only solution rightnow. I really hope I am the lucky one and dont have to listen the ticking again since my driving condition is changed!

[thealbert]

Question, does this problem only affect US models or does it affect Euro versions too?

[Arrowhead]

Originally Posted by thealbert

Question, does this problem only affect US models or does it affect Euro versions too?

It doesnt matter which version it is. If you dont treat her right, she will tick..just like women!

[Alpine]

Originally Posted by Arrowhead

It doesnt matter which version it is. If you dont treat her right, she will tick..just like women!

True story

[Xtype0]

Update: Been 2 weeks since the cylinder head replacement. Still no ticking. Keeping fingers crossed.

[gentooguy]

Originally Posted by Xtype0

Update: Been 2 weeks since the cylinder head replacement. Still no ticking. Keeping fingers crossed.

Just out of curiosity is there some kind of service bulletin regarding the cylinder head replacement? If so what is the TSB #
Also what is the manufacture date of your car?

Thanks

[GMWNashville]

not sure of the TSB # if there is one...i think its more of a case by case thing...but i know that the fix for it is a head replacement...like Alpine said im a tech...but from what i understand of it you rev the engine a few times for intervals(havent read the TSB) and if the ticking doesnt go away then head replacement i beleive is the next step...the ticking you hear though isnt really a "bad" thing..just annoying haha

[Xtype0]

Originally Posted by gentooguy

Just out of curiosity is there some kind of service bulletin regarding the cylinder head replacement? If so what is the TSB #
Also what is the manufacture date of your car?

Thanks

March 06 prod. date.

Its definitely a case by case, because the BMW tech had to come out to listen to it before authorizing the head replacement.

[Temple]

I am being told that I need to wait as the part (cylinder head) is in short supply and they are having problems getting one. Are others hearing the same thing?

[Temple]

Now I am being told that they can not get the part at all. Not good. Anyone else hearing this from their dealers?

[GMWNashville]

ill check tomarrow for you when i stop by work if i remember...but think about it man...MAD people are going to need this head...BMW doesnt keep like a buttload of them laying around they only keep so many heads..so they need to make more

[Temple]

Been waiting 8 months for this part and I am first in line at my dealership so I had hopes that they would have one by now.

[kpcoupe]

<- this is what is exactly been happening to my car and my dealer did that thing where they just rev your car for a while and say that its gone, but it came back the day after and are saying that its not the cylinder head. What to do?

[rock14]

Sure am glad I found this thread! My wife started her car up this morning and out of nowhere there's this ticking noise just like the one posted on youtube!

My wifes car is an 06' took delivery in May off the boat! So, not too sure of the production date. My wife's car has 48,000 miles on it now. Almost out of the 50,000 mile warranty.

I would strongly urge any of you that purchased a car within those months to take it in and have them check the valves. This would have sucked if we went over the 50,000 mile mark on the car!

Along with this they replaced the steering wheel, radio/CD screen, and had to fix some clips in the car due to rattling noise.

Starting to think these cars are crap! I've had a Lexus for 7 years and had no issues.

Another thing the dealerships customer service sucks too. Don't know if anyone out there has had a good experience with the dealerships in the Los Angeles area.

Thanks and there was alot of good information here.
Rock

[rock14]

Just scheduled an appointment Monday morning for the ticking noise.

I'm not taking the car back unless they replace the cylinder heads, or valve lifters based on all the posts here, and I just bought a 550i two months ago.

Hopefully they'll take care of this issue on my wife's car!

[ages944]

Originally Posted by rock14

Sure am glad I found this thread! My wife started her car up this morning and out of nowhere there's this ticking noise just like the one posted on youtube!

My wifes car is an 06' took delivery in May off the boat! So, not too sure of the production date. My wife's car has 48,000 miles on it now. Almost out of the 50,000 mile warranty.

I would strongly urge any of you that purchased a car within those months to take it in and have them check the valves. This would have sucked if we went over the 50,000 mile mark on the car!

Along with this they replaced the steering wheel, radio/CD screen, and had to fix some clips in the car due to rattling noise.

Starting to think these cars are crap! I've had a Lexus for 7 years and had no issues.

Another thing the dealerships customer service sucks too. Don't know if anyone out there has had a good experience with the dealerships in the Los Angeles area.

Thanks and there was alot of good information here.
Rock

Sounds like you've been spoiled by the Lexus dealership experience. I hear it's quite good.

[Xtype0]

Seems like a cylinder head replacement fixes it, as i haven't heard it come back since the replacement.

[GMWNashville]

yea, its def what needs to be done