[VIZSLA]

Originally Posted by 2006330xi

^^^ drive the car semi-hard until it does breakdown, at which time have it fixed via your warranty. If the car does not break down, then you have nothing to worry about. The only time my car does that is when/if I let it idle right after start up or drive it on very short trips (10 mi or less).

I still have not heard of a car with this issue breaking down.... There have been a few cars reported to be well over 100K miles too. Time will tell. I would not attempt to fix it until you actually do have a breakdown... who knows, at that point you may well have 200K + miles on it.

I don't see the need in trying to rush a failure. I agree with your general thrust. Document the issue while under warranty and if at some point there is a failure BMW will have to honor your claim.
As far as I've heard there have been no complications other than the noise. If at some point there is rest assured it won't happen just to yours and BMW will have to act..

[Ryan_L_330I]

Originally Posted by alarroyo

Well I have a 2006 330i with a little over 23k miles and have the ticking noise. Went the third party warranty way denied because it was not a breakdown. Went the BMW NA way and the say NO and decision final even though is a BMW engineering flaw. Now I'm suck with at least an 1,100 hundred dollar bill so far which will be put it back together with no repairs. What else I can do? There is no way that a car with that low miles could make such a loud ticking.

unfortunately it is a design flaw that as far as im aware will not lead to immediate breakdown. I had my car overhauled thanks to the info i found on this forum. They replaced cam bearing ledge and maybe cam as well i'll have to double check the paper work, lifters and the head the total repair of all was a small fortune. I can list the parts for those interested, even at an indy shop this job is murder, if im not mistaken it was 37.5 hrs labor. for all of the above mentioned.

[alarroyo]

That $1100 figure is just for the tear down so far, final bill should be around $ 6,900.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by alarroyo

That $1100 figure is just for the tear down so far, final bill should be around $ 6,900.

God damn, that's like a down payment on a Civic.

[DL]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

God damn, that's like a down payment on a Civic.

+1 Delta,

Why is it the customer is paying the tab for a design flaw? Granted no total breakdown, but gradual not normal wear on these parts by all logic will cause problems in the future. It all depends on driving habits at what mileage it occurs.

My question is, why do we not hear this noise on every other automobile on the planet if this noise is normal?

Lack of oil is not normal.

[alarroyo]

Agree there is no reason I should pay for a manufacturer flaw, I guess Mr. Cuomo who confronted BMW about the HPFP on the 335 will have another field day with this issue. There are thousands of these cars that have had this done. First they issue a SIB for a bleed down, that did not work and then issue another to replace lifters then that don't work a the cylinder gets redesigned and apparently this solved the issue.

[flea333]

When I first got my 2008 328 a few weeks ago i noticed a ticking or tapping sound at 4k rpm+. I told them about it and they didn't hear it of course. Then when the main belt broke and my car died they claimed the ticking was due to the alternator belt that was about to go. I actually haven't really listened hard to see if it's gone, but I haven't noticed it again. I need to do another run with windows down in at night when its quiet.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by DL

+1 Delta,

Why is it the customer is paying the tab for a design flaw? Granted no total breakdown, but gradual not normal wear on these parts by all logic will cause problems in the future. It all depends on driving habits at what mileage it occurs.

My question is, why do we not hear this noise on every other automobile on the planet if this noise is normal?

Lack of oil is not normal.

+100000

I agree the noise is not normal, not by a long shot. What's fucked up is that BMW knows the problem exists and is not doing anything to fix it unless you point it out to them and even then some dealers give you the run around. The minute a client points this issue out they should fix it ASAP. Warranty or not, should not matter since this is a design flaw and not ware and tare caused by the client. Why pay premium money when you’re receiving Walmart style service?

I mean who wants to own a $40k car that claims to be sporty yet sounds like a fucking tractor coming down the street?

I love BMW but they need to fix their own fuck ups.

[cahoont]

My father-in-law just got his exhaust lifters replaced on his 07 528i, he showed them the service bulletin and asked them to go ahead and replace the head as well with no joy. His was all performed under warranty. I contacted BMW NA to get them to do the same for my 06 330i, but they wouldn't do anything since it's out of warranty. I'm half tempted to go buy a new Mercedes and send BMW NA a copy of the bill of sales and a letter explaining it as a result of not standing behind your product.

[Zonacharger]

As mentioned earlier in this thread low oil can cause the exact same clicking noise increasing in neutral with higher RPM. this freaked me out, calle dmy mechanic and he wasnt in til Monday so I changed the oil (it was low) and the noise went away completely no prob sionce. I use dthe oil change thread here castroil full synth. Itr has been perfect since. check oil level first THEN panic

[DL]

For those new to the N52 engine noise I found this one page Q and A on another site rather helpful. Granted, most on this thread are well aware of this problem at this point, but some may have just started their journey with this issue. The bleed down procedure is not used anymore – hopefully…….

http://blog.bavauto.com/bmw-e60-e61/...e-tappet-noise

[heartmybimmer]

I bought my 07 328xi MT in May, CPO. I traded in my 07 Eclipse because I couldn't get worthwhile service to save my life (at 3 different dealers in a 50 mile radius, lol). Since this is my first winter with my Bimmer, I've just noticed the ticking with cold starts. I also drive very short distances to work and live in a city, so my long trips are minimal at best. I called the dealer I bought the car from and they told me it's normal that the car ticks, but couldn't quite define what I should expect for normal (ie: how long, how loud). So I called the dealer closest to me and they told me that they've got a few there that tick..."not to say that they SHOULD tick, but these do too", and I'm going to bring it in on Thursday for them to listen to. Here's to hoping I don't get the same runaround and headaches from BMW that I got from Mitsubishi! Thanks for all of the information!

[LittleBlue]

They've changed the heads on mine a couple fo times till now it sounds semi-normal, you have to press the issue.

[DL]

Originally Posted by heartmybimmer

I bought my 07 328xi MT in May, CPO. I traded in my 07 Eclipse because I couldn't get worthwhile service to save my life (at 3 different dealers in a 50 mile radius, lol). Since this is my first winter with my Bimmer, I've just noticed the ticking with cold starts. I also drive very short distances to work and live in a city, so my long trips are minimal at best. I called the dealer I bought the car from and they told me it's normal that the car ticks, but couldn't quite define what I should expect for normal (ie: how long, how loud). So I called the dealer closest to me and they told me that they've got a few there that tick..."not to say that they SHOULD tick, but these do too", and I'm going to bring it in on Thursday for them to listen to. Here's to hoping I don't get the same runaround and headaches from BMW that I got from Mitsubishi! Thanks for all of the information!

Ask the dealership to start a few 2011 328i's, and see if they tick for any length of time as yours does. The dealer cannot argue if the new version of the N52 does not tick, and say it is normal for you. Not the used design flawed N52's from 2006-2009ish.

[heartmybimmer]

Originally Posted by DL

Ask the dealership to start a few 2011 328i's, and see if they tick for any length of time as yours does. The dealer cannot argue if the new version of the N52 does not tick, and say it is normal for you. Not the used design flawed N52's from 2006-2009ish.

They can say whatever they want since they see me and assume I'm a dumb girl . I can't tell you how I had to fight with Mitsubishi to fix minor stuff on my Eclipse (and only with my dad standing there arguing the issue with me!). The service advisor at the dealer I bought my Bimmer from, when I asked him, did say that it "could develop" into the pervasive ticking that other people have had. I asked him how I would know and he told me I wouldn't. (helpful, yeah?) According to the service records none of the work that people on here have reported having done was done on my car. That service advisor made it sound like it was my fault for not driving it enough! I am hopeful that my local dealer will be more helpful. It was interesting that he said that they had demos there that do it too....

[heartmybimmer]

Originally Posted by LittleBlue

They've changed the heads on mine a couple fo times till now it sounds semi-normal, you have to press the issue.

Thanks! I'll try it. At least I've got a warranty until 2013...

[alarroyo]

UPDATE: BMW has decided to do a goodwill repair and will cover all the repairs. Persistency pays off.

[JRJ1970]

It's been a long time since I've read this tread. I just wanted to give hope to those who are still on the fence with a head replacement or fighting to get it done.

I bought my 2008 328i in July of 2008. By August it was ticking...first time heard at the Bank of American ATM. The ticking definitely was intermittent and whether or not it ticked depended on how *long* the car was driven. If taken on a 200 mile trip, it wouldn't tick for weeks. If taken to the store and/or drivien to work on a daily basis, would tick badly.

BMW replaced my head without hesitation in August of 2009 and the ticking has ceased 100% (this reply written 1/19/11). No other issues or drama with the car since then either.... So, the point of this reply I'm giving is there is a true fix for this, BMW just has to do it. Not sure if the head replacement is the sure fix but it was in my case.

Good luck all!

Jay

[babybeast3]

I totally understand why someone would want to get this fixed, and I am going to ask my dealer about it in my wife's 328 that sometimes ticks (but she drives hwy often, and it's a MT she revs high often). If they'll replace the head, I'm in, anything else, no way.

But let me just ask, has ANYONE had or heard of an engine function problem from this? Ever?

[zachar3]

they told me they recommend going to another dealer and that they cant control the misdiagnosis of the problem when i emailed BMWUSA. That pissed me off. did they even read my email? I told them it was rather a refusal to diagnose it. I'm thinking of replying to them and just say ill plan to make a lemon claim or get rid of the car and never buy another bmw again. Unless any of you have a certain representative that you dealt with that was understanding.

[Alpine328]

My '08 328i just went in today for the second time here in PENSACOLA.

Had the lifters replaced months ago and the ticking is as loud as ever!!

Let's hope they REALLY fix it withOUT breaking/scratching anything!

I'll keep everyone informed.

[babybeast3]

Originally Posted by babybeast3

I totally understand why someone would want to get this fixed, and I am going to ask my dealer about it in my wife's 328 that sometimes ticks (but she drives hwy often, and it's a MT she revs high often). If they'll replace the head, I'm in, anything else, no way.

But let me just ask, has ANYONE had or heard of an engine function problem from this? Ever?

I'll answer myself: "No". The service rep I talked to said this is basically not going to hurt the engine. They've had not one engine failure from it. As it is my wife's car, and she never even realized it ticks sometimes, I'm sure there are many, if not most, of the 328's out there without any TSB work yet. And no failures?

This is not an issue in my mind. IF you want to hear noise, listen to my 1991 K75RT I just sold. That thing was rock solid for years, and sounded like there were rocks in the engine.

Do as you want, but I'll do as John Hartford says: "Turn the radio on"...