[JRJ1970]

Originally Posted by TyPe-ZeRo

Is there a video of this ticking noise?

Video? Yes! This is exactly how mind sounded pre-cylinder head replacement (which was successful by the way).

(This video shows a 5-series engine, but this ticking sound was identical to mine.)

[e90-ZeRo]

Originally Posted by jrjinsa

Video? Yes! This is exactly how mind sounded pre-cylinder head replacement (which was successful by the way).

(This video shows a 5-series engine, but this ticking sound was identical to mine.)

Wow, thank you. Thing almost sounds like a diesel. I hope my little 3-er doesn't get that!

[MrDummy]

Originally Posted by turbotko

Well, the updated HVA's are "supposed" to be the fix making replacing the expensive (to BMW) cylinder heads on these cars not necessary. There may be a few cars out there that still tick after the exhaust HVA's are replaced, I've not seen any so far and have probably done 40 sets of them since we quit replacing heads and started replacing HVA's instead.

I will say again though, the noise is more of a nuisance than anything. It's not going to cause any permanent or long term damage. It's just a matter of getting the HVA's bled out, which normally happens almost immediately on start up unless it's really cold.

The orifices in these HVA's for oil to flow through are very very small. On a cold start the engine oil is cold and thick which makes it take longer to get that thick oil into those tiny orifices in the HVA's. If anybody has ever takin one of these HVA's out and tried to compress them to push the oil out you will understand. Normally it takes a putting it in a bench vice and squeezing the holy crap out of it to get them to compress the oil out.

On a side note, you guys oughta hear these engines the first time you fire them up after replacing the HVA's. They tick so back you'd think it was coming apart!!

SO in my case I should just leave it and believe the techs when they say the ticking is normal since it goes away once warm? and you said it does NOT damage anything which I heard but somehow I feel better now

[JRJ1970]

Originally Posted by MrDummy

SO in my case I should just leave it and believe the techs when they say the ticking is normal since it goes away once warm? and you said it does NOT damage anything which I heard but somehow I feel better now

MrDummy, does yours sound like the video I posted where there is a *distinct* very loud tick mixed in with the *normal* ticks? Or is yours more like all the ticks sound about the same? (The latter is for sure normal).

[MrDummy]

^^ It sounds like all the same and it goes WITH the RPMs.

But sometimes even when it is warmed up and full of oil with my window down I can hear the slightest ticking noise. But maybe thats due to the overhead design?

Thanks

[JRJ1970]

Originally Posted by MrDummy

^^ It sounds like all the same and it goes WITH the RPMs.

But sometimes even when it is warmed up and full of oil with my window down I can hear the slightest ticking noise. But maybe thats due to the overhead design?

Thanks

I wouldn't worry then. I drove my '89 325i like this for 250,000 miles before trading it in. It never had engine issues despite its ticking.

In the video above, you can hear a distinct, every sixth fire, loud tick amongst the normal ticking. That particular issue is fixed with the new head (or HVA fix these days).

[kkowalsk]

Originally Posted by turbotko

Yey!! Great answer, since the intakes have valvetronic the intake valves are at minimum lift at idle (and at shut down) which doesn't allow any spring pressure to push the oil out of the HVA's.

My only answer to the short trip driving causing it more often is that maybe they don't get completely bled of all the air before the engine is shut back down again, causing the noise to come back immediately.

The two solenoids on the front of the engine control the oil pressure to the Vanos units mounted on the front of the camshafts. By varying the oil pressure to the Vanos units the DME can advance/retard the camshafts for variable cam timing. I'm sure you can guess, but one is for the intake cam and the other is for the exhaust cam. This system is completely seperate from Valvetronic.

Anybody up for another useless trivia question? Why do none of our engines have EGR valves on them (exluding Diesels)?

I'm going to try my luck at the bonus question.

I remember reading that on the double VANOS engines the EGR is controlled internally through valve control.

However help me to understand how this happens. I am not quite sure how this exactly works.

I can think that maybe near the end of the exhaust cycle the exhaust valves are closed at different positions many degrees before top dead center which retains varying amounts of exhaust in the combustion chamber which will be re-burnt on the next cycle. More exhaust cam advance more EGR, less advance less EGR??

[UdubBadger]

Mine is out of hand...

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[JRJ1970]

Great VID! 1:24 and after is the best demonstration. This is exactly how mine sounded pre-head replacement. You are a prime candidate for that. Don't despair you will have a perfect engine with persistence.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by jrjinsa

Great VID! 1:24 and after is the best demonstration. This is exactly how mine sounded pre-head replacement. You are a prime candidate for that. Don't despair you will have a perfect engine with persistence.

just made an appointment with my SA... no questions asked, he just said, "That sucks why didn't you tell me sooner? I'll just have them replace it all."

so thats a good thing. The thing that sucks is I have to drive 150 miles each way to have it done. The dealership here in Madison doesn't like me, my car or it's mods.

[MrDummy]

^^ lucky, I wish my SA or GM was that easy to handle, at least for THIS issue.

jrjinsa, I think mine is Normal, It sometimes get loud and even when I hear it after it is warm, it is very slightly noticable.

Thanks again for your help on making me at least feel better about it, and thanks to ALL who have helped us in this entire sticky

[VIZSLA]

Just got back from service where the exhaust cam lifters were replaced under warranty.
Took a little persuading but they acknowledged the problem and did the fix.

[Patsfan123]

Mine

[Ryan323i]

Got my car back today after the cylinder head replacement. There were so many part numbers that I just took a pic instead! yeah i know, lazy!

SA said the parts would have been $6,200 and another $1,300 for the labor.

[Digtlartst]

Well, shoot. 49.2k smooth quiet engine miles and this morning my engine's ticktickticking. It never did this even after several days sitting ice cold 20F. Warming it up didn't stop it. I think I'm 3 weeks away from the end of the original warranty, although I have CPO for another 2 years. I know it's pretty harmless, but should I take it in or forget it?

[UdubBadger]

I'm all fixed up. Lifters replaced and no more ticking

[WilliamX050]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

I'm all fixed up. Lifters replaced and no more ticking

What did you say to the SA? (Just noticed the ticking today at the drive thru, didn't bother to read the entire thread)

[TooManyIDs]

HVA didn't eliminate all the tapping from mine. They are replacing the cylinder head now.

bimmerfest thread

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by WilliamX050

What did you say to the SA? (Just noticed the ticking today at the drive thru, didn't bother to read the entire thread)

what do you mean what did I say? I said "I want you to get rid of that damn ticking in the lifters so can you replace them please?".

He replied with "Surely, go drive this 535i for the day and it'll be done by tonight".

and that was that.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by TooManyIDs

HVA didn't eliminate all the tapping from mine. They are replacing the cylinder head now.

bimmerfest thread

my SA said he'd had 2 guys in who needed new cylinder heads in the last month so its not THAT uncommon.

[TooManyIDs]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

my SA said he'd had 2 guys in who needed new cylinder heads in the last month so its not THAT uncommon.

Never thought I'd accuse BMW of not being able to build a motor ??

[UdubBadger]

hahaha, well hey... even with these little problems this car is still more reliable than any car American made car.