[outriding9800]

Looking to purchase an e90 and would like to know if there is something i can check to make sure the car will not have this issue down the road?

I am probably a bad candidate 'cause I drive a short distance to work everyday.

Would starting the car (when cold) let it run for a minute or two, turn it off then let it sit for an hour almost guarantee the noise to reappear?

Is it easy to see if the car has the new head (I have the part number from the tsb)?

Does anyone know the percentage (rough estimate is fine) of N52s have this issue?

Thanks for the answers.

[JRJ1970]

Originally Posted by outriding9800

Would starting the car (when cold) let it run for a minute or two, turn it off then let it sit for an hour almost guarantee the noise to reappear?

Not necessarily. This issue is strange...it might do it for two weeks in a row, and then not for another two months. Though short distances make it happen more, I do recall when I had this issue it would stop doing it for a long time, even with short distances.

If you were going to seriously consider buying an N52, take down the VIN and ask the dealer to check it for you...don't see why they couldn't.

[jster611]

is this ticking sound corrected in the 09 328i?

[Zippy7575]

I have a Mazda 6 that has had this problem since new, mostly when the ambient temperature is below 50 degrees F. I'm told that in the Mazda V6 it's a common complaint and nothing to worry about. 85k miles now and so far they've been right. Hopefully it's the same here.

[homydevil]

This tread is a Godsend, Ive been driving my car for 50,000 km with this embarrassing ticking sound. I went into the dealer and was told that they will try to replace the lifters first and if not corrected then will replace the head. I only have 8000 km before the warranty goes out.

Does any one know of a good dealership in ontario, canada who has knowledge of this issue and change the head with out beating around the bush.
thx

[dogdoc]

Loooking at a 2007 X3 with only 11K miles; my buddy is the Sales manager...shows me the repair ticket where the head was replaced at 5600 miles; I have the previous owners name and number, do not want to get the dealership in trouble but it was on the repair ticket,want to call him, think the problem is solved? seems like all the models may have had this problem, my wife has a 2005 530, guess it started in 2006, I can get a great deal BUT I DO NOT want a LEMON, please advise! dogdoc, Atlanta

[CollinsE90]

Originally Posted by dogdoc

Loooking at a 2007 X3 with only 11K miles; my buddy is the Sales manager...shows me the repair ticket where the head was replaced at 5600 miles; I have the previous owners name and number, do not want to get the dealership in trouble but it was on the repair ticket,want to call him, think the problem is solved? seems like all the models may have had this problem, my wife has a 2005 530, guess it started in 2006, I can get a great deal BUT I DO NOT want a LEMON, please advise! dogdoc, Atlanta

stay away from the early X models BMW's, they have been total nightmares...09 or so they became much better vehicles

[dogdoc]

I cannot find any major issues on car reviews or Consumer digest? thanks, dogdoc

[SGitchev]

Bought my car several month ago. I drive around 4 miles a day, work close to where I live. I do hear the ticking at times, but it`s short and never have the chance to record it. It appears that mine does it mostly when the AC is on.
How about you guys?

[CollinsE90]

Originally Posted by dogdoc

I cannot find any major issues on car reviews or Consumer digest? thanks, dogdoc

Its not going to be in any major car reviews, mainly forums...but i know the first model years of the X3 and X5 were terrible due to minor issues always breaking and causing major headaches...The little things add up, if you are going to buy a SUV i wouldnt even get a X3(never been a good SUV), I would get a 2009 X5(one of the best they ever made)

check out the X3 and X5 part of this website up top, and read about them A LOT before you pull the trigger, GL with your future purchase

[adikoni]

yep I got the ticking, 2007 328i 28K kms on her. only heard it once when she run cold

[pruettfan]

Originally Posted by SGitchev

Bought my car several month ago. I drive around 4 miles a day, work close to where I live. I do hear the ticking at times, but it`s short and never have the chance to record it. It appears that mine does it mostly when the AC is on.
How about you guys?

You will eliminate this issue if you just make it a point to drive a few more miles every once in a while . Short low speed, low rev trips bring upon this issue. I had it pop up once. Took the car out for a romp and it went away forever.

[Ryan_L_330I]

ok to all who are curious, the lifter problem should be addressed and is detrimental to the health of the motor. In my instance when the vehicle was in the shop the lifters were being replaced and the dealership found that the camshaft was scored as a result of this problem. Furthermore there is an issue with the head on E-90's produced between certain dates and when the car is in for a lifter job the head may be replaced as well. So far i have had lifters, camshaft and a head replaced under warranty im over 10000 in repairs. Ill post a link to another thread where i posted the tsb's and the way to research the procedures involved in repairing the vehicle.

cheers
ryan

[Ryan_L_330I]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

You will eliminate this issue if you just make it a point to drive a few more miles every once in a while . Short low speed, low rev trips bring upon this issue. I had it pop up once. Took the car out for a romp and it went away forever.

The ticking noise is a result of a faulty valve which allows the oil to bleed out of the lifters and generates metal on metal contact. If you park your car for a day or so the problem should reappear as the oil drains out of the lifters. Spirited driving will usually cause the problem to go away as more oil is supplied. When the lifters are replaced a larger oil supply valve to the lifters is used and the problem should no longer persist

cheers
ryan

[rogemaster]

I took my 2006 325i in to the dealer to have them listen to this same ticking noise...they told me the exhaust lifters needed to be replaced and so they did that....however, it still makes the ticking noise so I took it back and now I am scheduled to back to the dealer yet this week and have the CYLINDER HEAD replaced...for FREE under warranty!!! We'll see if that does the trick!!!

[cwr001]

I've got the same problems -- a sound that is clearly valve rattle (sounds like my old '72 Pinto) and a loud pinging sound. The valve rattle is the problem that is in SIB 110907. They replaced the valve lifters in March and told me if that didn't solve the problem to bring it back for the head replacement.

It did not solve the problem so I return last week. The SA says that the pinging sound is from the injectors and is "normal". BMW Nashville claims they cannot duplicate the valve rattle and therefore BMW NA will not approve the head replacement. A very different attitude than they had in March. They still tell me that "these engines make noise".

I've about to call BMW NA Customer relations and try my luck. There is no way I could sell this car making this noise. Even if there is no long term damage, which I really doubt, the value of the car is severely diminished.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get BMW to fix their damn car? They changed the design of the head after November of 2008 and they know there is a problem. I'm not into class action lawsuits but this pisses me off. The SA also said there was a new SB in the last few months but I can't find it. Is that true?

[rish197]

Thank You for this info!

[m_thompson]

Our '08 328xi Touring just had the exhaust lifters replaced. It will be interesting to see if this finally fixes the tick.

[mudshark]

2008 328xi Touring (E91) Had severe lifter ticking since new. Sounded like a diesel.

Update - BMW finally owned up to the problem and replaced all the lifters and a new head to boot. Not only quiet as a church mouse, seems smoother too.

Thanks for the info here so I could go in informed.

[Haywire]

Originally Posted by mudshark

2008 328xi Touring (E91) Had severe lifter ticking since new. Sounded like a diesel.

Update - BMW finally owned up to the problem and replaced all the lifters and a new head to boot. Not only quiet as a church mouse, seems smoother too.

Thanks for the info here so I could go in informed.

I remember taking my car in shortly after purchasing it two years ago and mentioning this problem... it was quickly disregarded. Not too long ago i went back in and mentioned the issue again, in which they fully acknowledged that it IS an issue...and I was TOLD, they dont put up much a fuss anymore with diagnosing it, or wasting time reving your engine in idle for 15 minutes.

We'll see what that story sounds like in the fall when I plan on having the issue fixed

[MrDummy]

If mine only comes and goes now and again, is it worth having the dealership fix it under CPO warranty? I am just worried about their actual work on the car, as it seems it is never good as factory.

Or is the Head/valves no big deal?

[2006330xi]

Originally Posted by MrDummy

If mine only comes and goes now and again, is it worth having the dealership fix it under CPO warranty? I am just worried about their actual work on the car, as it seems it is never good as factory.

Or is the Head/valves no big deal?

How many miles do you have on it?