Tappet like sound from engine bay - e46 320i

Tlvivo

Member
Hi All,

So I have been hearing this noise coming from my engine bay that sounds like tappets, this only happens when accelerating. Sounds like metal tapping on metal but not loud but irritating especially if u have the windows down.
You cannot hear this if the car is jut idling or if your rev the car up while stationery.

More apparent on 2nd, 3rd and 4th gear but it's there right through!!

I have replaced my oil 2 weeks ago I have been using 5w-40 Engen oil not the 1st time so I don't think it would be the oil, but could be wrong.

I do not lose any power when this happens or rather the car is operating normally.

Any pointers as to where I can start with this?
 

Technician

Well-known member
other than the obvious checks like oil level and oil pump ect.

i would take it somewhere to get it checked.
rather safe than sorry.

if it is serious you dont want to drive it longer than you should and do more damage.

just my opinion.
 

e46320i

New member
Mine also does it (kind of sounds like timing thats out on an older model car) I have noticed that filling up with 95octane sorts it out???
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
try putting it in neutral rev it up with clutch in and again with it out if you hear a similar noise with clutch out you will know it with the flywheel/clutch
 

Tlvivo

Member
Technician said:
other than the obvious checks like oil level and oil pump ect.

i would take it somewhere to get it checked.
rather safe than sorry.

if it is serious you dont want to drive it longer than you should and do more damage.

just my opinion.

Noted - just wanted some intel from fellow fanatics, I like to diagnose the problem myself if its something simple.

Quartermile300 said:
Check your VANOS

This Video might help to check if its the same sound

[video=youtube]

the sound is not quite a rattling sound but worth checking out for sure... But I do not have the noise on startup or when the car is idling. Only when accelerating, so if I punch the gas i can hear the noise increase a bit and if i lift my foot off the pedal it goes...


e46320i said:
Mine also does it (kind of sounds like timing thats out on an older model car) I have noticed that filling up with 95octane sorts it out???

I only use 95 octane ever since I have had the car...

moranor@axis said:
try putting it in neutral rev it up with clutch in and again with it out if you hear a similar noise with clutch out you will know it with the flywheel/clutch

Its A/T Moranor - so I cannot perform this test - thanks.
 

Tlvivo

Member
Charlie Brown said:
Did the noise get better or worse when you changed the oil ?

after the initial oil change - I could not hear anything but might be because i was busy listening to the exhaust and not the front :nonono:

However I feel the sound has been consistent before and after oil chnage...
 

Technician

Well-known member
Quartermile300 said:
Check your VANOS

This Video might help to check if its the same sound

the thing about all these videos on the net, they are very "abstract", not often having a follow up with the exact problem, just more videos of guys with a problem and comments, if more of these videos had actual conclusions to them then it would help much more. the noises are so similar its very easy to over look a serious problem.
 
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