"TICKING" NOISE/SOUND-BMW 330D E90

[EBZ911]

Hey Guys

I was wondering if anyone had a similiar issue, today was the 3rd time I experienced this issue. So I turned on my car this morning, cold start, and I heard this "ticking" sound been emitted from the front left side of the car/engine bay, loudest at the front left tyre (from outside of the car). I have made a a small recording with my phone. About 2 to 3 mins later the sound is gone, and once the engine is hot, the sound goes away, i.e. once the engine is warm, and I off the car, than re start the car, the sound is gone.

Please note that my technical/mechanical experience is very limited, so I do appreciate all opinions.

:ty:

 

[husaindindar]

Hi,

Silly question...
When last was an oil change done?


Do you follow the onboard service indicator?

 

[SubLoaded]

@Ruaad can assist

 

[EBZ911]

Hi,

Silly question...
When last was an oil change done?


Do you follow the onboard service indicator?

HI thanks for the reply, I recently took ownership of the car, about 3-4 weeks now, and the car had a service about 1 to 2 weeks before that

 

[EBZ911]

Hi Guys,

I just uploaded a video to you tube so you guys can hear this ticking sound...any suggestions will be appreciated.
From what I've been reading it's possible that this could be the hydraulic valve lifter, has anyone else had this issue and what is the fix?

:ty:

Link to you tube video

 

[Nikhil]

Howzit bud,

Definitely not lifters. That sounds like a pulley or idler pulley

 

[EBZ911]

Howzit bud,

Definitely not lifters. That sounds like a pulley or idler pulley

Hiya,

Thanks for the reply. Another member has also suggested that it's possibly a pulley...please forgive the ignorance, should I be concerned??? Does it need replacing?

 

[momo1]

Id still put my money on lifters, common annoyance on the N52, but not serious at all!
if after cold start you hear the tick, let it warm up properly, take it for a 15-20 minute drive trying to keep revs above 2500rpm for at least a constant 5 minutes (highway).

if you still hear the tick after this then it something else, if you dont its the lifters, its common on my Z4 since I don't drive it much and hear it on start up, however if I do decide to drive it for the full week , its completely non existent, the lifters settle after the car is driven a bit.

also there are 2 liquid moly products you can use, one is Ceratec, and the other is the hydraulic lifter ease, I wouldn't use them simultaneously , maybe try either first and if it doesn't work wait while and try the other.

 

[Twinz]

Open the bonnet and look/listen where the noise is coming from. Then do a proper video.

 

[EBZ911]

Open the bonnet and look/listen where the noise is coming from. Then do a proper video.

Hi,

Thank you for the reply, this morning, cold start up, no noise...next time I hear it, will open up the bonnet and try to do a better video, on the last video I was trying to record just the sound...:hammerhead:

---

Id still put my money on lifters, common annoyance on the N52, but not serious at all!
if after cold start you hear the tick, let it warm up properly, take it for a 15-20 minute drive trying to keep revs above 2500rpm for at least a constant 5 minutes (highway).

if you still hear the tick after this then it something else, if you dont its the lifters, its common on my Z4 since I don't drive it much and hear it on start up, however if I do decide to drive it for the full week , its completely non existent, the lifters settle after the car is driven a bit.

also there are 2 liquid moly products you can use, one is Ceratec, and the other is the hydraulic lifter ease, I wouldn't use them simultaneously , maybe try either first and if it doesn't work wait while and try the other.

Hi MoMo,

Thank you for the reply, The thing about it is that just after a few mins, max 3 mins and the sound is gone, and that is with just idling...I also read on the net that the lifter issue was resolved in the later engine models, mine been the N57

 

[Redshert]

Maybe early stage of crank pulley failure - my 120d did this from brand spanking new... sounded the exact same. Went away when warm, was eventually there all the time. My 330d picked up a squeak and deteriorated and failed within a month.

 

[momo1]

wait what car is it? the N57 is a diesel engine. the N52 is a 6cylinder petrol engine which had lifter tick.
if its the N52 and you saying the tick goes away after few minutes I honestly wouldn't worry about it.

 

[NtandoN]

Take it back. Tell them what you've heard, they must do a diagnostic test and fix it.

 

[EBZ911]

wait what car is it? the N57 is a diesel engine. the N52 is a 6cylinder petrol engine which had lifter tick.
if its the N52 and you saying the tick goes away after few minutes I honestly wouldn't worry about it.

I do have a 330d, N57 engine, Im not sure if the lifter tick issue was only for the petrol engines???

---

Take it back. Tell them what you've heard, they must do a diagnostic test and fix it.

hi Ntando

Wish I could do that, However the car was bought privately and the owner is in PTA and I am in George...about 1400km away from me

 

[Nikhil]

Howzit bud, not to much to be concerned about at this point. I would look at replacing it during the next service tho:thumbs:

 

[momo1]

I have both these engines, N52 in my Z and N57 in my 330d, definitely no worry if on the N52, to have the noise on the diesel is concerning, I have never heard of it being an known on the diesels ,I would get it check out asap.