Hmm that's interesting. Something in the lm could be causing the lifter to stick and the sound we hear is the cam popping it back down. That would explain why the noise doesn't have a real pattern. I was just fiddling with the lifters in a spare set of heads I have and it doesn't take much to make them stick. If you flick the top of the lifter and send it back down the clack it makes is very similar. Seems like a viable explanation!
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Doc Oc wroteGunk, oil residue?Hmm that's interesting. Something in the lm could be causing the lifter to stick and the sound we hear is the cam popping it back down. That would explain why the noise doesn't have a real pattern. I was just fiddling with the lifters in a spare set of heads I have and it doesn't take much to make them stick. If you flick the top of the lifter and send it back down the clack it makes is very similar. Seems like a viable explanation!
Yet another reason to avoid extended OCIs
Doc Oc wroteIf that was the case though wouldn't it make the noise even more when cold? It seems to only happen at operating tempHmm that's interesting. Something in the lm could be causing the lifter to stick and the sound we hear is the cam popping it back down. That would explain why the noise doesn't have a real pattern. I was just fiddling with the lifters in a spare set of heads I have and it doesn't take much to make them stick. If you flick the top of the lifter and send it back down the clack it makes is very similar. Seems like a viable explanation!
Remember that metal expands with heat so this could lead to easier sticking which could be why we hear it more at temp. If it is some compound in the LM oil leading to the sticking, the viscosity of the oil may not be a factor.
Update - Took the car up the freeway for a 170km drive and no ticking at all once we got to the destination. It appears that the oil has sheared in now. I doubt it's heat shields etc that I've heard others talk about as the car was properly hot and no ticking at all.
I'll take it as a win and keep enjoying the car in the meantime
Happy Easter all!
I'll take it as a win and keep enjoying the car in the meantime

Happy Easter all!
Update again...
Same trip back, ticking is back. So weird.
Same trip back, ticking is back. So weird.
OzCraig wroteTry Redline oil next timeUpdate again...
Same trip back, ticking is back. So weird.
OzCraig wroteAny update on this?Update again...
Same trip back, ticking is back. So weird.
Hey mate,
It started to go away again but 'sometimes' if I'm pulled up near a wall or another car at the lights I can faintly hear it. But it's nowhere near a loud as when the oil was first changed.
As a sidenote Redline are shipping the bearings and studs over at the moment so hopefully by Friday week that will be all finished up and we'll see if that impacts the noise. The irony is now that the random tick is gone there is another ticking happening!
///M Power-Belgium had a listen and seems to think the same as me that I have an exhaust leak. It's one hell of a tick noise but it's only audible on the drivers side, can't hear it on the passenger side.
Once she's out of surgery I'll let you know
Craig
It started to go away again but 'sometimes' if I'm pulled up near a wall or another car at the lights I can faintly hear it. But it's nowhere near a loud as when the oil was first changed.
As a sidenote Redline are shipping the bearings and studs over at the moment so hopefully by Friday week that will be all finished up and we'll see if that impacts the noise. The irony is now that the random tick is gone there is another ticking happening!
Once she's out of surgery I'll let you know

Craig
I could have sworn this particular ticking noise was already diagnosed as the heat shields expanding or tapping against under body parts. I listened to all the videos in the previous post and I can tell you with out a doubt, I have the very same inconsistent clicking "Rod bearing noise". Here's the thing, that noise was going on when I got my car at 27k and is still going on at 61k. At 55k I had my rod bearings changed out with BE Bearings and my old ones showed no signs of excessive wear or impending failure. When I picked up my M3(27K) all I used was Castrol TWS 10W60 and also filled her up with it when the bearings where done. I have recently just changed oil to Liqui Moly 10W60 and wouldn't you know it that noise... still there. I'm pretty positive the people saying its the different oil causing the noise are experiencing the Placebo Effect lol. It's the heat shields people, stop driving you self mad and enjoy your car.
OzCraig wroteUpdate :Hey mate,
It started to go away again but 'sometimes' if I'm pulled up near a wall or another car at the lights I can faintly hear it. But it's nowhere near a loud as when the oil was first changed.
As a sidenote Redline are shipping the bearings and studs over at the moment so hopefully by Friday week that will be all finished up and we'll see if that impacts the noise. The irony is now that the random tick is gone there is another ticking happening!
///M Power-Belgium had a listen and seems to think the same as me that I have an exhaust leak. It's one hell of a tick noise but it's only audible on the drivers side, can't hear it on the passenger side.
Once she's out of surgery I'll let you know
Craig
Craig..Like usual I received more videos from other people ,but here is something interesting from today about the S65 ticking noise !
Here is what he found out about the S65 ticking noise , in his words via PM ..
=> The loud exhaust leak type tick sound are the valves behind the engine that help heat up the catalytic converters, because cats don't work cold, thus why after warmed up that loud (exhaust leak sound) vanishes. thats why when i was under the car i hear that loud tick noise right in the cats. it all makes sense now. what a relief.
Sounds like that guy is talking about the cold start noise no?
My 2011 e92 m3 makes the same ticking noise that people have been posting. However it's only audible when I'm driving next to a barrier or in a garage; I don't hear it at all otherwise. Last oil change was not that recent, around a few thousand miles ago with the Castrol 10w 60. This has just started happening as the weather's been warming up (~90 F).
No noticeable changes in performance so I'm not really trippin.
No noticeable changes in performance so I'm not really trippin.
does the frequency of the ticking increase when engine RPM's increase?
I just changed to LM today (used castrol / bmw oil until now) and just heard the noise. mine increases in frequency as the engine rpm's raise (up to about 3k and then the engine noise is too loud).
it sounds like a bearing / rod knock, but this thread is making me think otherwise now
I just changed to LM today (used castrol / bmw oil until now) and just heard the noise. mine increases in frequency as the engine rpm's raise (up to about 3k and then the engine noise is too loud).
it sounds like a bearing / rod knock, but this thread is making me think otherwise now
dc5s wroteYou should post a video on here..does the frequency of the ticking increase when engine RPM's increase?
I just changed to LM today (used castrol / bmw oil until now) and just heard the noise. mine increases in frequency as the engine rpm's raise (up to about 3k and then the engine noise is too loud).
it sounds like a bearing / rod knock, but this thread is making me think otherwise now
First two videos are a cold-ish start. you can see the temp gauge still have some residual oil temp from my earlier drive home. the noise is not apparent at idle or when revving.
These second videos are after a drive around the block to normal operating temp. the noise is apparent at idle and revving. the frequency of the noise increases when revving.
it's hard to say whether the noise is coming from the top or bottom of the engine.
the only change from yesterday and today (first time hearing this noise) is changing from BMW oil to LM.
UPDATE: I did another oil change tonight and put in BMW 10W60 oil. All noises are gone.
These second videos are after a drive around the block to normal operating temp. the noise is apparent at idle and revving. the frequency of the noise increases when revving.
it's hard to say whether the noise is coming from the top or bottom of the engine.
the only change from yesterday and today (first time hearing this noise) is changing from BMW oil to LM.
UPDATE: I did another oil change tonight and put in BMW 10W60 oil. All noises are gone.
dc5s wrote# 3 on this page => http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1404625First two videos are a cold-ish start. you can see the temp gauge still have some residual oil temp from my earlier drive home. the noise is not apparent at idle or when revving.
These second videos are after a drive around the block to normal operating temp. the noise is apparent at idle and revving. the frequency of the noise increases when revving.
it's hard to say whether the noise is coming from the top or bottom of the engine.
the only change from yesterday and today (first time hearing this noise) is changing from BMW oil to LM.
UPDATE: I did another oil change tonight and put in BMW 10W60 oil. All noises are gone.
Thread referenced by Theodore in For New Owners - What I wish I knew when I first bought my E9X M3: 09-02-2017
I've recently just started reading this thread. Up to 140K KM now I still have this ticking or knocking sound off and on: around 2000-3000 RPM, light load, or going up hill slowing especially more prevalent with full tank of gas. I've used Castrol, Red Line, BMW dealer oil, and Voltronic all the sames sound doesnt go away. Had spark plugs replaced regualy, airfilter replace, rod barrings. Doesn't help....anyone have any new updates? Kind of annoying no one or the dealers can solve this.
I'm guessing it has to do with heatshield or exhaust gaskets.
The tapping noise started when I switched to Liqui Moly.
irfan5911 wroteSwap back to BMW 10W60 and update us.The tapping noise started when I switched to Liqui Moly.
anerbe wroteI switched back to Castrol 10w60 and tapping is still there. It happens only after car is fully warmed up. There has to be some explanation.irfan5911 wroteSwap back to BMW 10W60 and update us.The tapping noise started when I switched to Liqui Moly.