Another S65 engine ticking noise

[ajlyu]

Originally Posted by nick3753

Tick still gone?

Yup, still gone

[E92Adan]

Originally Posted by SkypirateX

So I just had my Oil changed at the dealer and when I got home and put the car in my garage I noticed this intermittent ticking noise coming from the engine. The car has 42k on it, 2011. I've never head the sound until now. I do know they let the oil drain for approx 2 hours before filling it.

Any idea what this noise is?

Thanks!

Is there a video to this? Seems like the link to the video doesn’t work and I’m having a ticking noise but just want to hear what this sounds like, thanks

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by grantwoodOK

Yes a Private Investigator 😃

Did you ever get to the bottom of your engine problem?

[smorton]

How is everyone's cars now??

I have a unique experience to offer...

I had this tick.. tick....... tick back in 2016 at 27k miles. Took it to two different BMW dealerships - the first one said it was normal, the second had BMW engineers to the dealership who then recommended a full engine replacement. Lucky for me the car was still under its original warranty. Never gave a full explanation as to why, I assumed it was rod bearings but after reading everything here I doubt it.

Fast forward to today, I'm at 70k, 43k on the new engine and the infamous intermittent tick is back! Wild that we still haven't gotten to the bottom of this - will try a few things and be sure to actually post back here...

[jvictormp]

Originally Posted by smorton

will try a few things and be sure to actually post back here...

Please, do it! tks

If possible, record it and post here.

[smorton]

Originally Posted by smorton

How is everyone's cars now??

I have a unique experience to offer...

I had this tick.. tick....... tick back in 2016 at 27k miles. Took it to two different BMW dealerships - the first one said it was normal, the second had BMW engineers to the dealership who then recommended a full engine replacement. Lucky for me the car was still under its original warranty. Never gave a full explanation as to why, I assumed it was rod bearings but after reading everything here I doubt it.

Fast forward to today, I'm at 70k, 43k on the new engine and the infamous intermittent tick is back! Wild that we still haven't gotten to the bottom of this - will try a few things and be sure to actually post back here...

Alrighty, I have been able to eliminate the intermittent tick via some spirited driving. Confirmed the tick still present idling in my parking spot after commuting home from work, performed an 'italian tuneup' as people like to say here, and then immediately after in the same conditions the tick was gone. The tick hasn't returned after a normal commute to/from work since. Previously I had noticed it every day for several weeks getting at the end of each commute.

Spirited driving was performed at lower speeds < 70mph getting up to redline ~3-4 times, also noted that the oil temperature was a bit above 210F afterward.

Would be great if someone could reproduce this so we could finally end the ticksteria

Edit: the tick I am referring to is this variety

[jvictormp]

Originally Posted by smorton

Alrighty, I have been able to eliminate the intermittent tick via some spirited driving. Confirmed the tick still present idling in my parking spot after commuting home from work, performed an 'italian tuneup' as people like to say here, and then immediately after in the same conditions the tick was gone. The tick hasn't returned after a normal commute to/from work since. Previously I had noticed it every day for several weeks getting at the end of each commute.

Spirited driving was performed at lower speeds < 70mph getting up to redline ~3-4 times, also noted that the oil temperature was a bit above 210F afterward.

Would be great if someone could reproduce this so we could finally end the ticksteria

Edit: the tick I am referring to is this variety

Sounds discrete. Good that you got rid of it driving harder.

What oil are you using? Liquimoly?

[lakehoustonnative]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

This noise is not main bearing or rod bearing period! The next person that diagnoses this as rod knock should be stoned and kicked off the forum! Get that out of your head and move along. 225,000 miles, (2) rod bearing changes and I've had this noise since 25,000 miles and still get it now. Usually new oil does this and hotter days bring it out. Your engine is fine and there is no risk of damage. I believe it to be lifter related or maybe something to do with the oil pickups vibrating? Whomever figures this out will be receiving a care package from me for sure. Other than it sounding like a piece of shit there is no damage occurring. Sometimes the vanos bleed procedure helps quiet it.

This comment should be stickied! 200k miles with this noise being present tells you what you need to know IMO

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by lakehoustonnative

This comment should be stickied! 200k miles with this noise being present tells you what you need to know IMO

Similar here, ticking for the last 100k+ miles. This time of year, every year these threads pop up.

[Thumbie]

I can't believe people are still talking about lifter tick in a bmw engine.

Drive your car how it was supposed to be driven and forget about it.

[Assimilator1]

Italian tune up will likely clear it!

Btw the intermittent clacking heard in the video posted by smorton is lifter noise.

[lakehoustonnative]

Originally Posted by Thumbie

I can't believe people are still talking about lifter tick in a bmw engine.

Drive your car how it was supposed to be driven and forget about it

People aren’t allowed to be concerned about a new noise coming from their engine? If it wasn’t for so many people talking about it on this forum, a lot of owners would be burning money on diagnostic fees and “possible” fixes

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by lakehoustonnative

People aren’t allowed to be concerned about a new noise coming from their engine? If it wasn’t for so many people talking about it on this forum, a lot of owners would be burning money on diagnostic fees and “possible” fixes

Agreed, and it's not normal for lifters to make that noise, even if it isn't harmful.

[Thumbie]

I worked at the service department of a BMW dealership about 12 years ago, when the e9X platform was being sold as new. The lifter tick is normal. It's not harmful and there is no fix for it other than driving the car hard for a bit AKA the Italian tune-up.

Edit: I guess "normal" isn't quite the right word. But it's common.

One of the techs explained it to me. Something about an air pocket created on the lifter when the oil drains out completely. Needs higher RPM to "force" the air pocket out.

I can totally understand hearing it for the first time and being concerned. I was too.

[ethhaynes7]

Okay so I just got an oil change and noticed this clack tapping noise. At 78k miles, sounds exactly like some of the YouTube videos here. Crazy no-one really knows, I'm thinking I may throw some lifter additive in and go drive it to see if it stays. The noise is insanely annoying and I have the exact same symptoms as everyone else. I noticed it when warm pulling into the garage and a subsequent drive.

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by Thumbie

I worked at the service department of a BMW dealership about 12 years ago, when the e9X platform was being sold as new. The lifter tick is normal. It's not harmful and there is no fix for it other than driving the car hard for a bit AKA the Italian tune-up.

Edit: I guess "normal" isn't quite the right word. But it's common.

One of the techs explained it to me. Something about a vacuum pocket created on the lifter when the oil drains out completely. Needs higher RPM to "force" the air pocket out.

I can totally understand hearing it for the first time and being concerned. I was too.

Just for the record, air and vacuum pocket are 2 different things

[ethhaynes7]

Originally Posted by ethhaynes7

Okay so I just got an oil change and noticed this clack tapping noise. At 78k miles, sounds exactly like some of the YouTube videos here. Crazy no-one really knows, I'm thinking I may throw some lifter additive in and go drive it to see if it stays. The noise is insanely annoying and I have the exact same symptoms as everyone else. I noticed it when warm pulling into the garage and a subsequent drive.

500 miles later the sounds seems to have gone away with no changes...

[Stainless 45]

On a related note, I just bought a 2023 Toyota 4Runner. Similar noises, and there turns out to be a ton of info on those forums regarding that too. These aluminum engines are noisy. The ticking in my M3 comes and goes, at varying volume, and the same in my 4Runner (and every other one apparently)

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by ethhaynes7

500 miles later the sounds seems to have gone away with no changes...

You didn't add any lifter additive?
Did you give her a good spanking*?


*in case that's not a US eng. phrase too, it means thrashing it.

[ethhaynes7]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

You didn't add any lifter additive?
Did you give her a good spanking*?


*in case that's not a US eng. phrase too, it means thrashing it.

Sound is still there, seems to come and go. Have driven it pretty hard, short track stint, 500 mile road trip. Still there, have not added any additive, couldn't find any recommendations.

[Scrippy]

This noise is not rod bearings. I’ve had this noise since 25k and I now have 265,XXX. Please, please realize if your bearings were ticking like this, your motor would have grenaded within minutes. Any slop in rod bearings would be catastrophic! This ticking will always be more prevalent in hot temperatures.

[smorton]

Originally Posted by smorton

Alrighty, I have been able to eliminate the intermittent tick via some spirited driving. Confirmed the tick still present idling in my parking spot after commuting home from work, performed an 'italian tuneup' as people like to say here, and then immediately after in the same conditions the tick was gone. The tick hasn't returned after a normal commute to/from work since. Previously I had noticed it every day for several weeks getting at the end of each commute.

Spirited driving was performed at lower speeds < 70mph getting up to redline ~3-4 times, also noted that the oil temperature was a bit above 210F afterward.

Would be great if someone could reproduce this so we could finally end the ticksteria

Edit: the tick I am referring to is this variety

The tick is back, I also did try adding Liqui Moly lifter additive which didn't seem to do anything.

I think the biggest clue is that the ticking stops when the wheel is turned nearly all the way to one side or the other. I'd suggest we should focus our collective brainstorming on why that would be! Any ideas?