E92 M3 Ticking Noise (NOT ROD BEARINGS)

[Abdulsamad]

Hello Everyone,
I bought this car a month ago and drove it 2000 miles without any issues. I replaced the oil a week ago with Liqui Molly 10w-60 and drove 500 miles on it. It had Shmiedmann headers but the car wasn't passing emissions test in California because of the headers so I decided to swap them with the factory headers. After I did that, I went to pick the car up from the shop and this ticking noise came once they replaced the headers. It's not the Rod Bearings because they were replaced at a reputable shop in Los Angeles. The sound is coming from the driver side only. Oil level is on Max. Could that be a header leak ? Help because I'm panicking right now.

This is the YouTube video showcasing the issue :

[MPizza]

if you search you will find lots of threads about ticking after liqui-moly oil change - most say it goes away after awhile.

[wootloops]

Definitely could be a header exhaust leak, considering they were just worked on.

If you can get ahold of a smoke tester, you could remove the x-pipe and then seal it onto the header tube exit and see if it leaks out anywhere.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Abdulsamad

Hello Everyone,
I bought this car a month ago and drove it 2000 miles without any issues. I replaced the oil a week ago with Liqui Molly 10w-60 and drove 500 miles on it. It had Shmiedmann headers but the car wasn't passing emissions test in California because of the headers so I decided to swap them with the factory headers. After I did that, I went to pick the car up from the shop and this ticking noise came once they replaced the headers. It's not the Rod Bearings because they were replaced at a reputable shop in Los Angeles. The sound is coming from the driver side only. Oil level is on Max. Could that be a header leak ? Help because I'm panicking right now.

This is the YouTube video showcasing the issue :

This mate ...This => https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1404625

[Ximian]

Adding Liqui Moly Cera Tec with the Liqui Moly 10W60 oil made the engine more quiet for me. Adding enough of the Cera Tec additive will eliminate one of the biggest benefits of LM oil (cost), so might as well use a different oil if you want a quieter engine.

[Abdulsamad]

The shop I went to did the smoke check and there were no leaks. They've told me that it was a bad header and I didn't believe them so I took it to another shop to perform smoke test in front of me. There were 0 leaks coming out of the headers. I've personally never heard of a bad header but I'm not sure if that's a thing.

[Abdulsamad]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

This mate ...This => https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1404625

I will try BMW Oil and see if that helps. Thanks for replying !

[Abdulsamad]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Adding Liqui Moly Cera Tec with the Liqui Moly 10W60 oil made the engine more quiet for me. Adding enough of the Cera Tec additive will eliminate one of the biggest benefits of LM oil (cost), so might as well use a different oil if you want a quieter engine.

I'm no sure if the oil is the problem or not. When I had aftermarket headers, it didn't make any sound. After I put the original headers, the car started ticking.

[Siajoon]

Damn realized you posted 3 separate posts... why not just post one asking all your questions...?

[amrazM]

lm1060 introduces noises to these engines that were not there before.

[BeaterM3]

Like most have said, LM 10/60 definitely makes the engine noisy and that same clicking noise happens to me right after a new oil change with LM as the oil is breaking down. The older the oil, the quieter it became.

When I used BMW 10/60, it was quiet as hell.

[vam0s]

I have this same exact sound and its driving me grazy. It isnt about oil, it isnt rod bearings and it isnt manifold/midpipe leak..