[ndog14]

So yesterday my car made a ticking noise for the second time since I have owned it (07/11), it is an 07 328xi. The conditions were the first cold start of a nippy day, about 29F. Today it did not happened, but it has happened before. Same conditions, cold start of a day that was just below freezing. Sorry for the quality, taken on my Droid Incredible. The ticking is from somewhere near the pulleys on the front of the engine block, it is NOT a metallic noise.

[Letsrunem8]

Mine has done this too. So hopefully I can get some input as well!

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

Mine has done this too. So hopefully I can get some input as well!

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[roundle]

Not the typical Fuel Injection tick. That sounds like a failed or failing lifter.

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by roundle

Not the typical Fuel Injection tick. That sounds like a failed or failing lifter.

Wouldn't it tick all the time, not just on cold starts? The days I've cold started above the freezing point I have never gotten it. Its the first cold start of a day below freezing. Also, the lifters are the metallic tick, which this is not.

[Letsrunem8]

Sub'd

Same thing happens with mine. On cold days (roughly around 30-35 degrees) I head the tick upon starting. When it warms up it usually goes away, but there have been times where it is still there. I wonder if I should take it in

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

Sub'd

Same thing happens with mine. On cold days (roughly around 30-35 degrees) I head the tick upon starting. When it warms up it usually goes away, but there have been times where it is still there. I wonder if I should take it in

If it is the lifters as suggested, I read that driving at low rpms for short distances exasperates the problem overtime. Both times it happened to me the one trip was an hour and the other was 15 minutes, both times I surpassed 3.5k on the tach during the drive. To make sure the engine warms up.

[Letsrunem8]

So drive shifting at 3 or 3.5k?

[sunny]

that sounds like the lifter ticking. I've had the same thing.
if not taken care of it will progressively get worse and more frequent.
take it in and get it documented it people even if you're planning to sell it.
think about the next owner who might buy it not knowing it.
if you get it document it you have much more chance of getting it fixed even after warranty expires.

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by sunny

that sounds like the lifter ticking. I've had the same thing.
if not taken care of it will progressively get worse and more frequent.
take it in and get it documented it people even if you're planning to sell it.
think about the next owner who might buy it not knowing it.
if you get it document it you have much more chance of getting it fixed even after warranty expires.

I thought the lifter ticking was related to all cold starts, not cold weathet cold starts. Also, all other videos I have seen suggest the ticking is near the lifters, my tick is on the front of the engine block in the pulley system. And it was a metallic tick, which I have stated multiple times this is not.

As for the next owner, it's a used car. Do you expect a 6spd bimmer owned by a hot-shot 20 year old to not have problems? I'm trading my car in bcz I don't want some stupid teenager getting it and complaining. Think about the life of the typical 3 series: first it is leased for 2-4 years, then a young, male professional buys it and thrashes it for awhile, then a 16 year old gets it, followed by another 16 year old, then another, etc till the car dies.

Today I plan to have a real video camera to record the ticking if it happens today.

[ihvabmr]

Definitely lifter tick. Have the dealer replace the lifters if you are still under warranty. If it still ticks after, a new cylinder head may be in order.

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by ihvabmr

Definitely lifter tick. Have the dealer replace the lifters if you are still under warranty. If it still ticks after, a new cylinder head may be in order.

I am not under BMW warranty, but I did have an upper-engine rebuild after a money-shift, I threw my timing out. Luckily that was all that happened but usually shops warranty their work so is it possible during the rebuild the something could have happened to the lifters that would cause this ticking? I know it could have existed before hand under the previous owner but I have no way of knowing since I bought the car from a dealer during the summer.

Today when I cold started the ticking did not happen, it was 44F outside.

[Delta0311]

It's a lifter ticking. Had that issue and BMW first replaced the lifters, ticking came back so then they replaced the head. Car runs smooth as silk now. If you are out of warranty then you might have to pay for the repairs out of pocket. And I believe (might be wrong) but it's about $4k to get it fixed.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by ndog14

I am not under BMW warranty, but I did have an upper-engine rebuild after a money-shift, I threw my timing out. Luckily that was all that happened but usually shops warranty their work so is it possible during the rebuild the something could have happened to the lifters that would cause this ticking? I know it could have existed before hand under the previous owner but I have no way of knowing since I bought the car from a dealer during the summer.

Today when I cold started the ticking did not happen, it was 44F outside.

The shop didn't do anything, this is a common issue with the N52 engine. I believe they fixed it in the 2010 and up models.

[ZZZZ]

It's lifter tick. Oil is too thick in the cold to get pumped up. Goes away once it warms up. Use a slightly thinner oil, or use a good additive. So far I have been successful with Molyslip, but I'm sure there are other products out there that would help with the problem too.

Perminantly fix is fairly expensive. There is a sticky on this in the N52 forum with a very long thread. no need to keep this one going.

[JRJ1970]

This is definitely the lifter ticking sound. My 2008 328i did this (though often and randomly) and the dealer swapped the head out for me. That fixed it for good.

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by ZZZZ

It's lifter tick. Oil is too thick in the cold to get pumped up. Goes away once it warms up. Use a slightly thinner oil, or use a good additive. So far I have been successful with Molyslip, but I'm sure there are other products out there that would help with the problem too.

Perminantly fix is fairly expensive. There is a sticky on this in the N52 forum with a very long thread. no need to keep this one going.

I put BMW oil in and the previous owner had the dealer changed it every 8k. My last change was 2k ago. And I only run BP 93 or Sunoco 91/93, both from busy gas stations so it is always fresh.

I am not looking forward to new heads.

[ihvabmr]

Originally Posted by ndog14

I am not under BMW warranty, but I did have an upper-engine rebuild after a money-shift, I threw my timing out. Luckily that was all that happened but usually shops warranty their work so is it possible during the rebuild the something could have happened to the lifters that would cause this ticking? I know it could have existed before hand under the previous owner but I have no way of knowing since I bought the car from a dealer during the summer.

Today when I cold started the ticking did not happen, it was 44F outside.

I highly doubt newer lifters and heads were replaced during your build. That is why the lifters are still ticking to this day. My only concern is, whether BMW will even touch your engine since it was rebuilt.

[blingman]

I have an 06 and I sometimes get that noise too.

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by ihvabmr

I highly doubt newer lifters and heads were replaced during your build. That is why the lifters are still ticking to this day. My only concern is, whether BMW will even touch your engine since it was rebuilt.

They're not new. The only thing new is a valve cover gasket and hex bolt. And a bmw dealer did the rebuild. And both ticking occurences were after the rebuild, but may have existed under previous owner.

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by blingman

I have an 06 and I sometimes get that noise too.

How often and what are typically the conditions?

[ihvabmr]

Originally Posted by ndog14

They're not new. The only thing new is a valve cover gasket and hex bolt. And a bmw dealer did the rebuild. And both ticking occurences were after the rebuild, but may have existed under previous owner.

Since you are out of warranty, I highly doubt they will fix it under goodwill. The entire job may cost up to $4k or more depending on the dealer. My SA quoted me $4k just for the head cylinder replacement. If my lifters had not been replaced prior to my warranty expired, it would've been added in addition to the $4k. I would say close to $5.5k for the entire job. But luckily, both cylinder heads and lifters were replaced under warranty. Either way, take it to the dealer ASAP to have them take a look at. Also show them the video you have of the ticking sound. They will know exactly what it is....