ok im gonan buy this 99 540 6 speed clean with 71,xxx on it for 14,500. not a bad price. but i hear the motor tapping??? anyone know what this is?? valve adjustment???? anything else i should look for. i drove it and i hear a rotation noise at low speeed. (stopping 2 a red light)???? need tires that what i was gueessing.

ok im gonan buy this 99 540 6 speed clean with 71,xxx on it for 14,500. not a bad price. but i hear the motor tapping??? anyone know what this is?? valve adjustment???? anything else i should look for. i drove it and i hear a rotation noise at low speeed. (stopping 2 a red light)???? need tires that what i was gueessing.


Is the tapping just on startup for like a second. If so, it might have the wrong oil, low on oil or need an oil and filter change. Anything more, I would take it to a indy shop for a pre-purchase. My car make a quick tapping for a second when I first start it once and a while.

no i hear it after driving it... im a tech at ford but idk shit about bmw lol.....

have noise on start up 2 now just heard it... any ideas??????

Does it seem to be more prominent in a particular part of the engine?

My 97 540i has a bit of a tapping/knocking noise that seems to be coming from the front portion of the left cylinder head (right near the filler cap).

naw really all over it think....

I think the tapping is normal. Whenever my car is idleing, very low rpm, about 400-600 rpm, the cams tap. When I rev it up, it is smooth as a babys ass. Normal.

I just compared my engine at idle to another board member's 740i engine (same engine - M62) and I also believe that the tapping is normal. My car has 95k miles on it and the 740i I compared it against actually had a rebuilt engine, and the rebuilt engine actually had a more pronounced tap/knock sound. I believe it is simply a trait of the engine and not a sign of impending doom.

That front rotaional noise might be wheel bearing. I am doin one on my 99 E39 right now (after doing both damn rears!). $200 in parts and an easy DIY job, or probably $100 in labor if you dont like to do it.