Member
Recently my 95 525I has started to have a tick that has gotten progressively louder. It seems as though it is coming from the top of the engine, so I dont know if its a lifter noise or a worn rocker arm or what. I was wondering if anyone knew of any common issues with these engines or what it could be.
Engine has just over 170,000 on it and has run Mobil 1 most of its life. I searched and found some info on the "vanos noise", but mine isnt that noisy, just kind of a dull knock or tick, and not as frequent as the vanos noise. Also it stays through the entire rpm band.
Also is there a way to adjust the valves on these engines to possibly quiet the noise?
Thanks
Last edited by pacecar78vette; 11-19-2007 at 12:12 PM.
That Guy
Going bad Vanos unit would be my thought. Only fix would be to replace it.
Valves are self adjusting.
Member
There's no way to adjust the valves, they're hydraulic lifters. I've never heard a failed VANOS unit in person, but i've heard a stuck lifter after I replaced the valve stem seals on a 92' NV M50. It was a definite knock untill she worked herself free. The only thing I could imagine it being if it sounds like it's coming from the valve cover/head would be a stick lifter, or one that isn't adjusting quickly enough for some reason. Could you make a video?
C'est la vie
Howell???11 I'm in Brick.Originally Posted by Kilomph
Member
I will try to make a video soon here. I know hydraulic lifters are self adjusting for the most part, but I thought there would be atleast some adjustment. I guess the only real reference I have to go on for that is chevy engines. They have hydraulic lifters but still need to be adjusted when first installed.
The noise seems to be coming from somewhere near the middle of the valve cover and not near the end where the vanos system is, but its hard to tell.
How hard are the lifters to replace on these engines? And could it have damaged the camshaft in the process?
Member
Here is a short video I took. I tried to show that the noise was near the center or back of the engine, not under the timing cover.
Not sure how to post videos, but I hope it works
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...t=MVI_2207.flv
Last edited by pacecar78vette; 08-18-2008 at 04:42 PM.
Member
Bump....video added
Member
wow sounds bigger than a tick. sounds like whatever is knocking is hollow or hitting something hollow. please excuse my newbie adjectives. I have never heard this on mine.
License Revoked
yea thats a knock, not a tick. its not detonation or bearings, I say something on the intake side. very curious, I wish I could go play with your car + stethoscope.
License Revoked
i hear a lot of air. Could it possibly be a loose gasket on the intake manifold? Is the intake manifold tightened down properly? Have you remove the intake manifold latley (replace a starter or that 4way complex coolant hose)?
Member
The camera did seem to pick up a lot of "wind" or air noise. But I can assure you it doesnt have any noise like that, just that knock. Car runs perfect otherwise
License Revoked
low on oil? i almost want to say its a rod knock, do you have a stethescope handly? one of the ones you can put down the oil dip stick tube?
400,000 mile e34 guy
Almost sounds like a really bad misfire. Have you checked anything out yet? Check to make sure all of your plugs and coil packs are there and secured properly, you might as well start out with the easy and free things first.
1986 325es (parted) l 1987 325e (parted) l 1986 325es (sold) l 1993 325i (sold) l 1997 M3 sedan (parted)
1988 535is (sold) l 1986 325e (sold) l 1991 s52 powered 525i 406K! (sold) l 1992 525iT/5 (sold) l 1995 M3 (sold)
1995 525i (sold) l 1995 525iT (sold)
2000 740i msport (current) l 1991 M5 (current)
Member
+1 Sounds like a misfire to me. Check your plugs and coils. There's also the possibility of this being as wrist pin, people tend to forget how much noise they can make when they wear out.
Go ahead and bite. Plenty for everyone.
Member
To me it sounded like it was on the top of the engine, but wasnt sure. As deep of sound as it makes it made me fear that it was a rod knock, but doesnt sound like it is coming from the bottom end. As far as a misfire, the engine runs too smooth to make me think its a misfire. As in no hesitation or engine vibration normally associated with a misfire, but I am open to any suggestions.
I wish the camera would have recorded better sound as the wind or air noise is not there, just the little deeper thump.
Is there a way to check the lifters or rocker arms to see if they are within spec or causing the problem? I know it sounds like more then a lifter noise, but maybe theres a way to rule that out?
400,000 mile e34 guy
When my e30 had a misfire it ran and idled fairly smooth as well, it just sounded like shit.
1986 325es (parted) l 1987 325e (parted) l 1986 325es (sold) l 1993 325i (sold) l 1997 M3 sedan (parted)
1988 535is (sold) l 1986 325e (sold) l 1991 s52 powered 525i 406K! (sold) l 1992 525iT/5 (sold) l 1995 M3 (sold)
1995 525i (sold) l 1995 525iT (sold)
2000 740i msport (current) l 1991 M5 (current)
Member
I will start by replacing the plugs then. How do I check to see if the coil packs are good?
Member
Remove it from the plug, start the car, hold a ground area on the car and stick your tongue on the plug contact on the coil.
Seriously though, there's a couple ways to test the coils, the easiest being to place an inline plug test light in line. It'll light every time the coil fires.
Go ahead and bite. Plenty for everyone.
Member
Remove it from the plug, start the car, hold a ground area on the car and stick your tongue on the plug contact on the coil.
Seriously though, there's a couple ways to test the coils, the easiest being to place an inline plug test light in line. It'll light every time the coil fires.
Thats a good one.....but I will let you go first on that one.
So basically its just like testing for spark on any other car. I just didnt know if there was a special way of testing it, as I have heard of coil packs just getting weak and still firing, just not firing as much voltage as they should.
Member
The car has 6 coils, but they're still coils, they still fire plugs. Just find an inline spark tester light at an auto parts place for a few bucks, that'll tell you whether or not the coil is working.
I don't recall how the plugs on the coils work on the m50, but you can also try just unplugging each coil at a time while the car is running. The car will have a skip each time a coil is unplugged. If you find a cylinder that doesn't change how the car runs when you disconnect the coil, then that cylinder is the dead one. Start with that.
Go ahead and bite. Plenty for everyone.
Member
Changed the plugs and checked for spark on all cylinders, everything is fine and did not change the noise. Engine runs smooth an accelerates smoothly. I have had cars with a misfire and know what they feel like then. Do injectors get noisy when they are bad? Im assuming it is something in the top end of the engine though. Possibly a wore rocker arm or lifter?
Anyone have any ideas?
License Revoked
to me (after accounting for the terrible audio quality of most cameras), it sounds a lot like a collapsed lifter.
License Revoked
Did you ever find out what the noise was? My m50 is doing the exact same thing with the sound and all. Sounds a little closer to the vanos though
Member
i don't have that problem, but i'd love to know what happened too
F*CK
Member
It was over the #3 cylinder and it was a lifter that was not properly pumping up or filling with oil. So, basically a collasped lifter. I replaced all the lifters as well as the cams with a set from a junk M52 head with less miles than my engine on it. I could have narrowed down which particular lifter it was, but it was easier this way. Plus I dont think there was any wear on my cams but just to be careful I replaced them anyway.
I updated awhile back:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=885638
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks