[EwenMac]

so im relatively new to this N52 thing, and am seriously annoyed with the "Tick"

so ive just got thru swapping out all the exhaust cam lifters/adjusters with absolutely no change, so further reading im now pursuing the idea that its flow/pressure related.

some background, when i got this car it would barely read oil temp on the gauge, i started to question that and found that my thermostat was not working correctly, at this time the "Tick" was barely noticeable, i then replaced the water pump and the thermostat, and now have in spec water and oil temps, AND the "Tick" has become more pronounced, hence the reason i did the lifters.

so ive tried all the snake oil solutions ive i use 5w40 oil, ive tried 5w30 oil and can't say i noticed any difference, so im thinking of going old school with Mobil 1 in a 5w50 grade.

my reasoning being that the motor ran quite when running colder, i imagine the oil was thicker, so now running hotter the oil is thinner, so maybe heavier/thicker oil might be a solution

in struggling to believe that after 17 years this problem hasn't been resolved, and also that there is so much garbage solutions on the internet from supposed experts

what do you all think, is there any genuine reason why i can't try heavier weight oil

if you got this far and have a serious suggestion im more than willing to listen

thanks

[StradaRedlands]

I haven't used it, so possibly more snake oil, but this is a cheap option to try:

https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/us/hyd...004.html#20004

[EwenMac]

thanks, yep ive tried it, im very much of the opinion its an oil flow or oil pressure related problem, its not possible to be a lifter problem in exactly the same area after all lifters have been replaced, at 230,000km and 17 years old i can't see any problems with trying heavier oil, especially in Australia as we have something like Florida weather year round.

that said im open to all suggestions

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by EwenMac

thanks, yep ive tried it, im very much of the opinion its an oil flow or oil pressure related problem, its not possible to be a lifter problem in exactly the same area after all lifters have been replaced, at 230,000km and 17 years old i can't see any problems with trying heavier oil, especially in Australia as we have something like Florida weather year round.

that said im open to all suggestions

Worth a try... that's all I've got...

[Efthreeoh]

It's an engine with valve tappets, it's going to make noises.

[EwenMac]

thanks, however its a well documented fact that N52,s have an unacceptable noisey lifters

there's reams of posts from every man and his dog with opinions and supposed cures.

no one seems to have a documented solution.

in my case i have one lifter noisey, and what im saying is that after changing them all out and checking the cam and the rockers and not finding any obvious problems ive come to the conclusion its an oil flow or pressure problem. its impossible to swap out all the lifters for one noisey lifter and have the same one still noisey

hence my questions about oil weight, ive already tried most of the additive cures without any improvement

ive tried 5w/30 and 5w/40 oils (Castrol, Penrite, Nulon)

what im now asking is how would a 5w/50 work, (thinking of Mobil 1) , and are there any obvious reasons why i shouldn't try it on a vehicle of the age and distance traveled as mine.

im also open to some of the 0w/30 - 40 oils, i just don't know

after 17 + years and pages and pages of internet shade tree mechanics im simply looking for some level of qualified input

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by EwenMac

thanks, however its a well documented fact that N52,s have an unacceptable noisey lifters

there's reams of posts from every man and his dog with opinions and supposed cures.

no one seems to have a documented solution.

in my case i have one lifter noisey, and what im saying is that after changing them all out and checking the cam and the rockers and not finding any obvious problems ive come to the conclusion its an oil flow or pressure problem. its impossible to swap out all the lifters for one noisey lifter and have the same one still noisey

hence my questions about oil weight, ive already tried most of the additive cures without any improvement

ive tried 5w/30 and 5w/40 oils (Castrol, Penrite, Nulon)

what im now asking is how would a 5w/50 work, (thinking of Mobil 1) , and are there any obvious reasons why i shouldn't try it on a vehicle of the age and distance traveled as mine.

im also open to some of the 0w/30 - 40 oils, i just don't know

after 17 + years and pages and pages of internet shade tree mechanics im simply looking for some level of qualified input

I'm an original owner of a 2006 N52 with 426,000 miles on the original engine. I also own a 2008 Z4 3.0si Coupe I've owned for 10 years that I've driven for 99,000 miles, it now sits at 122,000 miles. On top of that, I owned a 1989 E30 325i (M20) with solid lifters for 18 years and 256,000 miles. You say the N52 has unacceptabley noisy lifters. Back in the day BMW issued a TSB regarding the noise for those owners who complained about excessive valvetrain noise. The solution at the time was replacement of the cylinderhead with a revised (updated) version. Not every N52 with the original head design has noisey lifters. My N52s make lifter noise, but all engines have lifter noise. You should hear the M20!

I'm not sure what is unacceptable N52 valve noise, though. The TSB states the noise has no detrimental affect to engine or valvetrain longevity. What valvetrain noise I hear from my two N52s is more of the Valvetronic motor whine and essentric shaft actuation. I've not attentively listened to more than four N52s in total. None have sounded unusual to my ear. I've not listened to every N52 nor a large swath of N52s, no one can other than a BMW mechanic. I'm not sure the TSB was issued for any reason other than satisfying persnickety urban BMW soccer mom owners used to driving low HP-to-displacement ratio Toyota Camrys.

What I'm saying is I think you are chasing a noise that only is solved only by replacing the cylinderhead with the revised part. I wouldn't experiment with 50-weight oil for fear it may not properly lubricate other parts of the engine, like bearings that are not designed with clearances for 50-weight oil.

[EwenMac]

Yep ok I take your point, seems I’m either one of those picky people

That said if as you say 50 weight might be pushing it I might try 5w30 again

Weird thing is all the experts seem to think that is only for cooler climates, then other experts contradict that,

In my jeep wk2 with pen taster I ran it 192,000km on 5/30 oil without issues

Go figure, it was meant to eat roller rockers

[EwenMac]

Sorry I should have added my lifter tick is just one lifter not all

So my tick is obvious, that said it’s only noticeable outside the vehicle and if next to a wall, I’m not really concerned, however if I could reduce it thru the right choice of oil I would be happy

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by EwenMac

Yep ok I take your point, seems I’m either one of those picky people

That said if as you say 50 weight might be pushing it I might try 5w30 again

Weird thing is all the experts seem to think that is only for cooler climates, then other experts contradict that,

In my jeep wk2 with pen taster I ran it 192,000km on 5/30 oil without issues

Go figure, it was meant to eat roller rockers

I've only used BMW 5W-30 in my cars. Summer here gets well into the mid 90's °F during July and August.

[lookalikehuuh]

Originally Posted by EwenMac

no one seems to have a documented solution.

This is inaccurate, there is a well documented solution, a new revised head that has revised lifters from BMW. If you don't want to go down that route you need to learn to live it with, run the car hard once warmed up, since that will actually help get good oil flow to the components and temporarily stop the ticking noise.

I just change the oil with high quality oils every 5K and my lifter tick is nearly non existent.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by lookalikehuuh

This is inaccurate, there is a well documented solution, a new revised head that has revised lifters from BMW. If you don't want to go down that route you need to learn to live it with, run the car hard once warmed up, since that will actually help get good oil flow to the components and temporarily stop the ticking noise.

I just change the oil with high quality oils every 5K and my lifter tick is nearly non existent.

This. I got my first N52 in May 2006. I had no idea what it was or wasn't supposed to sound like. I ran mine 165 miles a day 80 miles a trip at an average speed of 45 - 50 MPH. Like I've said earlier, the only unusual noise to my ear is the Valvetronic system. I figured if it didn't break by 50,000 miles it was good to go. It's still running strong. No car sounds good when it's various noises bounce back at you off a wall. My opinion.

[Joe_in_WLA]

While this additive may be among "snake oil" previously tried and (from comments) apparently a temporary fix, I'm wondering if Liqui Moly MoS2 might point to a permanent fix?

[E93Dude]

There are varying opinions about the efficacy of LiquiMoly MSo2. Never used it myself, but can't hurt. Project Farm did a review years ago. Read through the comment section for interesting perspectives on this product...

[Efthreeoh]

OP, if you think you have a sludge issue, I suggest pulling the VANOS check valves and see if they are clogged. If they have some sludge in them it could indicate an oil passage is partially clogged and not fully pumping up the hydraulic tappet.

[Joe_in_WLA]

Originally Posted by E93Dude

There are varying opinions about the efficacy of LiquiMoly MSo2. Never used it myself, but can't hurt. Project Farm did a review years ago. Read through the comment section for interesting perspectives on this product...

No kidding about interesting comments 😅

[EwenMac]

Actually I stand by my comments, it appears that even with the revised cylinder head and lifters there are still complaints, that said if the owners are following the BMW schedule for servicing, who knows,

Thanks to all who have contributed, I am currently trying the Liqui only and it seem to me that my problem now is only at idle speeds, I wondered about the vanos filters as they also have check valves, so I’ll have a look, I don’t know about sludge but the inside of the rocker cover around the CCV port looked crusty, ( I fitted a new cover) also some half wit and stuck silicone over the CCV diafram breather hole,

I watched an add for a used e92 with a 4 cylinder gas engine and it sounded worse than mine maybe I’m just picky

[E93Dude]

E92 with a 4-cylinder?

[EwenMac]

Yep UK

[Bims328i]

I've had a few people ask me if my car is a diesel when I pulled up haha. I just say "yeap, sure is!" even though it isn't. One guy at a gas station was like "Man, you have major rod knock" I waved it off like meh, (it's certainly not a rod knock). The engines are a little noisy. I heard it was actually the injectors and nothing to do with lifters. Would be nice if the engine just purred.