[2 years of ticking]

Originally Posted by mishenka

It was very good .02 cents It was not clear from your post if the dealer ever actually changed the cylinder heads? Some people on this thread tried using different oil, but if I remember correctly the results were different: it helped some of them it made no difference for others. The cylinder heads are scheduled to be replaced on my car next week. If the ticking returns after that then I have no other option but to file a law suit because I do have documentation proving that my vehicle was in the service shop three times and the problem still not resolved.

The dealer replaced all the lifters, but the head has never been replaced.

Today, more than ever before, there are significant differences between oils. E.g., there are, or were for quite a while, two different Mobil 1 0W40 s available, and only 1 met the LL-01 spec.

Having said that, it seems crazy that 2 oils, both certified as LL-01, have significantly different noise level in the same engine.

I'd be concerned about having a dealer installed cylinder head on a new car - I think it's a crapshoot as to whether they do as good an assembly job as the factory.

I'm really surprised they are still having this problem in 2008. I know the PCV wintertime freeze up problem (after a very short trip - where condensate rises off the surface of the oil and freezes in the PCV because the engine has not been sufficiently warmed before stopping) in the 2006 cars was eliminated with the cam cover redesign - and I just assumed they'd get the lifter problem cured before now.

[BK]

Originally Posted by 2 years of ticking

I'm really surprised they are still having this problem in 2008. I know the PCV wintertime freeze up problem (after a very short trip - where condensate rises off the surface of the oil and freezes in the PCV because the engine has not been sufficiently warmed before stopping) in the 2006 cars was eliminated with the cam cover redesign - and I just assumed they'd get the lifter problem cured before now.

PCV icing up? I thought that was an E46 thing. I hadn't heard about it on the E90.

[mishenka]

Originally Posted by 2 years of ticking

The dealer replaced all the lifters, but the head has never been replaced.

Today, more than ever before, there are significant differences between oils. E.g., there are, or were for quite a while, two different Mobil 1 0W40 s available, and only 1 met the LL-01 spec.

Having said that, it seems crazy that 2 oils, both certified as LL-01, have significantly different noise level in the same engine.

I'd be concerned about having a dealer installed cylinder head on a new car - I think it's a crapshoot as to whether they do as good an assembly job as the factory.

I'm really surprised they are still having this problem in 2008. I know the PCV wintertime freeze up problem (after a very short trip - where condensate rises off the surface of the oil and freezes in the PCV because the engine has not been sufficiently warmed before stopping) in the 2006 cars was eliminated with the cam cover redesign - and I just assumed they'd get the lifter problem cured before now.

I understand your concern about dealer installing new cylinder head on a new car. The same dealer did the same repair for my previous e90. I did not notice any issues related to such an invasive repair after that, but, at the same time, I did not keep the car long after that. Sold it and got a new 328i.

Must confess I do have a confidence in my dealer. Hope they do the repair properly and accurately.

I understand your point about the oil, but at the same time it is, I think, a know fact by now that the lifters (as you mentioned before) are on the borderline specs/manufacturing tolerance. So I feel that oil might just mask the problem, not fix it. I truly hope that the repair next week will solve the issue and WILL NOT bring any new issues. I will definitely speak with the shop foreman about different oil.

[xspikesx]

just heard my first ticking sound a few days ago due to a short drive in cold weather from point A to point B less than a mile. i'm assuming b/c of the cold-start and short drive the engine was not heated enough and started to do the ticking.

haven't heard the sound since.

[2 years of ticking]

Originally Posted by BK

PCV icing up? I thought that was an E46 thing. I hadn't heard about it on the E90.

I believe it's a 2006 only problem, that was resolved for 2007 with the integrated CCV that is not prone to freeze up. See the following Bimmerfest post I have pasted in:

Robert Venable02-18-2007, 12:34 AM
From what i gathered from e90post.com, the 328i engine is most similar to the 335i engine, without the turbos. It is only similar to 325i/330i, in power not physically.


So, how is is simular to the 335 motor and different from the 325i/330i as per your information??

Here is what I know about it:
325i/330i/2007 525i/530i= N52
Just about every other 2007 YR 6 cylinder other than the 335i= N52KP

The new N52KP (328 motor) is simply an upgraded motor from the E90 325/330 and 2007 525/530.

Main differences from the N52 vs the N52KP:
N52= Aluminum valve cover
N52KP= Plastic/composite valve cover w/ intergrated CCVV and oil seperator

N52= 5mm Exhaust valve stems
N52KP= 6mm Exhaust Valve stems

N52KP= New DME, New Digital HFM, New throttle body

Other than this, there are no major differences that BMW mentions.

[BK]

Originally Posted by 2 years of ticking

N52KP= Plastic/composite valve cover w/ intergrated CCVV and oil seperator

Very interesting -- I did not know that.

[runnerx]

Originally Posted by 2 years of ticking

I believe it's a 2006 only problem, that was resolved for 2007 with the integrated CCV that is not prone to freeze up.[/I]

very interesting... My friend's 2007 Z4 3.0si and my 2006 330i have the same ticking problem. a few ppl with 335i have this ticking too.

[rambalu80]

Originally Posted by damadama

just got my ride back yesterday, they did the "bleeD" or whatever... engine was ticking again today woofuckinhoo

Take it back to the stealership and they will replace the engine head after opening a PUMA case if they can duplicate the issue.

[cityblader]

I have the 2006 330i, approx 29k miles. I have had the ticking noise off and on since I bought it. It seemed to go away after break in, and when its hot, but lately I decided not to put up with it any longer. They did the "bleed" but it didnt work. They are replacing the cylinder head on Wednesday.

[BMW_E90]

im having the same problem with my car, with the ticking noise coming from my engine and the idle on the car would jump around and go below 500rpms and sit there. the engine sounds like its about to die.
i took it to the dealer about 3 times and they still couldnt figure out what it was.
the car's starting to act up again. today it wouldnt gas on the freeway when i was in traffic. i had to turn the car on and off on a full stop.
what do i have to do? help me out guys. it's really stressing me out.
Do i need to get the cylinder head and hydraulic lifters replaced like others did?

[Xtype0]

Originally Posted by BMW_E90

im having the same problem with my car, with the ticking noise coming from my engine and the idle on the car would jump around and go below 500rpms and sit there. the engine sounds like its about to die.
i took it to the dealer about 3 times and they still couldnt figure out what it was.
the car's starting to act up again. today it wouldnt gas on the freeway when i was in traffic. i had to turn the car on and off on a full stop.
what do i have to do? help me out guys. it's really stressing me out.
Do i need to get the cylinder head and hydraulic lifters replaced like others did?

Sounds like you have a pinhole leak somewhere along the lines causing a poor mix of fuel/air. Your symptoms sounds very similar to what I had experienced with my former e90 330xi.

[StoneCold]

Originally Posted by BMW_E90

im having the same problem with my car, with the ticking noise coming from my engine and the idle on the car would jump around and go below 500rpms and sit there. the engine sounds like its about to die.
i took it to the dealer about 3 times and they still couldnt figure out what it was.
the car's starting to act up again. today it wouldnt gas on the freeway when i was in traffic. i had to turn the car on and off on a full stop.
what do i have to do? help me out guys. it's really stressing me out.
Do i need to get the cylinder head and hydraulic lifters replaced like others did?

Listen to Saintor's MP3 posted to see if your ticking noises is the same. Mine was and just had have cylinder head replaced. GL

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175340

[BMW_E90]

yea sounds the same! its annoying! what do i do to get it fixed?
and that pinhole leak... if there is a leak... where shall i look for it? just around the MAF sensor?

[StoneCold]

Originally Posted by BMW_E90

yea sounds the same! its annoying! what do i do to get it fixed?
and that pinhole leak... if there is a leak... where shall i look for it? just around the MAF sensor?

Recorded that sounds and bring the vehicle in for overnight. Hope it will happen at their shop and get it fixes. They will try to bleed it first, but if it does not go away then than the cylinder head to be replaced. So far mine doing so good after replacing it. GL

[BMW_E90]

i told them about the sound but they just told me "its just the car warming up."
ughhh....~

[ni8shadow]

Does NOT going in and having it "Fixed" cause any permanent damage?

[racecar7d]

Originally Posted by cityblader

I have the 2006 330i, approx 29k miles. I have had the ticking noise off and on since I bought it. It seemed to go away after break in, and when its hot, but lately I decided not to put up with it any longer. They did the "bleed" but it didnt work. They are replacing the cylinder head on Wednesday.

I just bought a 2006 330xi with 20,000 miles and have a ticking noise in the engine. The BMW teck told me it was normal and that there was air in the oil that was making it tick???? What does anyone think about that???

[flicks28]

Originally Posted by ni8shadow

Does NOT going in and having it "Fixed" cause any permanent damage?

I was told from my SA that, yes it could lead to permanent damage. The cost of the new cylinder head is an $8K fix according to the SA out of warranty. New complete engine is about $12-13K.

[ni8shadow]

Ouch!!! Sched appt with SA...ticking is on and off though and my nearest dealer is 45min away and by the time i get there, the engine should be hot enough to "burn the ticking away" for the day. Am I going to have to leave it there for a few days?

[rambalu80]

Originally Posted by ni8shadow

Ouch!!! Sched appt with SA...ticking is on and off though and my nearest dealer is 45min away and by the time i get there, the engine should be hot enough to "burn the ticking away" for the day. Am I going to have to leave it there for a few days?

That would be your best bet.

[Xtype0]

Originally Posted by BMW_E90

yea sounds the same! its annoying! what do i do to get it fixed?
and that pinhole leak... if there is a leak... where shall i look for it? just around the MAF sensor?

I got the leak after they replaced the cylinder head. I'm guessing its one of the lines that they had to remove in order to get at the cyc head. I'm not a mechanic so I can't explain it, but the work order said it caused a lean mix of fuel and air causing the low rpm and the appearance of the engine was about the turn off. They couldn't find the problem until the engine light came on (they gave me the car back and told me to try it for a week) and i got reduce power and had to bring the car in. They eventually found the leak after pluggin the car in and having the engineers in Germany look at the readouts.

[ni8shadow]

Brought it to the dealer...they did the "Bleeding thing." Few weeks later and I have not noticed any ticking at all *knocks on wood!