An "In-Depth" Open Look at the S55 Engine Teardown ...

redfox · 10-29-2014, 05:53 PM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Since everyone is going to ask, I had some valve train work done on the car. So I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the engine valve train opened up. Excuse my poor photography skills. Hopefully, it's interesting for you too. Enjoy.

Holset · 10-29-2014, 08:08 PM

Interesting
Why is the valve train out?

Sektion9 · 10-29-2014, 09:32 PM

Very cool sight that not many have seen yet.

Also curious as to what was done?

redfox · 10-30-2014, 03:53 PM

two of the lifters were 1.1mm too short, hence caused excessive ticking sound when running. All the lifers were replaced. Weird...

Sean@PSI · 10-30-2014, 03:56 PM

Thanks for the pics.

Maddict3 · 10-30-2014, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holset

Interesting
Why is the valve train out?

He secretly works for Quattro GMBH and wanted to see the details of the S55.

farbmw · 10-30-2014, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redfox

two of the lifters were 1.1mm too short, hence caused excessive ticking sound when running. All the lifers were replaced. Weird...

So this was done at BMW, under warranty? Just asking because the dealers rarely let anyone take pics of what they are doing to the engine.

Holset · 10-30-2014, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redfox

two of the lifters were 1.1mm too short, hence caused excessive ticking sound when running. All the lifers were replaced. Weird...

Ok yeah thats a bit weird.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddict3

He secretly works for Quattro GMBH and wanted to see the details of the S55.

Probably

drexplode · 10-30-2014, 06:51 PM

Any close up of the injectors? I'm surprised to see that much coking on the injector tips at such a young age. How did the back of the valves look, carbon build-up?

MaynardZed · 10-30-2014, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redfox

two of the lifters were 1.1mm too short, hence caused excessive ticking sound when running. All the lifers were replaced. Weird...

Very weird indeed.

redfox · 10-31-2014, 08:05 AM

Definitely repaired under warranty.

No other pics except for those taken. Not sure if I agree about the coking comment. When examining in person, all parts were squeaky clean, except for engine oil of course.

dzu · 11-13-2015, 07:57 AM

Hi,
I am writting from Romania (East Europe).
I have a ticking in my engine, too. I can hear it in 3 minutes after i start the engine and it dissapears after the engine its hot.
I will leave a link where you can hear the ticking.. Its the same as was your ticking? You could hear it in the same situations?
Thanks for your help!
Regards

TheDiddy · 11-15-2015, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzu

Hi,
I am writting from Romania (East Europe).
I have a ticking in my engine, too. I can hear it in 3 minutes after i start the engine and it dissapears after the engine its hot.
I will leave a link where you can hear the ticking.. Its the same as was your ticking? You could hear it in the same situations?
Thanks for your help!
Regards

Great... Now I gotta go outside and check my engine.

kevinlevrone · 11-15-2015, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzu

Hi,
I am writting from Romania (East Europe).
I have a ticking in my engine, too. I can hear it in 3 minutes after i start the engine and it dissapears after the engine its hot.
I will leave a link where you can hear the ticking.. Its the same as was your ticking? You could hear it in the same situations?
Thanks for your help!
Regards

On the N54 engine this ticking (which disappears soon after the engine is warmed up) is normal, according to BMW. I actually like it, it gives some character to the engine

I think it is present when a certain valve lifting map is selected by the ECU, sometimes not only at idle.

YMB_M4 · 11-15-2015, 04:05 PM

I have the same ticking on my F82, only does it on cold start up for 30-40 seconds sometimes.

tooch · 11-15-2015, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redfox

Definitely repaired under warranty.

How did they find out it was 1.1 mm short? How bad was the ticking before they fixed it? thanks for the post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzu

Hi,
I am writting from Romania (East Europe).[/url]

I have a similar ticking in my engine as well. Whats the temp where u are at? Probably happens more in the cold.

N550369 · 11-15-2015, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDiddy

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzu

Hi,
I am writting from Romania (East Europe).
I have a ticking in my engine, too. I can hear it in 3 minutes after i start the engine and it dissapears after the engine its hot.
I will leave a link where you can hear the ticking.. Its the same as was your ticking? You could hear it in the same situations?
Thanks for your help!
Regards

Great... Now I gotta go outside and check my engine.

Sounds like my N55 cold. Once the exhaust flap opens after a minute or two it gets a bit louder until the oil is warmed up. Never makes the sound hot though...

pj.rodriguez · 11-15-2015, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redfox

two of the lifters were 1.1mm too short, hence caused excessive ticking sound when running. All the lifers were replaced. Weird...

Woah. Weird.

Great pics. Going away for the winter or are you driving it around still?

JMon · 11-15-2015, 05:53 PM

Wow. That is a very complicated valve train. Hope I never have to get into mine.

rr006rbc · 11-15-2015, 07:00 PM

Should've stuck some VTEC high lift cams in there while you were at it lol jk. Such a nicely built engine..hope all the timing went back perfectly.

revolutioN99 · 11-15-2015, 07:11 PM

Interesting!

Sucks for having lifter issues on a brand new car.

JNoSol · 11-15-2015, 09:10 PM

It's a work of art under the valve cover.

10-29-2014, 05:53 PM	#1
redfox INSTAGRAM: @yaasplease 166 Rep 1,023 Posts Drives: 2015 YMB M4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	An "In-Depth" Open Look at the S55 Engine Teardown ... Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Since everyone is going to ask, I had some valve train work done on the car. So I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the engine valve train opened up. Excuse my poor photography skills. Hopefully, it's interesting for you too. Enjoy. Attached Images __________________ 2015 ///M4: M/Vorsteiner Aero, P3Cars, HRE R101, Dinan S2, Coils & Intake; Eis/Akra Exhaust 2013 WRX Hatchback: LED Conversion, Blacked Out, Rally Armor 2015 Macan Turbo: Techart Exhaust, Cargraphics Lowering Module, Blacked Out
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10-29-2014, 08:08 PM	#2
Holset Captain 274 Rep 650 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Comp LCI Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	Interesting Why is the valve train out?
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10-29-2014, 09:32 PM	#3
Sektion9 8 Rep 255 Posts Drives: F82 M4 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Very cool sight that not many have seen yet. Also curious as to what was done?
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10-30-2014, 03:53 PM	#4
redfox INSTAGRAM: @yaasplease 166 Rep 1,023 Posts Drives: 2015 YMB M4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	two of the lifters were 1.1mm too short, hence caused excessive ticking sound when running. All the lifers were replaced. Weird... __________________ 2015 ///M4: M/Vorsteiner Aero, P3Cars, HRE R101, Dinan S2, Coils & Intake; Eis/Akra Exhaust 2013 WRX Hatchback: LED Conversion, Blacked Out, Rally Armor 2015 Macan Turbo: Techart Exhaust, Cargraphics Lowering Module, Blacked Out
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10-30-2014, 03:56 PM	#5
Sean@PSI 2135 Rep 5,011 Posts Drives: 2021 IOMG M3 Sedan Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oviedo, FL iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the pics.
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10-30-2014, 06:51 PM	#9
drexplode Brigadier General 1785 Rep 3,066 Posts Drives: G26 i4x Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Walled Lake Michigan iTrader: (17)	Any close up of the injectors? I'm surprised to see that much coking on the injector tips at such a young age. How did the back of the valves look, carbon build-up?
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10-31-2014, 08:05 AM	#11
redfox INSTAGRAM: @yaasplease 166 Rep 1,023 Posts Drives: 2015 YMB M4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	Definitely repaired under warranty. No other pics except for those taken. Not sure if I agree about the coking comment. When examining in person, all parts were squeaky clean, except for engine oil of course. __________________ 2015 ///M4: M/Vorsteiner Aero, P3Cars, HRE R101, Dinan S2, Coils & Intake; Eis/Akra Exhaust 2013 WRX Hatchback: LED Conversion, Blacked Out, Rally Armor 2015 Macan Turbo: Techart Exhaust, Cargraphics Lowering Module, Blacked Out
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11-13-2015, 07:57 AM	#12
dzu Private First Class 119 Rep 107 Posts Drives: BMW M4 F82 Austin Gelb DCT Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Romania iTrader: (0)	Hi, I am writting from Romania (East Europe). I have a ticking in my engine, too. I can hear it in 3 minutes after i start the engine and it dissapears after the engine its hot. I will leave a link where you can hear the ticking.. Its the same as was your ticking? You could hear it in the same situations? Thanks for your help! Regards
	Appreciate 1 Quote

11-15-2015, 04:05 PM	#15
YMB_M4 Private 14 Rep 53 Posts Drives: M4 YMB 2015 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Veracruz iTrader: (0)	I have the same ticking on my F82, only does it on cold start up for 30-40 seconds sometimes. __________________ 2015 M4 YMB
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11-15-2015, 05:53 PM	#19
JMon FAST 371 Rep 574 Posts Drives: Porsche GT3 Cup Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Charlottesville VA iTrader: (0)	Wow. That is a very complicated valve train. Hope I never have to get into mine.
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11-15-2015, 07:00 PM	#20
rr006rbc Colonel 1204 Rep 2,818 Posts Drives: '23 M440i GC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: California iTrader: (38)	Should've stuck some VTEC high lift cams in there while you were at it lol jk. Such a nicely built engine..hope all the timing went back perfectly.
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11-15-2015, 07:11 PM	#21
revolutioN99 Banned 49 Rep 231 Posts Drives: BMW M4 (coming soon) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Interesting! Sucks for having lifter issues on a brand new car.
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11-15-2015, 09:10 PM	#22
JNoSol Brigadier General 1383 Rep 3,834 Posts Drives: 750 MSPORT & E90M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (0)	It's a work of art under the valve cover. __________________ Daily: G12 750 MSPORT Weekend Car: E90 M3
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