2015 F80 Lifter ticking at cold start

[MCamachoF80]

There was a thread about someone having their engine replaced because of this issue. I didn't want to jack their thread so decided to make my own thread with my video.

This loud ticking/metallic clicking noise happens about 1 minute after a cold start (usually overnight or at least 2 to 3 hours) This noise goes away when the car is fully warmed up.

Car: 2015 F80
Miles: 15K
Production date: 6/20/2015

2/23 Dropped off my car at the dealer

2/24 They couldn't exactly duplicate the problem - probably because by the time they drive it from a parking spot to the garage, the sound is gone, I sent my service advisor the video.

2/27 Asked my service advisor for an update: they are having someone from BMW NA come to check out the problem further

3/3 - I Just got news that they are replacing it with a new set of lifters. Should take about a week or so.

They gave me a 2017 mineral white 430 X drive gran coupe, which is nice but it's nothing like an M3. I miss my car so much!

Any of you having the same problem? Check out the video below.

[terahertz]

My car has the same noise. I guess I'll be taking it in, again. Last time I did they said it was normal and gave no explanation.

Please keep us updated if the new lifters fixed it.

[MCamachoF80]

Originally Posted by terahertz

My car has the same noise. I guess I'll be taking it in, again. Last time I did they said it was normal and gave no explanation.

Please keep us updated if the new lifters fixed it.

I would guess it's hard for them to duplicate it because they probably have to drive it into the garage and by that time it's not as loud. I suggest taking a video and showing and or sending it to your service advisor. Otherwise, I think my car was running really well.

[terahertz]

Originally Posted by MCamachoF80

I would guess it's hard for them to duplicate it because they probably have to drive it into the garage and by that time it's not as loud. I suggest taking a video and showing and or sending it to your service advisor. Otherwise, I think my car was running really well.

I actually did that. And they were able to reproduce and acknowledged the sound. They just said it was normal and gave the car back to me, which I don't agree with.

[Rick955]

2015 here too, just north of you in CT. Plenty of cold starts but never heard that on mine ever. Let us know!

[RowanBuds]

Someone with more specified technical knowledge than myself is sure to chime in, but from what I'm aware this is or can be a characteristic of Direct Injected engines.

[MCamachoF80]

Originally Posted by RowanBuds

Someone with more specified technical knowledge than myself is sure to chime in, but from what I'm aware this is or can be a characteristic of Direct Injected engines.

Yes, but a really loud metallic tapping noise like that does not make me feel comfortable. What even concerns me more is that this was not like this before.

[MCamachoF80]

Originally Posted by Rick955

2015 here too, just north of you in CT. Plenty of cold starts but never heard that on mine ever. Let us know!

Yes, I hope you don't ever get this noise on yours!

[paliknight]

Was this audible from the interior, or only from the outside?

[MCamachoF80]

Originally Posted by paliknight

Was this audible from the interior, or only from the outside?

I mostly just noticed outside of the car, inside if i have the windows down it's definitely audible.

[Candide13]

To my ears this is normal idle ticking behavior, a hallmark of standard operation of I6 BMW engines since forever...my 2009 328 I6 engine ticked so loudly at idle (warm or cold) that from inside the cabin it sounded like I was underneath a helicopter. My 1992 320 I6 also ticks...

My current E90 M3 also ticks, though like yours the ticking is much less audible when the engine is warm. It really is a BMW thing. I don't think it is related to direct injection (which is absent in my M3).

The reason for the ticking/tapping is the relatively low lubrication of the valve train at idle speeds, which somehow does not bother BMW engineers. I guess their mind is focused on higher revs...

So, as long as the tapping goes away as you raise the revs, I would not worry about it.

Of course, if the ticking bothers you then there is an aesthetic problem; some folks have experimented with different oils to increase idle lubrication, others persuaded their SA to replace their valve train under warranty, which may or may not solve the problem. I personally found the ticking more annoying in my otherwise super-silky 328 I6; in my M3 there is such a cacophony of engine and drivetrain noises that I don't mind it at all. Part of the street legal race car experience...

[MCamachoF80]

Originally Posted by Candide13

To my ears this is normal idle ticking behavior, a hallmark of standard operation of I6 BMW engines since forever...my 2009 328 I6 engine ticked so loudly at idle (warm or cold) that from inside the cabin it sounded like I was underneath a helicopter. My 1992 320 I6 also ticks...

My current E90 M3 also ticks, though like yours the ticking is much less audible when the engine is warm. It really is a BMW thing. I don't think it is related to direct injection (which is absent in my M3).

The reason for the ticking/tapping is the relatively low lubrication of the valve train at idle speeds, which somehow does not bother BMW engineers. I guess their mind is focused on higher revs...

So, as long as the tapping goes away as you raise the revs, I would not worry about it.

Of course, if the ticking bothers you then there is an aesthetic problem; some folks have experimented with different oils to increase idle lubrication, others persuaded their SA to replace their valve train under warranty, which may or may not solve the problem. I personally found the ticking more annoying in my otherwise super-silky 328 I6; in my M3 there is such a cacophony of engine and drivetrain noises that I don't mind it at all. Part of the street legal race car experience...

I am glad you posted this comment because I was more worried before. Upon researching more, it does seem evident that this was an ongoing thing with these BMW motors.

This guy talks about it : http://www.quirkyuncle.com/2013/04/1...w-lifter-tick/

I guess it doesn't hurt that they approved changing the lifters especially that I got my car used at 10K and I now have 15K. Have you heard of this issue getting worse oR the lifters going bad if it's driven hard when the car is still cold?

There was a guy on here that got his engine replaced because of this cold start noise, which was unusual for me but it did add to my concerns. Here is the thread on that: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1284512

I won't worry about it too much when I get it back, but i'll still feel better if it's quieter LOL

[Candide13]

Originally Posted by MCamachoF80

I am glad you posted this comment because I was more worried before. Upon researching more, it does seem evident that this was an ongoing thing with these BMW motors.

This guy talks about it : http://www.quirkyuncle.com/2013/04/1...w-lifter-tick/

I guess it doesn't hurt that they approved changing the lifters especially that I got my car used at 10K and I now have 15K. Have you heard of this issue getting worse oR the lifters going bad if it's driven hard when the car is still cold?

There was a guy on here that got his engine replaced because of this cold start noise, which was unusual for me but it did add to my concerns. Here is the thread on that: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1284512

I won't worry about it too much when I get it back, but i'll still feel better if it's quieter LOL

With a bit of luck that will cure the noise, though it might come back again..but then you have form and will be taken care of again. Or you might decide that it's just the noise your personal car makes and that's ok too..

[poorbmw]

I too have gotten my engine replaced due to this ticking noise. Tell them to compare it to another BMW. Or try flushing out your oil to look for bits, or any material in there. That's what they did to mine and found metal inside my oil.

[MCamachoF80]

Originally Posted by poorbmw

I too have gotten my engine replaced due to this ticking noise. Tell them to compare it to another BMW. Or try flushing out your oil to look for bits, or any material in there. That's what they did to mine and found metal inside my oil.

They're already replacing the lifters, hopefully that solves the problem. How did they know to flush your oil?

[poorbmw]

Originally Posted by MCamachoF80

They're already replacing the lifters, hopefully that solves the problem. How did they know to flush your oil?

They unplugged certain items, ticking still continued, so I guess part of their troubleshoot process they started to do that and then found out it.

[MCamachoF80]

Originally Posted by poorbmw

They unplugged certain items, ticking still continued, so I guess part of their troubleshoot process they started to do that and then found out it.

Well apparently they did a bunch of testing and this is what they think they had to fix. Hopefully they diagnosed it right. They said they even had someone from BMWNA check it out. Was yours all the time or only cold start? This noise went away when the car was warm.

[nike001]

This isn't lifter tick. It's your fuel injectors.

Problem solved!

[MCamachoF80]

Originally Posted by nike001

This isn't lifter tick. It's your fuel injectors.

Problem solved!

I don't think that's the case. Fuel injectors make a mechanical/metallic tapping / ticking noise? I think I know what you're talking about but listen towards the end of the video, you'll really hear it. If it was fuel injectors it would be constant and this noise goes away after warming up.

I'm not really worried about it as much. As one of the posters said above. This is well documented and there's countless videos out there that is consistent with this lifter tick.

I'm going to do an oil analysis with blackstone labs soon.

Only thing I'm worried about is if I drain my oil and there's metal pieces floating around (as one person said above) but I don't think it's likely.

[poorbmw]

Same situation as yours, cold start in the morning. And then let's say I would park for 1-2 hours, would hear it again and it would dissolve again.

[Park89]

Originally Posted by poorbmw

I too have gotten my engine replaced due to this ticking noise. Tell them to compare it to another BMW. Or try flushing out your oil to look for bits, or any material in there. That's what they did to mine and found metal inside my oil.

Do you have SIB # for this issue?

I've told my SA about the metal tapping noises when the car is at idle and he told me that it's normal and its the fuel injector.
I can even hear the metal tapping noise inside of the car. i'd turned off all the sound but the engine itself and i'm hearing this constant metal tapping noises. (Not too loud but noticeable)

Please let me know if you still hear the tapping noises after the engine replacement.

Thanks!

[logicalunit]

The problem is that something is slapping intermittently, and it sounds like ’lifter tick’ but you have to beg the question if this ain’t a symptom of something worse. When oil circulation for whatever reason was lesser than optimal and caused excessive wear then metal pieces could be floating around… and probably are, what explains why 3-4 people (I lost count already) on this forum received a new engine, all of them had this sound.