Clicking/Ticking sound in engine? RESOLVED

[JTM09]

I had mine replaced but the noise didn’t go away! Going to try again when I take in for the driveshaft recall ..

[BIGW0RM]

Ive had this cold clicking on my M4 and M3. Goes away once warmed up. Ive heard it on others. While not something I want to hear. I am not worried about it.

[FlyingLow78]

I’ve recorded 11 videos of mine doing it, and I’ve had the car for almost a year. It’s really intermittent, but also quite annoying. I’m going out of town in a few months and I plan on leaving the car with the dealer to see if they have any luck duplicating it. The repair is obvious, but they’re crippled it seems unless they see it for themselves.

I plan on transferring all 11 videos to an old iPhone I have so they can see my recordings and show it to the regional rep if necessary. The phone will go with the car when I drop it off.

[Xtabi]

Originally Posted by FlyingLow78

I’ve recorded 11 videos of mine doing it, and I’ve had the car for almost a year. It’s really intermittent, but also quite annoying. I’m going out of town in a few months and I plan on leaving the car with the dealer to see if they have any luck duplicating it. The repair is obvious, but they’re crippled it seems unless they see it for themselves.

I plan on transferring all 11 videos to an old iPhone I have so they can see my recordings and show it to the regional rep if necessary. The phone will go with the car when I drop it off.

I have a 2016 F80 that I purchased new. It has had the ticking sound from almost the first month of ownership.

I didn't think much of it until I saw this thread a long time ago. During my last yearly service I mentioned it to my dealer and showed them a video I took. They ultimately told me they couldn't reproduce it. Thus, they didn't fix it.

This year I took it to a different dealership (MAG BMW). I showed them the video and described the issue. They told me the same thing...they couldn't reproduce it. I wasn't going to take that for an answer this time...

I told them that I 100% understand the situation they are in by not being able to reproduce it. I work in the IT field and commonly run into this issue with customers. I told them, however, that the symptoms (very loud clicking sound from the top of the engine occurs intermittently whenever i unlock the doors) should be very easy to trace back from a logical perspective. For example, what process gets initiated as soon as someone touches the comfort access/unlock handle?...what process/should happen next?...what happens next? I asked them (nicely ) to reach out to their contacts at BMW and explain that logical scenario and show them the video. The Service Advisor agreed and said she'd reach out to them.

I got a phone call a couple of days later saying BMW agreed to replace a ton of stuff. The valvetronic motor and a bunch of other things were on the work order. I think she said it was over $2,000 just in parts. She said they (the dealership) didn't have anything 'on our side' about this issue. She said BMW for sure knew what it was.

I hope the above helps someone else articulate this issue to a Service Advisor in order to get the repair authorized by BMW.

Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this thread.

I'll report back if the issue reoccurs (I HOPE NOT!).

[Mii]

Thanks for this thread. After monitoring valvetronic motor, eccentric shaft, among other parts replacement for a few months, no more ticking sound. Would recommend taking a video and use that to get repair approval from BMW, and do it before warranty expired, it's a hefty $2,000+ cost.

[MR RIZK]

See if it is the throttle body. Should be able to feel it if you touch the body of the TB.

Only reason I say check this, is I have seen the same sound on 135i with a JB4. I realise no JB4 on this car but the sound is the same while stationary and engine not running.

[TrauCon]

So happened to me on few instances.

However only when I had the BMW Charger (CTEK brand) connected. When I disconnected the charger, the noise went away.

Some of the people mentioned about battery voltage in this thread. That is what I think it is too. I used the charging points in the engine bay as directed by the manual. My guess is the "computer" of the car know the current that flow in to the battery and can regulate it better, as versus when you directly connect it to the battery directly in the trunk.

Anyhow, it could be issue with the current in the battery (in my case, the battery maybe in half sleep mode while drinking that juice from the battery tender), and how that was enough to supply to the Valvetronic motor when we activate the car (open doors, trunk .. etc).

Just remember it is extremely weird to have a bad Valvetronic motors to many brand new cars here, some people just roll off the lot. What they did have in common: long seating batteries on brand new cars.

There are a case where the noise continues even after a replacement.

No issue after the engine started, right?. If it was the issue with the actual Valvetronic, I would think it happens all the time. You will feel engine loss power at different RPM since this is how the timing/injection being controlled - by that valve. (as oppose to Vtec where it either on or off at high RPM. VTEC kicks in yo)

Remember these BMWs depends so heavily on battery. I had an 330ci and the battery failed while I was on the highway. The bottom of the car made a loud sound like someone took a sled hammer and hit the frame underneat. It was weird and all due to a battery.

Just my thought. I am not saying all our Valvetronic are good. If you have warranty use it. I, personally, wont give my car to the dealer to disassemble the engine unless I know for sure. I dont trust the dealer. You hear me right, I do not trust the dealer.

Btw, did anyone scan with ISTA? I did, came up nothing for Valvetronic.

Just my thought, dont grill me.

[MR RIZK]

Originally Posted by TrauCon

dont trust the dealer. You hear me right, I do not trust the dealer.

Yep it is like playing Russian roulette with a semi automatic hand gun

[Mii]

TrauCon I was on the fence whether to get it repaired or not. After reading this article about potential eccentrics shaft failure, I got it repaired under warranty. If you already heard repetitive ticking sounds a few times, you might want to scan any codes mentioned in the article. It's not just the Valvetronic motor, the repair included eccentric shaft among other parts, and it seemed BMW acknowledged this repair.

[TrauCon]

Originally Posted by Mii

TrauCon I was on the fence whether to get it repaired or not. After reading this article about potential eccentrics shaft failure, I got it repaired under warranty. If you already heard repetitive ticking sounds a few times, you might want to scan any codes mentioned in the article. It's not just the Valvetronic motor, the repair included eccentric shaft among other parts, and it seemed BMW acknowledged this repair.

Thanks for the link. Its a good read.

Our cars run on computers and I am pretty sure if there is a slight different in value for anything for whatever reason, a code will be logged.

I scan mine weekly as a habit to see whats there. I agreed with getting it replaced/look at asap when there are CEL related to it. I just want to add that everyone should get ISTAD working, or a good scanners that can read specialized BMW modules and scan your car regularly.

As there is no CEL, or even a soft code, I am not worry about it.

[JTM09]

I’m getting a new vtronic motor and shaft this week.

The dealer who did the work for me last year only changed the actuator apparently.

No wonder the noise never went away. Gotta love it ...

[drgmt]

Originally Posted by JTM09

I'm getting a new vtronic motor and shaft this week.

The dealer who did the work for me last year only changed the actuator apparently.

No wonder the noise never went away. Gotta love it ...

Hi mate.

I have a new M4 CS making this sound.

Could you advise if this is similar to what you were experiencing ?

If so could you post a pic of what they replaced?

[JTM09]

Nope my noise is identical to the noise in post #1 of this thread. I can post the part numbers they replaced when I get the car back though.

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by drgmt

Hi mate.

I have a new M4 CS making this sound.

Could you advise if this is similar to what you were experiencing


If so could you post a pic of what they replaced?

Omg wtf sound is that?!

[drgmt]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

Omg wtf sound is that?!

Either the battery needs changing or it needs a new valvetronic motor.

Heaps of cars report this noise

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1429746

Clicking/Ticking sound in engine? RESOLVED https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1389358

The car drives normally - no fault codes no other issues - completely isolated issue.

[FlyingLow78]

Originally Posted by drgmt

Hi mate.

I have a new M4 CS making this sound.

Could you advise if this is similar to what you were experiencing

Holy hell! That’s one angry Valvetronic motor!

After just over a year since the first occurrence, I’ve recorded 11 videos of the problem and, now that I have a second car to drive, the M3 is now at the dealer for diagnosis. This thread seems to make the corrective action cut and dry. The regional manager happens to be stopping by tomorrow to look at another car and my car will also be examined (along with the phone with the videos I recorded for them). I will update this thread as I get info.

[JTM09]

I’m finally fixed. Apparently the first dealer I went to - last year - only replaced one of the parts (?). But it’s all good now! Be persistent. This noise isn’t normal.

[THEROK]

doesn't bother me and won't touch it until i see proof the noise is malignant.

i try and minimize other people f'ing with my rides because 99% just don't give a damn.

i'm the first owner. keeping things as factory fresh as possible. tia for on-going documentation here.

[JTM09]

^at least get your noise documented at bmw. If you keep past the warranty you want documentation the issue was pre-existing.

Otherwise if it breaks you might be paying for it.

[8_is_enough]

Originally Posted by JTM09

^at least get your noise documented at bmw. If you keep past the warranty you want documentation the issue was pre-existing.

Otherwise if it breaks you might be paying for it.

Agreed. I brought mine in for a fix, and the dealership tried remedying it with new exhaust gaskets. It didn't work, so at least they documented it for the future.

[millerrh]

I just had this same issue on my M3 and the Valvetronic Servomotor was replaced by BMW.

I was trying to learn more about what this part does and came across this:

https://www.bmwblog.com/2016/07/25/v...rottle-system/

So this part is very integral with getting the engine to work, which leads me to two other questions:

1. Can having a faulty Valvetronic Servomotor potentially cause any other issues in the engine by virtue of it not working correctly?

2. Why in the world is opening a door or unlocking it in any way related to a motor that controls the intake valves on your engine? Not sure I understand the connection between the doors and the engine like this.

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by millerrh

I just had this same issue on my M3 and the Valvetronic Servomotor was replaced by BMW.

I was trying to learn more about what this part does and came across this:

https://www.bmwblog.com/2016/07/25/v...rottle-system/

So this part is very integral with getting the engine to work, which leads me to two other questions:

1. Can having a faulty Valvetronic Servomotor potentially cause any other issues in the engine by virtue of it not working correctly?

2. Why in the world is opening a door or unlocking it in any way related to a motor that controls the intake valves on your engine? Not sure I understand the connection between the doors and the engine like this.

Opening the doors wakes up a number of the car's systems. It seems like the issue with the Valvetronic motor is that it turns on and starts doing whatever it's doing when it shouldn't be and that's why we're hearing a ticking when the engine's off. Doesn't seem to have an effect on how the engine operates once it's started up but who can say for sure? My car did it like twice at around 1k-2k miles and then never again.