Hey guys, I'm new to this forum I recently swapped out the cams on my z3 2.8 for some s52 cams. Everything seemed to go pretty well installation wise. Until I started the engine. I seem to have a pretty bad tick that increases with rpm. I did a compression test and leak down test and those were ok so I know the timing isn't off and I don't get any miss fires car runs really smooth just ticks. Do these lifters commonly just die when you take them out for a bit or did I do something else catastrophicly wrong? I've tried running the car at 3k rpm for a while it doesn't seem to help. So I'm planning on ripping it apart again just looking for some insight.
Thanks for any insight.
SOLUTION
FIX bent valves and put new lifters in.
Steps to take
Before coming straight to the conclusion of bad lifters do the easiest checks first.
1. Spark plugs make sure they're tight they can cause a ticking noise.
2. Check injectors injectors will always make a ticking noise but usually it won't get louder with rpm. Also pretty unlikely but definitely take a look. You can also check water pump believe it or not I've had a water pump on my m52 make a ticking noise. Best way to test is using a screw driver hold screw driver on water pump and then put ear up to screw driver. This method works great for finding the general area of the tick.
3. Perform bmw lifter bleed procedure basically Rev engine to 3k for like 10 mins. If this makes in improvement your definitely looking at a lifter problem. Keep in mind this is usually a temporary solution to a permanent problem unless you let the car sit for a very long time. You probably have a lifter issue.
4. Before ripping the valve cover off take a hour or so to perform a compression test and a leak down test. Try to be very precise with the leak down test. But keep in mind these cars are old and the valves are going to leak a little. You want to look for alot of leakage.
5. If compression test results and leak down test are passed. Now is the time to start looking into lifters. But keep in mind there are many things on the top end that can cause a ticking noise such as chain rattle or slap and vanos rattle although these are pretty unheard of on the m52 engine. It's still possible especially the vanos rattle. Also this guide will work pretty well on m54 m52tu and the s52 they're all pretty much same engines with exception of the vanos changes.
6. The next step would be to try and figure out where the noise is coming from. If it's the front of the engine it could be chain slap or rattle or even a vanos rattle issue also the water pump. If it's anywhere else your looking at a lifter issue. But if your noise is in the front you still cannot rule out lifter tick as there are lifters pretty close to the front of the engine. I will say though usually chain slap and vanos rattle make a more specific noise that's easily diagnosesble.
7. If you are 100% sure it's lifter tick the next steps would be taking the cheap route or the slightly more expensive route but before doing that if you still want to try and diagnose the specific lifter causing your issue take a look at BMWs service bulletin that I posted in this forum post. It will give you an idea of what to do to try and diagnosing the specific lifter. Valve cover needs to come off for this.
8. So now you have 2 options buying a couple of lifters maybe like 4 and replacing all of the ones in the area of the issue and hoping that fixes it but I advise against that since this job is alot of work and you probably won't want to do it again. I recommend biting the bullet and buying all 24 lifters. If that's out of your budget that's OK because ebay lifters work. The ebay lifters are actually what fixed my car and they won't tick its about $80-100 USD for all 24 from ebay. If your a big OEM person and don't want cheap lifters OEM lifters from BMW will cost about $800 USD but if you buy them from the supplier which is INA they are only about $300 USD you can also find those on ebay.
9. If you do this chances are it will fix your issue but please take your time when going to retime your engine no pun intended. It's very easy to mess up. USE DR. VANOS GUIDE I've attached it to this post aswell. Do not use any youtube video you will mess it up ask me how I know.
10. With new lifters when you start up the car it will immediately start ticking so don't immediately get upset. You must do lifter bleeding procedure for these new lifters to fill up. Mine ticked pretty bad on first startup but immediately started to quiet down when doing the procedure.
11. If that worked then your good. If it didn't work your probably looking at a bent valve or you miss diagnosed it for a different issue like vanos rattle or chain slap. Also double check spark plugs are tight doesn't hurt to look at.
I hope this helps someone because when I was trying to fix my tick I couldn't find any good information on what to look for. I just happend to get lucky and found the bent valve all because of a bolt that I broke. If you got questions feel free to message me. I've gotten very very familiar with this engine.
Thanks for any insight.
SOLUTION
FIX bent valves and put new lifters in.
Steps to take
Before coming straight to the conclusion of bad lifters do the easiest checks first.
1. Spark plugs make sure they're tight they can cause a ticking noise.
2. Check injectors injectors will always make a ticking noise but usually it won't get louder with rpm. Also pretty unlikely but definitely take a look. You can also check water pump believe it or not I've had a water pump on my m52 make a ticking noise. Best way to test is using a screw driver hold screw driver on water pump and then put ear up to screw driver. This method works great for finding the general area of the tick.
3. Perform bmw lifter bleed procedure basically Rev engine to 3k for like 10 mins. If this makes in improvement your definitely looking at a lifter problem. Keep in mind this is usually a temporary solution to a permanent problem unless you let the car sit for a very long time. You probably have a lifter issue.
4. Before ripping the valve cover off take a hour or so to perform a compression test and a leak down test. Try to be very precise with the leak down test. But keep in mind these cars are old and the valves are going to leak a little. You want to look for alot of leakage.
5. If compression test results and leak down test are passed. Now is the time to start looking into lifters. But keep in mind there are many things on the top end that can cause a ticking noise such as chain rattle or slap and vanos rattle although these are pretty unheard of on the m52 engine. It's still possible especially the vanos rattle. Also this guide will work pretty well on m54 m52tu and the s52 they're all pretty much same engines with exception of the vanos changes.
6. The next step would be to try and figure out where the noise is coming from. If it's the front of the engine it could be chain slap or rattle or even a vanos rattle issue also the water pump. If it's anywhere else your looking at a lifter issue. But if your noise is in the front you still cannot rule out lifter tick as there are lifters pretty close to the front of the engine. I will say though usually chain slap and vanos rattle make a more specific noise that's easily diagnosesble.
7. If you are 100% sure it's lifter tick the next steps would be taking the cheap route or the slightly more expensive route but before doing that if you still want to try and diagnose the specific lifter causing your issue take a look at BMWs service bulletin that I posted in this forum post. It will give you an idea of what to do to try and diagnosing the specific lifter. Valve cover needs to come off for this.
8. So now you have 2 options buying a couple of lifters maybe like 4 and replacing all of the ones in the area of the issue and hoping that fixes it but I advise against that since this job is alot of work and you probably won't want to do it again. I recommend biting the bullet and buying all 24 lifters. If that's out of your budget that's OK because ebay lifters work. The ebay lifters are actually what fixed my car and they won't tick its about $80-100 USD for all 24 from ebay. If your a big OEM person and don't want cheap lifters OEM lifters from BMW will cost about $800 USD but if you buy them from the supplier which is INA they are only about $300 USD you can also find those on ebay.
9. If you do this chances are it will fix your issue but please take your time when going to retime your engine no pun intended. It's very easy to mess up. USE DR. VANOS GUIDE I've attached it to this post aswell. Do not use any youtube video you will mess it up ask me how I know.
10. With new lifters when you start up the car it will immediately start ticking so don't immediately get upset. You must do lifter bleeding procedure for these new lifters to fill up. Mine ticked pretty bad on first startup but immediately started to quiet down when doing the procedure.
11. If that worked then your good. If it didn't work your probably looking at a bent valve or you miss diagnosed it for a different issue like vanos rattle or chain slap. Also double check spark plugs are tight doesn't hurt to look at.
I hope this helps someone because when I was trying to fix my tick I couldn't find any good information on what to look for. I just happend to get lucky and found the bent valve all because of a bolt that I broke. If you got questions feel free to message me. I've gotten very very familiar with this engine.
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