Author Topic: Strange engine noise (Read 3873 times)

mmret · « **on:** June 16, 2010, 08:28:18 pm »

The Z4, on a cold startup, tends to make this odd "tapping" noise in the engine somewhere. Sounds like metal hitting metal, and the tapping speeds up if you rev the engine a bit. After some driving it goes away.

I'd love to bring it in to BMW and tell them to book it under warranty, but I'm afraid that by the time I get there, the car will be warm and the noise will be gone, so I'll throw it out there and see if people have any ideas to narrow it down.

Again, not throwing a CEL. The rough idling thing seems to have gone away though!

PS: Runflats suck.

rrocket · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2010, 08:33:10 pm »

Hydraulic lifter issue?

http://www.bmwtis.com/tsb/bulletins/bulletin_graphic_temp/B110907g.htm

ovr50 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2010, 08:34:08 pm »

Leave it overnight so they can start it cold, that's the only way you'll get an answer.

mmret · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2010, 08:41:26 pm »

Nice find RRocket, seems to fit the evidence. I will take it on some longer drives to work and see if that makes it go away.

Ovr, hoping to avoid that one but I guess it'll have to be.

rrocket · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2010, 08:44:22 pm »

Quote from: mmret on June 16, 2010, 08:41:26 pm

Nice find RRocket, seems to fit the evidence. I will take it on some longer drives to work and see if that makes it go away.

As soon as you said "tapping", I said "lifters!" in my brain, as lifters tap like mad when they have a shortage of lubrication. So I just typed in "Z4 and Lifters" and voila!

Hope that helps...

Julie · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2010, 08:48:05 pm »

Record a video of it on your iPhone, if you have one?

I've heard of some people doing that on Bimmer forums

initial_D · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2010, 09:03:30 pm »

Show All video works.

articsteve · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2010, 09:23:31 pm »

Is this car eligible for Canadian BMW powertrain warranty?

mmret · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2010, 10:05:58 pm »

Quote from: articsteve on June 16, 2010, 09:23:31 pm

Is this car eligible for Canadian BMW powertrain warranty?

Yes, if by that you mean the usual US warranty was xferred to Canada (sans free maintenance)

articsteve · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2010, 11:04:55 pm »

Well in that case take I'd take Rocket's info in hand and shop a Bimmer dealer that will run it thru warranty without the usual monkey dance.

Just make it clear to the service department IN WRITING that you have a cold start ticking, you have a Bimmer service bulletin in hand that almost assuredly is the problem, and your not paying a cent .... because you were under the impression that BMW motors were the BEST IN THE WORLD.

Consequently, IMO it is bad strategy to have them abuse you like a regular BMW ATM dispenser. In that you should attempt to go right to the core of this issue and have them identify if your Z$ qualifies pursuant to whatever identification procedure they use regardless of the "degree" of ticking noise. That you're not interested in debating what constitutes an "acceptable" level of ticking and what does not. This will be a very expensive repair.

mmret · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2010, 07:24:10 pm »

I'm going to drop off the car Monday night, then on Tuesday we will do the "demo" I suppose.
Will of course go with RRs info and my video of the sound happening.
IMHO it would be absurd if they didn't fix this. Apparently a widespread problem on N52 engines involving lack of lubrication to the valves = engine blow up I presume. And I've got a year of warranty left.

This will be a very expensive repair.

In this case they get to bill BMW for more money I assume?

ovr50 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:01:22 pm »

Didn't you get that car out of the US on a private deal?

Therein lies one of the risks in doing that. It's not a CPO car, right?

articsteve · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:25:47 pm »

IMHO it would be absurd if they didn't fix this.

Dealers vary greatly on these issues. Some have better relationships with BMW than others. Some will not submit the repair to BMW warranty because they, based on experience, will make more money from the customer that from BMW and they know from experience most owners will pay it.

Hence it may take some shopping or not. It's a wait and see situation.

mmret · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2010, 07:00:18 am »

Quote from: ovr50 on June 17, 2010, 10:01:22 pm

Didn't you get that car out of the US on a private deal?

Therein lies one of the risks in doing that. It's not a CPO car, right?

It is from the US, but it was from a dealer in Canada who brought it up.

There is 1 yr left on the original warranty.

Railton · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2010, 10:36:42 am »

Quote from: mmret on June 18, 2010, 07:00:18 am

Quote from: ovr50 on June 17, 2010, 10:01:22 pm
Didn't you get that car out of the US on a private deal?

Therein lies one of the risks in doing that. It's not a CPO car, right?

It is from the US, but it was from a dealer in Canada who brought it up.

There is 1 yr left on the original warranty.

You're golden then. Tell them to call you when it's fixed. You should get a nice BMW loaner as well.
Railton

mmret · « **Reply #15 on:** June 18, 2010, 12:01:53 pm »

The place already said the loaner isn't a BMW. I'm assuming its a VW since they're right next to the VW dealer with a similar name.

ovr50 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2010, 12:54:57 pm »

Quote from: mmret on June 18, 2010, 12:01:53 pm

The place already said the loaner isn't a BMW. I'm assuming its a VW since they're right next to the VW dealer with a similar name.

Don't worry about that, it's a car to get you around for a day. I get a kick out of these guys on BMW forums who don't get a BMW loaner for their use when their car is in the shop. Much ado about nothing IMO.

mmret · « **Reply #17 on:** June 18, 2010, 01:35:52 pm »

As long as its not a 10yr old Golf...

quadzilla · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2010, 03:10:28 pm »

Quote from: mmret on June 18, 2010, 01:35:52 pm

As long as its not a 10yr old Golf...

Or a new City Golf.....oh wait, same thing.

mmret · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2010, 04:56:55 pm »

Hmm, already getting pushback from the dealer. Seems like they want to do the "bleeding procedure" first (which was already "deleted" by BMW), and further they say that "every car will do it on a cold start" and it seems like they say its only an issue if "it keeps happening once the engine reaches operating temperature."

Perhaps won't get much traction here (Town and Country BMW). I hate dealers.