[vivithemage]

I picked up my 2009 335i with x drive 6 speed manual, love it.

Now that winter is over, I am noticing a few things though:

1) loud ticka ticka, just like a diesel. I've had other german cars that do this, but this seems louder then those. It's also after warm and at oil temp.

2) roughish idle at start up occasionally. It'll fluctuate between 650-850 RPM, then once warmed a bit, it'll idle at 750~ pretty solid, is this a concern? My mind is stuck on that I might have a leak in the turbo system somewhere?

No CEL

[_Sinister_]

How many miles? and the tick noise is common with our motors

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by vivithemage

I picked up my 2009 335i with x drive 6 speed manual, love it.

Now that winter is over, I am noticing a few things though:

1) loud ticka ticka, just like a diesel. I've had other german cars that do this, but this seems louder then those. It's also after warm and at oil temp.

2) roughish idle at start up occasionally. It'll fluctuate between 650-850 RPM, then once warmed a bit, it'll idle at 750~ pretty solid, is this a concern? My mind is stuck on that I might have a leak in the turbo system somewhere?

No CEL

1. On the N52 motor that's indicative of a defect in the lifters. I'm not sure its the same in the N54 though, haven't really seen that many reports of it but I don't own a 335 so I'm not as cognizant of it.

2. My 328 does this too. Clears up and is fine. Last time I spoke to my BMW Master Tech he said it's common and expected on a variable valve motor.

[Taskmaster]

Normally a tick is a sign of oil starvation to the lifters. Check the oil level and/or do an oil change.

[drunkenup]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

Normally a tick is a sign of oil starvation to the lifters. Check the oil level and/or do an oil change.

Also maybe try another type/brand of the variety of approved oils. If this is in fact lifter tick I'm surprised you were not hearing it during the colder temps, I had some lifter tick that went away when it got warm.

[vivithemage]

That is my guess, lifter ticket ... i've heard it before in my 1.8T's, 2.0T's, etc. It just sounds louder!

I will drive, it will not be heard, i'll idle for a few seconds, then it will come back. This was happening when it was cold as well. I get my oil changes at the dealer still ... I got a few coupons, I think they're using castarol now. I have 72k on the clock. Oil levels look good as well.

[mt145]

I talked to a BMW tech, temporary fix on the lifter noise is to run the engine at about 4k revs while in park. It helps circulate the oil. He says it's mostly just an annoyance thing, not an actual harmful problem.

[vivithemage]

Originally Posted by mt145

I talked to a BMW tech, temporary fix on the lifter noise is to run the engine at about 4k revs while in park. It helps circulate the oil. He says it's mostly just an annoyance thing, not an actual harmful problem.

That's all I wanted to make sure ... it sounds like metal on metal, so I always get worried ... wanted to make sure the N54 was OK with that noise too.

[Delta0311]

The ticking you sometimes hear on a 335 is from the fuel injectors they are a bit noisy. This is not a problem. On the other hand the ticking on a 328 is a sign that the lifters are not getting enough oil and NO this is not normal. I had the head and lifters replaced in my old 328 to fix the issue. The ticking on a N52 will not break the car but will increase wear and tear on the engine a bit.

[vivithemage]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

The ticking you sometimes hear on a 335 is from the fuel injectors they are a bit noisy. This is not a problem. On the other hand the ticking on a 328 is a sign that the lifters are not getting enough oil and NO this is not normal. I had the head and lifters replaced in my old 328 to fix the issue. The ticking on a N52 will not break the car but will increase wear and tear on the engine a bit.

I should get a db reader and see if it's coming from the injectors or the lifters.

[_Sinister_]

Sometimes oil shops will do the recommended 6.5quarts and send you on your way. Not knowing how the N52 is on oil but the N54 sometimes requires the full 7 mine did any way ( after doing my own oil change and driving 10 miles my oil light came on saying low oil I put the left over oil .5 quart and it went away Mobile1 0w-40) Lifter noise is apparent when I first start the car but goes away after driving. I do notice when they get oil on them they are less noticeable, parking at angles makes them sound like a diesel truck motor

[vivithemage]

Originally Posted by _Sinister_

Sometimes oil shops will do the recommended 6.5quarts and send you on your way. Not knowing how the N52 is on oil but the N54 sometimes requires the full 7 mine did any way ( after doing my own oil change and driving 10 miles my oil light came on saying low oil I put the left over oil .5 quart and it went away) Lifter noise is apparent when I first start the car but goes away after driving. I do notice when they get oil on them they are less noticeable, parking at angles makes them sound like a diesel truck motor

but is it lifters or injectors?

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by vivithemage

but is it lifters or injectors?

It's the injectors. The N54/N55 motor head and lifter setup is not the same as on a N52.

[vivithemage]

makes me feel better it is injectors, haha...because that I know is common.

[gtaccord]

Almost definitely the injectors. If you take the engine cover off it sounds like a diesel especially when cold. Neither of the things you mentioned are issues to worry about. Just drive it.

[grzes]

search on here for lifters issues, just recently someone else was posting something about that and yet, not a normal thing, yes first solution is to try to lubricate the lifters by revving the engine but eventually replacement will have to be done, in the other post someone even made the link to some BMW internal document where they talk about it. I would make a dealer aware that some noise is present, might play in your fav later on

[vivithemage]

Originally Posted by grzes

search on here for lifters issues, just recently someone else was posting something about that and yet, not a normal thing, yes first solution is to try to lubricate the lifters by revving the engine but eventually replacement will have to be done, in the other post someone even made the link to some BMW internal document where they talk about it. I would make a dealer aware that some noise is present, might play in your fav later on

It's an 09, so I have been outta warranty for a while, so I don't think they'd gift me some lifters

[_Sinister_]

Originally Posted by vivithemage

but is it lifters or injectors?

Without hearing your noise I wouldn't be able to tell but my noise is definetly the lifters if your having idle issues where it runs fine after engine is warmed up might be your injectors.

[straightcashhomie]

everything is even louder when you have just BMS cowl filters and the whole cowl removed.... lol

[asus389]

Its impossible to tell without hearing it, but direct injected engines (of which the N54 in the 09 335i is) do have a ticking sound to them.

[BMWho]

Yeah just drive it. That is how I learned to deal with any issues with this car. If it still pulls hard, and sounds like a machine when I mash it, I'm all good. This goes against my natural way of thinking with cars. I tend to baby this one compared to my G8.

[ken1137]

It's your injectors as some have pointed out. The lifter/tappet noise is specific to the N52 ONLY.