Lots O' Lifter Noise

Robo Squirrel · 05-11-2009, 07:16 PM

is it pretty typical for the motor to have noisy lifters? my car has about 450 miles on it. Thanks dudes!

Robo Squirrel · 05-11-2009, 09:36 PM

i dont mind it at all, just wondering if it was normal thats all

FStop7 · 05-11-2009, 10:11 PM

It's normal

Robo Squirrel · 06-09-2009, 09:46 AM

so, i compared my motor to another guy's...mine is noticeably louder. mine is an 09 with 2k, his is an 08 with 10k. i didnt hear any ticking from his motor, but alot from mine. im going to take it to the dealer.

King Tut · 06-09-2009, 09:49 AM

Good luck with that. They will say its normal. What do you expect them to do to fix it?

Robo Squirrel · 06-09-2009, 09:51 AM

better safe than sorry, dont hate, im paranoid

JCtx · 06-09-2009, 10:15 AM

Can you post a video/audio clip? It might not be as bad as you think. Remember it's Murphy's Law to get the noisiest engine when you're picky about that, like us. Mine is far from silent too, but being realistic, doesn't sound abnormal so won't even waste my time at a dealer. Like Tut said, unless it's really bad, what can they do about it? By the way, mine is quiet when cold, but ticks when hot (as oil thins out), which has always been the case with my noisy engines.

The bright side for me is my M3 is much quieter than my ex-Vette, so I'm making progress

. Keep us posted.

808MGuy · 06-09-2009, 10:31 AM

Very normal but I do notice that the engine does get quieter as is warms up. Maybe the car you compared it to was already warmed up when you heard it.

MrAdams · 06-09-2009, 10:33 AM

try reving the engine to about 4K and hold it for a couple seconds. (when the motor is warm of course) sometimes the motor gets air in the oil system and needs to be forced out. (or something like that?...) It's never happened on my car but when we run our other BMWs through reconditioning, after they get serviced I hear it sometimes and the techs or SA tell me to do that and it goes away.

Robo Squirrel · 06-09-2009, 10:35 AM

hmmmm yeah both motors were warm when compared. ill post a vid when i get home

Cloud · 06-09-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robo Squirrel

so, i compared my motor to another guy's...mine is noticeably louder. mine is an 09 with 2k, his is an 08 with 10k. i didnt hear any ticking from his motor, but alot from mine. im going to take it to the dealer.

mine is 09 too and I have this ticking compared to an 08.

rav7ks · 06-09-2009, 12:14 PM

Maybe you need a few more miles on your engine.
The 08 might seem quieter since it has 10K miles. Most on here pay big bucks to have their engine make more noise..lol

Robo Squirrel · 06-09-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rav7ks

Maybe you need a few more miles on your engine.
The 08 might seem quieter since it has 10K miles. Most on here pay big bucks to have their engine make more noise..lol

hahaha, i know, i like loud exhaust/induction noise too

valeram · 06-09-2009, 01:25 PM

Just bring your car to the dealer for checkup. It is better safe than sorry plus the price of the car includes the satisfaction of bringing you car for checkup for any problem, real or imaginary. For us, we will just say it is normal but you know your car more than we do. Unless you have an audio recording to let us make some objective decision.

Robo Squirrel · 06-09-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

Our motors don't have lifters -- they are overhead cams. The sounds most people refer to as "lifter noise" are actually coming from the fuel injectors.

my bad, thanks for that info pencilgeek. the only motor ive ever ripped apart extensively was my viper (dinosaur pushrod motor) which looks a little different underneath the valve covers

Robo Squirrel · 06-09-2009, 02:30 PM

engine porn! so pretty...but yeah so, what would be the reason for noisy injectors? could it be the fuel i use? shell v-power??? ive never had any problems with shell

Robo Squirrel · 06-09-2009, 03:12 PM

hmmmm

JCbmw22 · 06-09-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

Our motors don't have lifters -- they are overhead cams. The sounds most people refer to as "lifter noise" are actually coming from the fuel injectors.

He has spoken

JCtx · 06-09-2009, 05:51 PM

All engines have 'valvetrain' noise, since all have to have a clearance between cam lobe and follower/pushrod/rocker arm, or whatever else they hit. Only difference is VOLUME: some seem silent until you get your ear next to the engine. Others are more... vocal

, especially high-performance, all-aluminum engines, like ours.

I was under the impression a long time ago that hydraulic valve lash adjusters (commonly called hydraulic 'lifters' indeed) eliminated lash completely, and therefore were silent. Not so. The noisiest engines I've heard have those... but also they've had aluminum blocks. The valvetrain noise on my car is not that different from my motorcycles, which DO NOT have hydraulic valve actuation; they're a very simple shim-under-bucket system, which requires periodic checking (and sometimes adjustment). That's the same mechanical sound I hear on my car, which raises the question how exactly does the hydraulic valve-lash adjustment works on this car, especially when it revs to 8,400 rpm. I thought hydraulics didn't work over 7K rpm (and why motorcycles don't have that), but this car proved me wrong.

Again, I'm not concerned about the noise at all, but IT IS valvetrain noise, not injector noise. The former can be usually heard from outside the car with the hood closed. The latter is usually heard only with the hood up. And yes, I have an automotive sthetoscope, so that's probably why I can easily tell them apart. Good day gang.

Robo Squirrel · 06-09-2009, 06:10 PM

ok so here is the video i took, the noise in the video is most noticable right next to the head and also when i put the camera above the hood inlet on the airbox. the noise is still noticable when the hood is shut and also durring acceleration (mostly in the lower rpm range) I also think i have a tapping sound when the car is in neutral and the clutch is not depressed. ive read this sound is from the dual clutch plate setup. it is a more rythmic and lower volume than the "M clonk" when u disengage the clutch at slower speeds. there is some degree of vibration when you sit in the car, like a side to side motion felt in a old school pushrod motor with nasty cams...but to a much lesser degree. And finally when i am accelerating between 3-5k rpms there is a noticeable vibration in the pedal...also when the car is cold the throttle seems to stick a bit. Sorry for this huge rant and thread yallz

[u2b]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZArt3catld8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZArt3catld8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/u2b]

PorscheRacer · 06-09-2009, 06:56 PM

Pc 11 is the hydraulic valve lifter.

Direct injected engines have a lot of injector noise and I've heard some conventional injectors that are pretty loud too. I couldn't view your vid at work so I can't comment on yours. My M3 doesn't tick loudly at all from the injectors or lifters. Sometimes if the car has been sitting, I do get lifter noise at startup until the oil pressure comes up.

Noodlefoxes · 06-09-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robo Squirrel

so, i compared my motor to another guy's...mine is noticeably louder. mine is an 09 with 2k, his is an 08 with 10k. i didnt hear any ticking from his motor, but alot from mine. im going to take it to the dealer.

My buddy had a DCT and it was noticably quieter than my 6MT- perhaps this is the reason for the noise difference?

05-11-2009, 07:16 PM	#1
Robo Squirrel Major 70 Rep 1,008 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MI iTrader: (1)	Lots O' Lifter Noise is it pretty typical for the motor to have noisy lifters? my car has about 450 miles on it. Thanks dudes! __________________
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05-11-2009, 09:36 PM	#2
Robo Squirrel Major 70 Rep 1,008 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MI iTrader: (1)	i dont mind it at all, just wondering if it was normal thats all __________________
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05-11-2009, 10:11 PM	#3
FStop7 I like cars 331 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	It's normal
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06-09-2009, 09:46 AM	#4
Robo Squirrel Major 70 Rep 1,008 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MI iTrader: (1)	so, i compared my motor to another guy's...mine is noticeably louder. mine is an 09 with 2k, his is an 08 with 10k. i didnt hear any ticking from his motor, but alot from mine. im going to take it to the dealer. __________________
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06-09-2009, 09:49 AM	#5
King Tut NASA SpecE30 Racer 82 Rep 1,307 Posts Drives: 2006 Honda S2000 TT3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL iTrader: (2)	Good luck with that. They will say its normal. What do you expect them to do to fix it? __________________ King Tut 2012 BMW M3 Individual: Sold lsb.ridedomain.com 1987 BMW 325is SpecE30: spece30.ridedomain.com 2009 BMW M3 Coupe: Sold e92.ridedomain.com
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06-09-2009, 09:51 AM	#6
Robo Squirrel Major 70 Rep 1,008 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MI iTrader: (1)	better safe than sorry, dont hate, im paranoid __________________
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06-09-2009, 10:15 AM	#7
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	Can you post a video/audio clip? It might not be as bad as you think. Remember it's Murphy's Law to get the noisiest engine when you're picky about that, like us. Mine is far from silent too, but being realistic, doesn't sound abnormal so won't even waste my time at a dealer. Like Tut said, unless it's really bad, what can they do about it? By the way, mine is quiet when cold, but ticks when hot (as oil thins out), which has always been the case with my noisy engines. The bright side for me is my M3 is much quieter than my ex-Vette, so I'm making progress . Keep us posted. Last edited by JCtx; 06-09-2009 at 10:37 AM..
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06-09-2009, 10:31 AM	#8
808MGuy Colonel 221 Rep 2,339 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oahu, Hawaii iTrader: (3)	Very normal but I do notice that the engine does get quieter as is warms up. Maybe the car you compared it to was already warmed up when you heard it. __________________ 2016 Porsche Cayman GTS - Sapphire Blue / Black Full Leather Interior / Carrera S Wheels
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06-09-2009, 10:33 AM	#9
MrAdams do a wheelie!!! 156 Rep 929 Posts Drives: E46 M3 - '72 2002 - '65 Impala Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 M3 Sedan e90 [0.00]	try reving the engine to about 4K and hold it for a couple seconds. (when the motor is warm of course) sometimes the motor gets air in the oil system and needs to be forced out. (or something like that?...) It's never happened on my car but when we run our other BMWs through reconditioning, after they get serviced I hear it sometimes and the techs or SA tell me to do that and it goes away. __________________ ~Adam
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06-09-2009, 10:35 AM	#10
Robo Squirrel Major 70 Rep 1,008 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MI iTrader: (1)	hmmmm yeah both motors were warm when compared. ill post a vid when i get home __________________
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06-09-2009, 12:14 PM	#12
rav7ks First Lieutenant 38 Rep 387 Posts Drives: e92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 08 M3 [0.00]	Maybe you need a few more miles on your engine. The 08 might seem quieter since it has 10K miles. Most on here pay big bucks to have their engine make more noise..lol __________________
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06-09-2009, 01:25 PM	#14
valeram Major 37 Rep 1,413 Posts Drives: 992 TTS, 991.2 GT3 T, F80 M3 C Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dublin, OH iTrader: (0)	Just bring your car to the dealer for checkup. It is better safe than sorry plus the price of the car includes the satisfaction of bringing you car for checkup for any problem, real or imaginary. For us, we will just say it is normal but you know your car more than we do. Unless you have an audio recording to let us make some objective decision.
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06-09-2009, 02:30 PM	#16
Robo Squirrel Major 70 Rep 1,008 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MI iTrader: (1)	engine porn! so pretty...but yeah so, what would be the reason for noisy injectors? could it be the fuel i use? shell v-power??? ive never had any problems with shell __________________
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06-09-2009, 03:12 PM	#17
Robo Squirrel Major 70 Rep 1,008 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MI iTrader: (1)	hmmmm __________________
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06-09-2009, 05:51 PM	#19
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	All engines have 'valvetrain' noise, since all have to have a clearance between cam lobe and follower/pushrod/rocker arm, or whatever else they hit. Only difference is VOLUME: some seem silent until you get your ear next to the engine. Others are more... vocal , especially high-performance, all-aluminum engines, like ours. I was under the impression a long time ago that hydraulic valve lash adjusters (commonly called hydraulic 'lifters' indeed) eliminated lash completely, and therefore were silent. Not so. The noisiest engines I've heard have those... but also they've had aluminum blocks. The valvetrain noise on my car is not that different from my motorcycles, which DO NOT have hydraulic valve actuation; they're a very simple shim-under-bucket system, which requires periodic checking (and sometimes adjustment). That's the same mechanical sound I hear on my car, which raises the question how exactly does the hydraulic valve-lash adjustment works on this car, especially when it revs to 8,400 rpm. I thought hydraulics didn't work over 7K rpm (and why motorcycles don't have that), but this car proved me wrong. Again, I'm not concerned about the noise at all, but IT IS valvetrain noise, not injector noise. The former can be usually heard from outside the car with the hood closed. The latter is usually heard only with the hood up. And yes, I have an automotive sthetoscope, so that's probably why I can easily tell them apart. Good day gang. Last edited by JCtx; 06-09-2009 at 07:45 PM..
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06-09-2009, 06:10 PM	#20
Robo Squirrel Major 70 Rep 1,008 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MI iTrader: (1)	ok so here is the video i took, the noise in the video is most noticable right next to the head and also when i put the camera above the hood inlet on the airbox. the noise is still noticable when the hood is shut and also durring acceleration (mostly in the lower rpm range) I also think i have a tapping sound when the car is in neutral and the clutch is not depressed. ive read this sound is from the dual clutch plate setup. it is a more rythmic and lower volume than the "M clonk" when u disengage the clutch at slower speeds. there is some degree of vibration when you sit in the car, like a side to side motion felt in a old school pushrod motor with nasty cams...but to a much lesser degree. And finally when i am accelerating between 3-5k rpms there is a noticeable vibration in the pedal...also when the car is cold the throttle seems to stick a bit. Sorry for this huge rant and thread yallz [u2b]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZArt3catld8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZArt3catld8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/u2b] __________________
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06-09-2009, 06:56 PM	#21
PorscheRacer Private First Class 12 Rep 138 Posts Drives: 08 M3 Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bay Area CA iTrader: (0)	Pc 11 is the hydraulic valve lifter. Direct injected engines have a lot of injector noise and I've heard some conventional injectors that are pretty loud too. I couldn't view your vid at work so I can't comment on yours. My M3 doesn't tick loudly at all from the injectors or lifters. Sometimes if the car has been sitting, I do get lifter noise at startup until the oil pressure comes up.
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