Knocking-like noise from the front of the drivers side cylinder bank

[extrabyte]

Hello All.

First post after getting my first BMW(2000 540iA, black on black) Dec. 2007.

And a great forum this is. Knowledgeable, intelligent people here. Helped me decide what to buy back then.

Car is in good overall shape. Had just under 75K when I bought it, now has about 86K. The dealer I got it from replaced virtually every sensor and the instrument panel. Water pump has been done. Valve cover gaskets. And no leaks anywhere(keeping fingers crossed). Still needs things like bushings and is probably due for springs, shocks, struts etc.

My problem/question is: After the engine warms up to operating temp, I get a knocking-like noise from the front of the drivers side cylinder bank(sounds more wooden than metalic). It does not affect how the car runs. It’s not there when it’s cold. It also doesn’t change in loudness or the type of sound that it makes(when you accelerate or rev it) which makes me think that it’s not a lifter or bearing. I’ve searched the forums here and didn’t come up with anything. Any thoughts on what this might be?

Thanks.

[Gid]

Post a sound bite...nothing comes to mind based on your description.

[jamesdc4]

Hello All.

First post after getting my first BMW(2000 540iA, black on black) Dec. 2007.

And a great forum this is. Knowledgeable, intelligent people here. Helped me decide what to buy back then.

Car is in good overall shape. Had just under 75K when I bought it, now has about 86K. The dealer I got it from replaced virtually every sensor and the instrument panel. Water pump has been done. Valve cover gaskets. And no leaks anywhere(keeping fingers crossed). Still needs things like bushings and is probably due for springs, shocks, struts etc.

My problem/question is: After the engine warms up to operating temp, I get a knocking-like noise from the front of the drivers side cylinder bank(sounds more wooden than metalic). It does not affect how the car runs. It’s not there when it’s cold. It also doesn’t change in loudness or the type of sound that it makes(when you accelerate or rev it) which makes me think that it’s not a lifter or bearing. I’ve searched the forums here and didn’t come up with anything. Any thoughts on what this might be?

Thanks.
extrabyte,
Welcome to Bfc.

The rate of the knock stays consistent and does NOT speed up or slow down in relation to the RPMs?

[extrabyte]

Thanks for the welcome folks.

Gid, if it ever stops snowing here and gets above freezing for more than a day, I will post a sound bite.(no garage)

jamesdc4, the rate of the knock does change with engine speed but it doesn't get louder like a lifter or bearing typically would. I've had mostly big-ass American V-8's in my life and some of them had worn and noisy lifters and they all changed in sound at higher rpm's. They got louder and more metallic. And I had one car with a bad bearing that after it warmed up, sounded like a diesel that was about to explode and them would shut down.

Even though it appears to not be affecting how the car runs, I am concerned that there may be bigger implications down the road. I'm a complete noob for the most part in the BMW universe and you guys are the experts.

Thanks for your help.

[Cyrix2k]

Post a sound bite when you have time. There have been a lot of reports of this noise, including on my car. I have 142,5xx miles and the car runs fine. However, most people report the noise goes away at higher revs and is really on present at idle.

[jamesdc4]

Read through this thread. Specifically the last post (#25) on the first page.

Is your motor ticking? - check your spark plugs... (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=888942&highlight=tick+ticking)

Post #25 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=15611388&postcount=25)

Make sure you read the entire thread.
Good luck.