For those who have had lifter issues

[bhess16]

Sadly, on Saturday night, upon starting my 2007 328xi coupe, I immediately got the dreaded lifter tick. The vehicle was not at operating temperature, but not as cold as it could have been here in New England (it's garaged). Working as a former auto tech I knew what the sound was immediately (and no it wasn't the VANOS making noise).

It seems this is not necessarily an uncommon issue browsing this forum and others, and in some cases BMW was replacing the entire cylinder head under warranty to eliminate the problem. Issue is I am out of warranty (50,900mi), and a head job goes for $8K if I want to get all the updated components (improved design came out in 2008).

However, the caveat is after driving the car down the road the noise disappeared before I even got out of the neighborhood, and hasn't returned since! This is leading me to believe that perhaps one of the oil ports simply got plugged with some gunk and prevented oil from entering the lifter. Question is...would most of you ignore it for the time being and just drive the car and enjoy it? Or would you bite the bullet and spend mucho dinero to have all the components updated to the new design? I intend to keep the car for at least the next 5 years if not longer

[Kernel Kurtz]

I had an 07 328xi, and noticed some lifter ticking only on a few rare occasions. I suppose I could have brought it up under warranty, but it was so infrequent it just did not seem worth bothering.

[Blue330i2006]

The service bulletin for this gripe is to run the car over 5k for 10 - 15 minutes straight.

The reason the lifters are "ticking" is that people drive these like they are Fords. Short shifting and generally babying them, thus not enough oil flow. redesign has opened oil flow for "americans" Drive it!! Enjoy it!!
If you run the motors up to 4500+ between shifts (after warmed up) and run down the road at 2k+ rpm they will last forever. Stop babying them. They are built to REVVVV

[Kernel Kurtz]

They are built to REVVVV

Absolutely. They are pretty unremarkable if you don't.

But when you do, they shine. That's where their reputation comes from.

[rtd328]

Agreed-our 07 is babied, and sees a lot of short trips. Therefore, the lifters were making a good bit of racket last week. Fixed it by putting the pedal to the floor to merge onto the highway. It's definitely an issue on cars that don't see revs past 4500 and run short trips.

OP,
I have indeed heard of cases where the entire heads get replaced, but as things are now, the Service Bulletin calls for replacement of the 12 lifters on the exhaust cam. To be honest, your dealer would probably not give you a head just to "update." So I really don't think you've lost anything here, other than the upgraded lifters. And being only 1000 miles over warranty, I'd at least try to get the dealer to replace the lifters. It's a well-known item on these cars, so they might give you a good-will repair.

If they don't, just give the car what it wants... RPMs

[Georgere]

got 59K rev it sometimes no oise to report...

[Critter7r]

The service bulletin for this gripe is to run the car over 5k for 10 - 15 minutes straight.

The reason the lifters are "ticking" is that people drive these like they are Fords. Short shifting and generally babying them, thus not enough oil flow. redesign has opened oil flow for "americans" Drive it!! Enjoy it!!
If you run the motors up to 4500+ between shifts (after warmed up) and run down the road at 2k+ rpm they will last forever. Stop babying them. They are built to REVVVV


This "fix" is no longer the recommended repair. The fix is replacing the lifters.

FWIW, the ticking noise isn't detrimental to the life expectancy of the engine (according to the official BMW line, anyhow).



OP: if the ticking went away before you got out of the neighborhood, then you don't have a warrantable problem anyhow. Replacing the lifters is for when your car won't stop ticking even after driving.

[rtd328]

Right, the Service Bulletin now replaces the old one, and simply specifies exhaust lifter replacement. Mine was done today.

I think the old "fix" was temporary. They now have updated lifters that supposedly correct the problem for good. And according to Mike Miller of BMW CCA, the ticking does NOT hurt the engine. It just hurts your ears.

[mryakan]

I think the old "fix" was temporary. They now have updated lifters that supposedly correct the problem for good. And according to Mike Miller of BMW CCA, the ticking does NOT hurt the engine. It just hurts your ears.
And some people's ego too :embarrasm (not directed at anyone here nor the poster above, but seen people who this applies to).

[meangreen94z]

The updated lifters(hydraulic valve adjuster) wont fix the noise in most situations, it will likely return. The permanent fix is the updated cylinder head with revised oil passages and a check valve to retain oil in the cylinder head after shut off. This repair is performed only after the updated lifters have been installed and the customer has returned with the same complaint.
The noise is depressurized lifters due to insufficient air free oil at startup/extended idling. The lifter acts as a sort of tensioning fulcrum in this valvetrain design, they dont move or compress any valvetrain parts and so there is no potential for wear/damage like in other engines, its just an annoying noise until they fully pressurize.

[bhess16]

Thanks guys, there has been no lifter noise to speak of ever since I started this thread, and I have been driving the car a bit harder. I'm 25 and still drive like I'm a teenager..and I agree this vehicle loves to be reved.

I just sold my motorcycle, a 2008 Ducati 848...so I'm sure this car will be seeing high rpms even more often being that I don't have the bike to thrash around anymore. Such is life... I love this car, but I don't think ANYTHING with 4 wheels can put the smile on my face like that bike did

[Georgere]

I just sold my motorcycle, a 2008 Ducati 848... I love this car, but I don't think ANYTHING with 4 wheels can put the smile on my face like that bike did

same experience here.... sold my R6 this spring, love the car (no liufters noise ever though) but miss having a bike :(

your car AT or MT?
anyway, do me a favor, when on a highway, stay in 3rd gear (can easily stay in 3rd until 80+ mph) - enjoy the sound, power and responsivness of your bimmer.

[bhess16]

same experience here.... sold my R6 this spring, love the car (no liufters noise ever though) but miss having a bike :(

your car AT or MT?
anyway, do me a favor, when on a highway, stay in 3rd gear (can easily stay in 3rd until 80+ mph) - enjoy the sound, power and responsivness of your bimmer.

Yeah man I had an R6 as my first bike...loved that bike too. The 848 was my 2nd bike. It's still here in my garage, so I could still ride it for a few more weeks before the buyer picks it up (he's from Maryland and I live in Mass). It's gorgeous and I'm really sad to see it go. Already planning on an 1198 or MV Agusta F4 when I graduate college in a few more years. I'm 25 yrs old..it's just taking me a while to get through, lol

And yes the bimmer is a MT