Warped block / cylinder heads?

[Siberstein]

Hey, so a few months ago my E39 developed an overheating problem, my first reaction was to replace the thermostat, but this didn't help. Ended up bringing the car to a shop and they told me it was fine, and while it driving home it overheated again. All in all I believe the engine has been overheated about 3 times. After sitting in my garage for a few months (don't need it as a daily, wasn't in a position to fix it etc.) it now sounds like a diesel. Like full on cummins 12 valve nastiness. The sound is most present when its cold, but it doesn't go away if the engine is warm either. Took it to a different shop (they seem to know what they're doing, more so than the last one lol), they narrowed it down to something in the valvetrain. Engine is pre-vanos, so thats out of the question. Plenty of oil is present. Any help/advice is appreciated, even if its not what I want to hear

[jclausen]

Starting the car after it has been sitting a few months the lifters are going to make a noticeable clicking noise until the air is bled out of the lifters.

[bmwdirtracer]

+1.....or the timing chain rails are coming apart, or the timing chain tensioner isn't pumping up,

And just because the engine is pre-vanos doesn't mean it's not the valvetrain.

Can you take a video, post it to YouTube, and post a link here?

[Siberstein]

+1.....or the timing chain rails are coming apart, or the timing chain tensioner isn't pumping up,

And just because the engine is pre-vanos doesn't mean it's not the valvetrain.

Can you take a video, post it to YouTube, and post a link here?

Aye, I worded it terribly haha. I am almost 100% sure its the valvetrain, I just meant its not gonna be a vanos problem. I will try and post a video when I can