Lifter Ticking

[whaas]

I have a 2006 Z4 3.0si Roadster (e85, N52). If the car sits for extended period of time (several days) when starting up the lifters will tick loudly until the engine warms up ( a few minutes/short trip around the block), then the noise is gone and will not come back until it sits idle again. I have read many opinions from "it is nothing to be concerned about" to "replace the head" and everything in between. Is there a good reliable answer or a way to check and see if any damage is occurring?

[shogun]

Moved from BMW Employee and Technician Talk to Z4 forum

[jclausen]

BMW had that issue with the early engines for sure, they had many tech bullitins, (how ever you spell it) about it I think the final out come was to replace all the lifters? I've never seen the ticking noise cause actual problems. I have had cars where it was turned off for a short time and restarted and there was the tick, then it would go away

[whaas]

Thanks, my first thoughts were to change the lifters but I have read that this does not always fix the problem. If I drive everyday or every other day I do not get the ticking.
Within a day, even if many short trips, I have not noticed it coming back. Only extended periods of no driving. Now that the nice weather has arrived I'll see how it progresses.