bravo 35 Report post Posted October 12, 2004 Has anyone had any success with a flushing product to cure this, or should I be straight down to my mechanic? The car had a very slight tick when I bought it recently, but the noise has gotten more noticeable over the last few days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmccormack 0 Report post Posted October 12, 2004 They are adjustable.....adjust them.Oil changes & flushing wont help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*sic 1 Report post Posted October 12, 2004 They are adjustable.....adjust them.Oil changes & flushing wont help. werd Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted October 12, 2004 Thanks, will go see my mechanic after work today. Dammit, just came out of the shop for new cambelt and cooling flush. Had to drive my poxy ute! Looks like another day in the "Datto". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grant 4 Report post Posted October 13, 2004 Even after adjusting them, they will probably still be noisy. Mine have been tap, tap, tapping away for 5 years now. Just live with it, it is a BMW trait. Cheesr Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted October 13, 2004 Hi, apart from the probable performance losses, what damage is leaving them be causing? I am planning on taking the car for a long drive (a thousand km or so) this weekend. Don't want to end up stuck miles from home with a dead car for obvious reasons. Don't like spending money on cars unless it is mods, but I am of the school of thought that "a stitch in time...." so will fix them if it means saving expensive repairs later on. BMWorkshop quoted $100 incl. to adjust them as long as there isn't cam wear. at 97000 kms I would hope cam wear is not severe. The previous owner of this car was a bit of a dumbass I think. The coolant was the colour and consistency of swamp sludge and the thermostat was pretty much rusted out, the air filter was probably the same one it left the factory with, but the oil was the colour of honey and the car had been serviced (ie oil change) every six months. No idea! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grant 4 Report post Posted October 13, 2004 I really don't think that any real damage is being done...but yeah as you mentioned, preventative maintenance is always cheaper than reactive maintenance. My point was (sorry, I wasn't overly clear) is that I have had my tappets adjusted on a number of occassions to eliminate the noise, but they still make noise. I was told not to worry about it, and I haven't (and no damage has been suffered to date). However I do have very minor cam lobe wear (but again, not enough to worry about at this stage). Good luck, I hope that the noise is eliminated, and at least you know with the BM Workshop, your car is in good hands. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted October 13, 2004 Damage can be done if the valves are adjusted too tightly - it wears the cam very quickly (what killed my engine) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted October 13, 2004 Thanks Andrew - will keep that in mind. Have been to see my mechanic who agrees that they are noisy and will need adjusting. He is not concerned about them causing a problem on my trip this weekend so I have booked it in for next week. Fingers crossed?! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nath 134 Report post Posted October 15, 2004 Bravomikewhiskey, where did u get the cambelt etc done? I got mine at Jim Murdochs, he is good, (and the bmw service stamp is too). he does it himself, but does charge as much as JCBMW or TMBMW, which sucks. he told me the tapping was fine and it was nothing to worry bout eh nath Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmccormack 0 Report post Posted October 16, 2004 Bravomikewhiskey, where did u get the cambelt etc done? I got mine at Jim Murdochs, he is good, (and the bmw service stamp is too). he does it himself, but does charge as much as JCBMW or TMBMW, which sucks. he told me the tapping was fine and it was nothing to worry bout eh nath Nath, your car runs hydraulic tappets (non adjustable). Only complete replacement of the tappets and associated parts will ever get rid of the tapping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nath 134 Report post Posted October 16, 2004 lol shows how much i know!! yeah i got told that it wasnt a tapping noise, its just how the 4cyl sounds.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bumpstop325 0 Report post Posted October 16, 2004 injectors? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nath 134 Report post Posted October 16, 2004 Yeah who knows aye-i dont wanna steal this thread, but i actually think there is nothing wrong with it at all- its just i had been used t drivn my old man's car b4 that, and even from the outside u could hardly hear the v8 eh. Bravomikewhiskey, where are u getting it done? there is a good bmw mechanic in waipapa also. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted October 18, 2004 nath - I get Ron Kelly to do all my work. (He is behind master trade down the driveway to ITM next to the Kericlub.) He does all my dads cars (8 or 9 in total) and my two. He has been good to us so far, and as we also have a social relationship with him outside of work, he tends to give us what I find is a pretty competitive price. I don't know how his work compares to anyone else except that I am happy with what he has done so far. He is not a BMW specialist, but used to own an E30 himself. He doesn't always work on my car himself (i.e. staff member), but they seem to be good also. Who is in Waipapa? I live up Pungaere Rd, so that is about as close as you can get. Cheers - car booked in tomorrow for tappets, so will let you know how it turns out. Car went fine to Aucks and back plus about 200km back and forth between Manukau, Titirangi and town a couple of times. Noise no worse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nath 134 Report post Posted October 18, 2004 Wow u must have a big driveway lol...... Not sure who the guy at waipaps is, me uncle gets his bmw's serviced there when their free service schedule runs out. ill try ask Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted October 18, 2004 (edited) I think it is Scott Durnley behind BP?? He is supposed to be good. Scott Woodall at Pitstop is aldo good, but specialises in mercedes although he is selling the business, so it will remain to be seen if it stays that way. Re: Big driveway - half are work vehicles in town, only 7 including mine at home. Bit of a thread hijack methinks. Maybe a General Topic thread RE: good mechanics should be started? Edited October 18, 2004 by bravomikewhiskey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Tappets are now fixed - can still hear them, but much quieter. Now, however, I have a rough/uneven idle problem when warm and in neutral. Obviously when cold, the auto-choke raises revs, and when in gear, the stepper motor lends a hand. Adjusting the idle screw by the airflow meter has no effect at all as if it is not working. Will be taking the car back after the weekend to get it looked at but would appreciate some input so I know what I am talking about when I go back. I have confidence in my mechanic, and I have rung him and he has said no prob, just bring it in, should be a quick fix, but just want some inside info if possible. Cheers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattA 165 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 I may be wrong but the srew on the airflow meter is your air fuel mix the idle screw is on the trottle body.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Yeah, you're right. I wasn't trying to speed up the idle, just smooth it out abit. Used the wrong terminology. Average idle speed is good, just not even and smooth. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318is 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 According to the TIS - incorrectly adjusted tappets will cause rough idle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Cheers. Probably the problem then aye! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites