E39 M5 Ticking Noise

[M5 Russ]

The M5 is having its winter sleep at the moment but I started it up earlier and there was a ticking noise which was quite loud so I switched off.
I suspect it's a follower but should I restart it and warm the engine and hope it settles down.

Just dont want to make a small problem a big problem.

[DVandrews]

Sounds like a lazy follower to me, a 10 minute drive will normally sort it out.

Dave

[cosworth330]

Off topic, Russ where have you been hiding ? Didn't see you at the last meet at the Grasshopper, do you still go on M5board ?
I agree with above about a lazy follower.

Simon from Herne Bay with the Silverstone E39 M5.

[M5 Russ]

cosworth330 said:

Off topic, Russ where have you been hiding ? Didn't see you at the last meet at the Grasshopper, do you still go on M5board ?
I agree with above about a lazy follower.

Simon from Herne Bay with the Silverstone E39 M5.

Hi Simon,

Yeah still around mate but had a lot on the work front and missed the last meet but currently working on some new things for this year and hope to back around Spring. Will warm the car up next week and see if that cures the follower.
Is your M5 still über mint

[cosworth330]

Good to hear from you mate and good to see you still have the M5 !

Still got my M5 although its a little dirty at the moment as its lost its spot in my garage as my track car has been in there for a couple of months.

Hopefully we will catch up sometime this year at one of the meets.

Cheers
Simon.

[2stis]

Mine was doing this a couple of weeks ago - sounded like it was coming from the passenger side of the engine compartment. I hadn't driven it for a good few weeks (since taking it down to the Grasshopper meet actually, so perhaps more than a month) but by the time I got where I was going it had stopped and now I have been using the car at least once a week I don't think it has come back since. Is the ticking a sign that the idler is on its way out, or is it just sticky from lack of use and this is normal and nothing to worry about?

[DVandrews]

When the engine is stopped some of the valve will be held open, the valve springs from these open valves will exert pressure on the followers and sometimes these will gradually bleed down and collapse a little. When the engine is started there will be a gap between cam lobe and follower, hence the tap, after a few minuts of running the follower will refill with oil and the clearance between the follower and the cam will return to zero, the noise will then disappear.

Dave