S54 engine - noisy ??

[mitchk]

Hi - I have a Z4M which I’ve had for about 2 and a half years now and recently on about 20,000 miles I noticed a ticking tappet noise coming from the engine. The service 1 was due in about 4,000 miles so I booked it in early knowing that the tappets are one of the items adjusted.
Cutting a long story short the noise is still there - worse when up to temperature and I have been told on 3 visits now that this is how they are and normal.
Now I’m fully aware of the Vanos noise but this mechanical ticking has definitely not been there for any part of its life up to 20,000 miles and I’m not sure I accept the fact that the “S54 is noisy mate”
Don’t get me wrong the ticking is not hugely loud or anything, its just there and pissing me off.
I can tell the exact revs that the ticking comes and goes and is annoying as driving though towns slowly is around 1800rpm which is just the right spot.
I did see a technician check list of the tappets somewhere which said they were all within tolerance but this has made me wonder whether depending on which side of the tolerance this is, could make a tappet noisy or not ?
I’m not sure whether I’m being particularly picky or not, but wondered what other peoples experiences are of the S54 engine, being Z4M or M3 based ?
Am I being too fussy ?? and is this acceptable ? I spent £600 for this service which at the moment seems an expensive oil change

Mitch

[MattOz]

Mitch,

I've had three S54 engined cars and all have been different. The latest is a little 'tappety' but had an Insp2 3k miles ago. There are shims listed on the inspection sheet, so the assumption is that it had a couple changed.

My previous M3 was almost whisper quiet by comparison and whilst it had the usual tick and idle, it quietened down the moment throttle was applied.

Badly adjusted tappets/shims don't nexessarily manifest themselves as noisy. You know that the S54 is inherently loud, but from what you describe, I don't think you have anything to be concerned about.

Matt

[mitchk]

Hi Matt

Thanks for that - it seems that these engines all have their own characters which I suppose is why I bought it in the first place.

I think I just expected that the noise would be adjusted out rather than told that it is within tolerances it seems to simple to be honest.

Thanks

Mitch

[Bumble SV]

This sounds the same as I noticed on my E46 M3 when I purchased it. It sounded like running through a few tanks of V-Power was needed (but it didn't work).

A long story in short: it was cured by a combination of new shims on the Inspection II, a new vanos unit and then a replacement head gasket (undertaken progressively in that order with it getting a bit better each time but not totally eliminating it until all had been completed).

That said, it may not necessarily have needed doing immediately (ie upon hearing the tapping noise).

[E30M3SE]

Did they change the oil filter on the vanos unit??

If not, change it.

[mitchk]

no - they have changed the Vanos unit itself though under warranty

mitch

[mmm-five]

Mine's got the same sound at around 1750-2250 rpm, but everyone I know who's got an S54 (in the Z4M, e46 M3 or CSL) say it's perfectly normal - as does my indy.