Ooops...

[Boobonman]

My '97 323i has started tapping after a bit of vigorous cornering. It sounds tappety so I am assuming I have starved it of oil or something, and that this means it is now only good as a paperweight.

Firstly, what engines will slot straight in? I suppose the M52 2.8 engine would go in with a little bit of persuasion. Anything else worth considering?

Secondly, any ideas how much all of this is going to end up costing me?I can price the engine but I'm not competetent enough to attempt anything like this myself. Any help or advice very much appreciated, I'm absolutely gutted at the moment.

Ollie

[bolide]

If it has noisy hydraulic tappets just replace the noisy ones. If you've broken it properly it'll do more than tap...

Nick Froome

[Boobonman]

Well, I had a fair lean angle on and then it started to tap. Are you saying there is a chance it may live on?

[*Al*]

Hi sorry to hear about your woes, you need to find out exactly what the noise is. Why should it be tappets? Cornering oil starvation is normally more serious like bottom end shells, this to the untrained ear can sound a bit like a tappet noise depending how severe the shell damage is. Are your tappets hydraulic, if so they shouldn't tap as they self adjust. I'd get a mechanic to diagnose the noise first then go from there.

[Boobonman]

I haven't said I think it is the tappets, I said it soubds 'tappety'. I've no idea what has happened, only that it occurred straight after a bit of hard cornering. I was going to do a oil change and see if that made any difference first.

[Boobonman]

Well, the noise seems to have gone this morning.

Have I had a lucky escape or is this problem going to be back? I was going to do an oil and filter as a preventative measure anyway and see how it goes, but it has sort of knocked my confidence in the car.

[E30M3SE]

Change the oil and filter, look at the oil that comes out, if it has any copper flecks, or has a coppery coloured sheen to it then the shells are toast.

[Boobonman]

Surely oil is generally a sort of copper colour anyway?

If the shells are damaged how will that present itself? As I said the noise has gone completely this morning.

[S800VXR]

Boobonman said:

Surely oil is generally a sort of copper colour anyway?

If the shells are damaged how will that present itself? As I said the noise has gone completely this morning.

You will see tiny flecks of copper in the oil if the shells are damaged. From what you have said it sounds like you have kissed the shells so an oil change with decent stuff and new filter may keep things quiet for a bit longer. I suggest you presoak the new filter in fresh oil before fitting as well to reduce the presure buildup time to as little as possible as further damage may occur otherwise.

[E30M3SE]

Used engine oil from a healthy engine should not display any copper flake or have fine copper particle/dust in it.