M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: e30Andym42 on July 13, 2008, 12:43:36 PM
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As some of you know, I recently replaced my timing chain tensioner to fix this noise:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SWIny3cKHrg&feature=related
After that, it sounded just fine. Not too much later, when warmed up, my engine would make something of the same noise again:
Cold Start:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zDwRWFa7gFY
Warmed Up:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fTLgCFCHQRQ
So I thought the timing chain or some other related component was trashed, so I dropped the lower oil pan and there turned out to be no pieces whatsoever in the oil pan, just 3 bolts from the notorious oil pan problem. Glad I did this before it was too late. But if there are no pieces of the timing chain or pieces from the rails, is there a problem with them or is it something else? When I started it up last before I moved it into the garage today, there was a strange yellowish liquid being lightly spewed from the tailpipe, not sure if that's significant in any way, but just to give all the details. This liquid could be just from sitting around in the driveway. I am just wondering why my BMW is making this noise... I know I have asked before, but since there are no pieces of timing chain components in the lower oil pan, doesn't that rule out it being timing chain related?
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....hello? no ideas? nothing? no help for poor Andrew?
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If it is the same exact sound then re-replace it, it could be the timing chain tensioner went bad again from oil starvation because of the loose oil pan bolts.
Hope you replaced the upper oil pan gasket to help prevent oil starvation and dont forget to run an additive if your not running synthetic.
How many miles are on your m42?
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99,5XX miles. I replaced the LOWER oil pan gasket, because I did not remove the upper oil pan so I didn't even think on it... The sound does sound pretty darn similar though. As far as oil goes, it is not synthetic. I wasn't under the impression that it had to be. Maybe I missed something while reading the owner's manual?
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No but look at it this way when I run regular oil in my M42 you can hear the chain noise very clearly, when I add an oil additive the chain noise is very faint, when I run synthetic with a synthetic additive, wow no noise none.
If you are still trying to figure out what the noise is get a stethoscope with like a vacuum hose on the end to find exactly where your noise is coming from.
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100,000 miles. Start saving your money. Time to do the timing chain guides and gears.
Just because you don't see any pieces in the oil pan just means it hasn't blown apart yet. You want to fix it before it gets to that point. I have seen a chunk of chain guide wrap around the gear and slip the chain bending all the valves. Do you want to wait for that to happen?
The cheapest your going to get away with is a new tensioner rail, chain guides, 2 cam gears. You should consider rebuilding the entire engine or find a very low mileage engine.
The M42 is a fun and technically advanced engine. But there where several defects from the factory to make it a weak kneed bitch after 100,000+ miles.
Once a M42 is rebuilt properly it will last a very long time and be more durable then the original if you build it correctly.
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Thanks kenika65. I'll try that.
Peerless, an entire rebuild? This is news to me. BMWs are always made well, made to last a long time, and on a large number of occasions, they do exactly that. I wouldn't be afraid to put another 100,000 miles on it before I even think about selling it. I was not under the impression that there were other things besides timing chain components and oil pan bolts randomly falling out that make this engine a bad choice. If you take good care of your car and fix problems immediately when they come along, there should be no need for a rebuild unless there comes an unexpected catastrophe. This is what I was taught. This is what my experience with cars is. I know I am 17 and I don't know everything, but I pick up all the information I ever want to know from my father who knows his fair share. I know every engine is different, but here's an example. We have a 1997 Ford Explorer Limited with 200,000 miles on it. We never rebuilt it, never did serious work on the engine, or any part of the truck at all, only regular maintenance, and fixing a leak in the transmission. Ford has been known to be total crap, mainly their cars of course, but the engine was from the Mustang. I figure if Ford can make an engine that doesn't require a rebuild every 100,000 miles, why can't BMW, a much much better company? That being said, you have experience with this engine and I do not. You have experience with timing chain powered cars, I do not. You would know, I would not. It just seems ridiculous to think a BMW m42 engine is as well made as the engine out of a Chevrolet Cavalier. Maybe you get 120,000 miles out of it before it explodes.
Just whatever my $0.02 is worth. I bought this car because of it's reliability. I trust BMW to make excellent cars. My dad had one and it treated him greatly. I know several people that have the same story. I do not want to hear a rebuild is necessary. But like I said, you have the experience, I don't.