E30 318iS m42 engine tick

[NickoAUSA]

Hey guys. On the way to work this morning I took off from a set of lights and I heard a pop and all of a sudden the engine started ticking really badly. Engine still drives fine, just really loud. I've just done new plugs, the upgraded chain tensioner and an oil change, all in the last week. Tick speed seems to change in sync with the revs.

Any ideas?

Here's a video of the sound. https://youtu.be/sjWoXqajG_w

[gerryreggea]

Hi Nicko, I am new to the forum just registered and actually here because of the same problem,, I have read alot and as far as I have researched. (I have copied pasted and edited from other pages I saved)

1. There are two noises. There's a tapping when cold which goes out after engine is warm. This is a sticky tappet or two. Sometimes changing to a thinner oil and/or giving the engine a good thrashing will help. Meaning you changed into a thick oil (like I did on mine)

2. The second noise is a general tapping/ticking noise that is obvious when the engine is hot. This is general wear in the cam, followers and tappets. Changing this lot will cure the noise and costly. The engine will continue to run for a long time with this noise. Eventually you find it won't pull to the red line, but even then it will still run.

3. I would add to the comments that there jcan be a 'ticking' that sounds like noisy tappets that can be attributed to worn/clogged injectors. If they are worn or clogged the ball bearing/pin inside can make this 'ticking' noise as well, this can usually be decided using a bottle of injector cleaner/lubricator, if the noise subsides after using it then the injectors could have been dirty and if it then returns it could be that they're on their way out.

This is what I researched I hope you get help... I am still researching before working on mine (M40 bdw). Goodluck

[318lotis]

    did you ever figure out the problem?  was it making any noises prior to tensioner replacement?