[ChrisSmith335i]

I have noticed my car sounds a little tappy, the noise follows the rev range when rev'd, but is hardly noticeable when driving unless you have the window open driving next to parked cars ect.

There is no performance loss, no codes, oil level is full and it was serviced and health inspected at its last BMW service at the end of December of which nothing was mentioned being a miss.

I know a lot of people say HVA / Injectors are noisy on the N55 but don't know what is considered "normal".

I have read through like half this forum's post and it ranges from "my car has always sounded like that not even bwm could fix it" to "spun a bearing or noise of death"...

Thoughts?

https://streamable.com/de9otd

[n55david]

Originally Posted by ChrisSmith335i

I have noticed my car sounds a little tappy, the noise follows the rev range when rev'd, but is hardly noticeable when driving unless you have the window open driving next to parked cars ect.

There is no performance loss, no codes, oil level is full and it was serviced and health inspected at its last BMW service at the end of December of which nothing was mentioned being a miss.

I know a lot of people say HVA / Injectors are noisy on the N55 but don't know what is considered "normal".

I have read through like half this forum's post and it ranges from "my car has always sounded like that not even bwm could fix it" to "spun a bearing or noise of death"...

Thoughts?

https://streamable.com/de9otd

sounds like mine.. thats not a rod issue or anything. id say you're fine.

[Silverlining_m2]

Mine has a slight tick which I did attribute to injectors. I had an n26 previously so it is considerably quiter than that. My n55 does not tick as loudly as yours though.

[ChrisSmith335i]

Originally Posted by Phantom10R

sounds like mine.. thats not a rod issue or anything. id say you're fine.

Thank you for your reply. For peace of mind I am going to get it checked out by a specialist but just worry they will want to inspect the rod bearings ect to investigate which will cost thousands...

One drove past me the other day sounds exactly the same and my friend who has had many N52's and other beemers has said they all sounds a little bit like that.

Just wanted to get fellow owners here to give me their thoughts :-)

[GAB0]

I honestly didn't hear anything alarming. I would suggest getting an oil sample analyzed rather than paying a specialist to do an inspection that may be 100% unnecessary.

[thejeremyman9]

I would say its louder than average but still appears to be DI/injector noise, nothing metallic.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by GAB0

I honestly didn't hear anything alarming. I would suggest getting an oil sample analyzed rather than paying a specialist to do an inspection that may be 100% unnecessary.

ChrisSmith335i, what year is your vehicle? 2013 by any chance?

I also recommend to perform oil analysis to examine if there are any excessive metal shavings present. If yes - this could indicate premature connecting rod bearing wear (a known issue affecting a small number of N55 engines).

[ChrisSmith335i]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

ChrisSmith335i, what year is your vehicle? 2013 by any chance?

I also recommend to perform oil analysis to examine if there are any excessive metal shavings present. If yes - this could indicate premature connecting rod bearing wear (a known issue affecting a small number of N55 engines).

Its a 2012. A few people have suggested getting an oil sample done. A few questions please:

1.) What company do people use? I am based in the UK.

2.) If the oil sample comes back that there are no metal shavings ect present can I assume its nothing serious wrong with the engine?

3.) Would it not be worth said specialist checking to see if it is just a noisy injector ect that I might be able to get replaced to resolve? I assume the check would only be 1 hour labour unless I gave them permission to take the engine apart.

I appreciate everyone who has replied, it is more comforting to know I am possibly worrying about nothing

[cfm56d7b]

Since your vehicle is one of the early F30 models (in fact the fist model year), I strongly recommend performing oil analysis. Hopefully, someone from UK can suggest where to send the oil sample. Dealers do this all the time. You might want to ask your local friendly BMW dealer.

When were injectors / plugs replaced (if at all)?

How many miles are on the vehicle?

If there are no codes to be concerned about, it's a good sign.

Please keep us updated with the results of oil analysis.

[ChrisSmith335i]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

Since your vehicle is one of the early F30 models (in fact the fist model year), I strongly recommend performing oil analysis. Hopefully, someone from UK can suggest where to send the oil sample. Dealers do this all the time. You might want to ask your local friendly BMW dealer.

When were injectors / plugs replaced (if at all)?

How many miles are on the vehicle?

If there are no codes to be concerned about, it's a good sign.

Please keep us updated with the results of oil analysis.

Sound advice thanks.

The car has done 62k, no idea if the injectors have ever been replaced. The spark plugs were done in 2019. its got a near full BMW service history with just one which was done at an independent garage. Its all on the idrive but the previous owner wasn't much of a record keeper so I don't have the receipts so cant check unfortunately.

For my peace of mind I phoned up every BMW garage and they confirmed the service history is accurate, I could even order a new service book and get them all to stamp it.

I have found that Millers do an Oil Analysis Service and have ordered a kit next day delivery. Booked in the sample to be taken Wednesday.

The kit states oil needs to be taken from the engine rather than the sump otherwise you may end up with a sample which contains settled historical wear, consumed additives, varnish ect. Guessing a tube in from the oil cap down into the engine and put my finger over the end, then top it up?

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by ChrisSmith335i

Sound advice thanks.

The car has done 62k, no idea if the injectors have ever been replaced. The spark plugs were done in 2019. its got a near full BMW service history with just one which was done at an independent garage. Its all on the idrive but the previous owner wasn't much of a record keeper so I don't have the receipts so cant check unfortunately.

For my peace of mind I phoned up every BMW garage and they confirmed the service history is accurate, I could even order a new service book and get them all to stamp it.

I have found that Millers do an Oil Analysis Service and have ordered a kit next day delivery. Booked in the sample to be taken Wednesday.

The kit states oil needs to be taken from the engine rather than the sump otherwise you may end up with a sample which contains settled historical wear, consumed additives, varnish ect. Guessing a tube in from the oil cap down into the engine and put my finger over the end, then top it up?

This sample collection is contrary to what Blackstone labs recommends and what i have always done. Only once did i try and extra oil from the sump (from a car that actually has a dipstick).

The normal collection procedure involves driving the car to get the oil circulated and up to full temp, then doing the oil drain as normal for an oil change and collecting the sample mid-stream (i.e., not at the very beginning or end of the drain).

It doesn't make sense to me why you would want to avoid historical wear? Plus, that should have been captured by filter, reduced by recent oil changes, etc. I doubt you will be able to get anything going in from the oil cap.

[ChrisSmith335i]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

This sample collection is contrary to what Blackstone labs recommends and what i have always done. Only once did i try and extra oil from the sump (from a car that actually has a dipstick).

The normal collection procedure involves driving the car to get the oil circulated and up to full temp, then doing the oil drain as normal for an oil change and collecting the sample mid-stream (i.e., not at the very beginning or end of the drain).

It doesn't make sense to me why you would want to avoid historical wear? Plus, that should have been captured by filter, reduced by recent oil changes, etc. I doubt you will be able to get anything going in from the oil cap.

Makes sense to me capturing a sample mid flow, I only had an oil change done in December, but I guess I can always capture the oil and put it back in and just top it up ?

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by ChrisSmith335i

Makes sense to me capturing a sample mid flow, I only had an oil change done in December, but I guess I can always capture the oil and put it back in and just top it up ?

You want a good amount of miles on the oil, typically a full OCI. If you only have like 1000 miles since the last oil change, you might not really see anything in the oil, unless there is a major problem (which is maybe OK for your case?). 5000 miles on the oil might be ideal.

I wouldn't try to capture and reuse the oil, although in theory it could be OK with a perfectly clean container, personally i would never reuse any fluid i drained. I would just plan to do an oil change and get the sample at the same time.

[harkes]

A video of mine (scraping sound went away by itself)...

I think that yours sound a bit odd. Agree that it is probably not rod knock but maybe a single injector on its last legs. I would get one of those automotive stethoscopes and locate the sound this way. Sound be easy if it is an injector.

[ChrisSmith335i]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

You want a good amount of miles on the oil, typically a full OCI. If you only have like 1000 miles since the last oil change, you might not really see anything in the oil, unless there is a major problem (which is maybe OK for your case?). 5000 miles on the oil might be ideal.

I wouldn't try to capture and reuse the oil, although in theory it could be OK with a perfectly clean container, personally i would never reuse any fluid i drained. I would just plan to do an oil change and get the sample at the same time.

Just checked and its done 1770 miles since its last oil change. That's a fair comment, for the sake of £60 ill just get the oil changed.

I will keep everyone updated.

[ChrisSmith335i]

OK so a slight update.

Changed the oil and filter and captured a sample to send off to the lab, I did notice in the bottom of the oil pan some grit which could almost be described as cat litter.

They are definitely not metal and can be crushed when rolled between two fingers, there are no metal shavings present.

I believe they are carbon particles, this build up of carbon presumably from where the oil change before the last one was late by a few thousand miles late thanks to the the previous owner..



Next steps will be sending off the sample tomorrow and await to see what the lab results are, I will also change the oil again in 1000 miles in an attempt to flush any more carbon deposits.

My main concern is this grit blocking an oil squirter and causing oil starvation as I know the squirter pipework is tiny.

I will post the results once back from the oil lab, I have my car booked into a BMW specialist for them to review what is hopefully just a noisy injector or two..

[5w20]

Originally Posted by ChrisSmith335i

OK so a slight update.

Changed the oil and filter and captured a sample to send off to the lab, I did notice in the bottom of the oil pan some grit which could almost be described as cat litter.

They are definitely not metal and can be crushed when rolled between two fingers, there are no metal shavings present.

I believe they are carbon particles, this build up of carbon presumably from where the oil change before the last one was late by a few thousand miles late thanks to the the previous owner..



Next steps will be sending off the sample tomorrow and await to see what the lab results are, I will also change the oil again in 1000 miles in an attempt to flush any more carbon deposits.

My main concern is this grit blocking an oil squirter and causing oil starvation as I know the squirter pipework is tiny.

I will post the results once back from the oil lab, I have my car booked into a BMW specialist for them to review what is hopefully just a noisy injector or two..

first thing that comes to mind is maybe an oil additive of some sort?

[ChrisSmith335i]

Originally Posted by 5w20

first thing that comes to mind is maybe an oil additive of some sort?

Good idea, do you think I should maybe add some "Liqui Moly Pro-Line Engine Flush" treatment, let the car idle for 10-15 mins then change the oil and filter again?



I’ve never used one before, anyone ever used this stuff? Ive been reading and can find a few N54 owners who have and said it was great.

[zeikei]

To me it sounds like there is lifter tick in addition to the normal direct injection noise. I had a 2012 N55 which had seen long oil change intervals and it used to tick like that for a while when cold. It went away with oil change but came back after couple of months. Maybe a flush or additive would have fixed it permanently, who knows.

[ChrisSmith335i]

Originally Posted by zeikei

To me it sounds like there is lifter tick in addition to the normal direct injection noise. I had a 2012 N55 which had seen long oil change intervals and it used to tick like that for a while when cold. It went away with oil change but came back after couple of months. Maybe a flush or additive would have fixed it permanently, who knows.

Thank you for the input, I am going to do a double oil change / flush on Monday, will post the results after.

[ChrisSmith335i]

OK so I had the engine flushed using Liquid Moly pro line engine flush.

I had the oil changed to some cheaper but still BMW spec oil, went for a drive and got it up to temp, then added the flush and left it to idle for 10 mins, dropped the oil and replaced with better stuff and OE BMW filter.

Ran the captured oil through some filter paper and there are no longer any carbon deposits which is good.

Just waiting on the lab results back this week.

I have the car booked in to see a specialist on Saturday 06th, get a second opinion if the noise is "normal" or something then can fix.

To be honest when driving around you cant even really hear it, only when driving next to parked cars with the window open, maybe I am being too fussy about it all

[ChrisSmith335i]

Results back from the lab, nothing to indicate an issue with regards to wear so i guess that's something