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Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 11th 06, 07:06 PM posted to alt.autos.bmw
Milev
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Posts: 4
Default Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99

Hi,

It has been a while since my engine has started making a tinkling noise
when cold but disappears when the engine reaches normal temp. The car is
running on regular Shell petrol.

The frequency of the tinkling noise raises proportionally with the
engine revs.

In the past I had asked a BMW technician and I remember him mentioning
something about hydrolic engine lifter, blrp, blrp, jargon...

The noise is still there today.

The engine has a minor oil leak and following a recent visit to a BMW
specialist he reported low levels off oil + the engine noise. He top up
the oil and suggested this would cause the noise to soften.

He recommends to open the engine to investigate further what this
tinkling noise would be.


I would appreciate your help on what the root cause of the noise problem
might be and whether the specialist's approach is appropriate.


much appreciated,
M
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  #2  
Old August 11th 06, 07:19 PM posted to alt.autos.bmw
Richard Sexton
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Posts: 285
Default Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99

In article >,
Milev > wrote:
>Hi,
>
>It has been a while since my engine has started making a tinkling noise
>when cold but disappears when the engine reaches normal temp. The car is
>running on regular Shell petrol.


I'm not familiar with that engine and I mention this only
as a pssability as it's a serious one. If that thing has
a chain and a tensioner then one of the signs of a failing
tensioner is a noisey mechanical clatter (tinkling? I dunno)
upon startup that goes away soon after warmup. Lethat if it
fails outright...

--
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  #3  
Old August 12th 06, 05:43 AM posted to alt.autos.bmw
RZ
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Posts: 6
Default Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99

My 1995 318i was doing the same thing....this is an easy and inexpensive
repair.....don't let your mechanic tear your engine apart until you've tried
this (besides, he should know this already).
As the previous post suggests, it is the timing chain tensoiner that needs
to be replaced....the oem part is only $80 Canadian
(you'll have to convert into your own funds), an I did it myself in 15
minutes, all without tearing the engine down.
Let your engine cool completely... I was going to explain the procedure, but
I see your original post is from Britain, so I don't know the engine
configuration from there, but I will say that it is very easy to do. Check
and search some of the BMW forums on the net, you will find lots of people
who have done this themselves....be forewarned, that when you restart your
engine after the installation, the timing chain will rattle loudly for a few
seconds until the new tensioner fills with engine oil and exerts pressure
against the timng chain rail guide....don't worry, it is suppose to sound
like that....your engine will sound very smooth, very quickly, and that
annoying noise you were describing in your initial post, will be gone for
good.


  #4  
Old August 12th 06, 09:16 AM posted to alt.autos.bmw
[email protected]
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Posts: 1
Default Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99


RZ wrote:
> My 1995 318i was doing the same thing....this is an easy and inexpensive
> repair.....don't let your mechanic tear your engine apart until you've tried
> this (besides, he should know this already).
> As the previous post suggests, it is the timing chain tensoiner that needs
> to be replaced....the oem part is only $80 Canadian
> (you'll have to convert into your own funds), an I did it myself in 15
> minutes, all without tearing the engine down.
> Let your engine cool completely... I was going to explain the procedure, but
> I see your original post is from Britain, so I don't know the engine
> configuration from there, but I will say that it is very easy to do. Check
> and search some of the BMW forums on the net, you will find lots of people
> who have done this themselves....be forewarned, that when you restart your
> engine after the installation, the timing chain will rattle loudly for a few
> seconds until the new tensioner fills with engine oil and exerts pressure
> against the timng chain rail guide....don't worry, it is suppose to sound
> like that....your engine will sound very smooth, very quickly, and that
> annoying noise you were describing in your initial post, will be gone for
> good.


Many thanks for the advice.

M

  #5  
Old August 12th 06, 03:38 PM posted to alt.autos.bmw
R. Mark Clayton
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 778
Default Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99


"Milev" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> It has been a while since my engine has started making a tinkling noise
> when cold but disappears when the engine reaches normal temp. The car is
> running on regular Shell petrol.
>
> The frequency of the tinkling noise raises proportionally with the engine
> revs.
>
> In the past I had asked a BMW technician and I remember him mentioning
> something about hydrolic engine lifter, blrp, blrp, jargon...
>
> The noise is still there today.
>
> The engine has a minor oil leak and following a recent visit to a BMW
> specialist he reported low levels off oil + the engine noise. He top up
> the oil and suggested this would cause the noise to soften.
>
> He recommends to open the engine to investigate further what this tinkling
> noise would be.
>
>
> I would appreciate your help on what the root cause of the noise problem
> might be and whether the specialist's approach is appropriate.
>
>
> much appreciated,
> M


This is fairly normal. As the engine wears the hydraulic tappets tend to
drain down when the engine is left to stand for a while. This means that
the tappets will rattle (tinkle) when the engine is first stated. The
tappets quickly refill and the noise will go away.

IMHO do not open the engine.


  #6  
Old August 13th 06, 11:01 PM posted to alt.autos.bmw
Milev
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99

R. Mark Clayton wrote:
> "Milev" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi,
>>
>> It has been a while since my engine has started making a tinkling noise
>> when cold but disappears when the engine reaches normal temp. The car is
>> running on regular Shell petrol.
>>
>> The frequency of the tinkling noise raises proportionally with the engine
>> revs.
>>
>> In the past I had asked a BMW technician and I remember him mentioning
>> something about hydrolic engine lifter, blrp, blrp, jargon...
>>
>> The noise is still there today.
>>
>> The engine has a minor oil leak and following a recent visit to a BMW
>> specialist he reported low levels off oil + the engine noise. He top up
>> the oil and suggested this would cause the noise to soften.
>>
>> He recommends to open the engine to investigate further what this tinkling
>> noise would be.
>>
>>
>> I would appreciate your help on what the root cause of the noise problem
>> might be and whether the specialist's approach is appropriate.
>>
>>
>> much appreciated,
>> M

>
> This is fairly normal. As the engine wears the hydraulic tappets tend to
> drain down when the engine is left to stand for a while. This means that
> the tappets will rattle (tinkle) when the engine is first stated. The
> tappets quickly refill and the noise will go away.
>
> IMHO do not open the engine.
>
>


Many thanks. That appears to line up with the BMW dealer's "hydraulic"
jargon. What IMHO stands for ??
  #7  
Old August 14th 06, 01:32 PM posted to alt.autos.bmw
R. Mark Clayton
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 778
Default Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99


"Milev" > wrote in message
...
> R. Mark Clayton wrote:
>> "Milev" > wrote in message This is fairly normal. As
>> the engine wears the hydraulic tappets tend to drain down when the engine
>> is left to stand for a while. This means that the tappets will rattle
>> (tinkle) when the engine is first stated. The tappets quickly refill and
>> the noise will go away.
>>
>> IMHO do not open the engine.

>
> Many thanks. That appears to line up with the BMW dealer's "hydraulic"
> jargon. What IMHO stands for ??


In my humble opinion.

BTW best not to rev' it too hard while it is cold and the tappets are loose.


  #8  
Old August 14th 06, 02:39 PM posted to alt.autos.bmw
Fred W[_1_]
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Posts: 210
Default Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99

R. Mark Clayton wrote:

>
> BTW best not to rev' it too hard while it is cold and the tappets are loose.
>
>


Actually, a loose valve-train is much safer than one that is too tight.
It will reduce performance somewhat (until the lifters pump up) but
should not hurt anything.

--
-Fred W
  #9  
Old August 14th 06, 09:44 PM posted to alt.autos.bmw
Milev
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4
Default Engine tinkling noise when cold - 318i Saloon, manual, E46, '99

Fred W wrote:
> R. Mark Clayton wrote:
>
>>
>> BTW best not to rev' it too hard while it is cold and the tappets are
>> loose.
>>

>
> Actually, a loose valve-train is much safer than one that is too tight.
> It will reduce performance somewhat (until the lifters pump up) but
> should not hurt anything.
>


And here comes the paradox...

My engine performs better when cold rather than warm !!! True, see
previous posting on the issue.

Anyway, your advise is much appreciated.

M
 




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