4.8 expert required..

[Themoog2]

I’ve been to view an 04 E53 4.8 today. It was relatively nearby and keenly priced so I thought what the hell. Anyway, overall condition was ok but the engine, looking from the front, had quite a rattle on the right bank. I thought it may be a valve tapping but not sure. It was fairly loud but the car drove ok and it didn’t affect performance from what I could tell.
If anyone on here has any advice on the 4.8 motor please chip in. Do they have Vanos on them?
Is a tapping valve (s) common a known fault?

[IanP]

They have vanos and levers between cam and valves I believe.
It would have to be spectacularly cheap to buy it with a top end rattle.

[Themoog2]

Well it could be very cheap if I can find out what the rattle is... I’m tempted if I know I can fix it.

[Paulpen]

Depends how confident you are on your ability to be 100% that its top end and at the back.

You would need to narrow it down to inlet or exhaust side - id imagine it inlet side tbh

What the rough location of it as ive looked a quite a few this year

[Themoog2]

The noise wasn't at the back it was at the front of the engine on the right as viewed from in front of the car.
It maybe a valve but that head would need to come apart anyway so there is a hefty bill straight away.
I'm not disclosing location yet as I may have it and I know I'm the only person to see it .
If I decide against it in the next day or so ill spill the beans.

[marti]

Possibly cam chain guides?

[Themoog2]

No I’ve had hat on my 4.4 and it didn’t sound the same.

[IanP]

Have a look on real OEM, there are a lot more parts in the heads than with the 4.4 or 4.6. I have heard of problems with the lever eccentric shaft and also the drag levers.
If it's that cheap and you can do the work yourself, it might be worth a punt.

[Themoog2]

I don't know yet. I'm going to call a bmw specialist by me tomorrow to get opinions and worst case scenario cost of repair as I won't have time myself.
Would you say 3K is cheap enough? Then say for example 1k for repair so it's not too bad at circa £4000. Maybe plus a bit.
Also it has the internal transmission tunnel going right to the rear seat so a middle passenger would have to straddle it. Ive never seen that on an X5 before.

[Themoog2]

Right. I'm out..
I spoke to an expert on BMWs and the advice is to stay well away. The noise is probably camshaft journal wear/ oil starvation he recons and will lead to catastrophic engine failure very soon. He says I would be lucky to get it home..
To that end I am allowing someone else to have it...
It's at Five Bells car sales near Southend on Sea.
£3990 but I reckon £3000.

[Turks]

I had a serious rattle on mine from the front... it bothered me, but not that much as I've got BMW Warranty on it.

It ended up failing. It was the Water Pump. I thought it was a pulley wheel or tensioner etc. but BMW replaced the Water Pump and was running sweet again.

I haven't spoken to a BMW Tech yet that doesn't say "stay well away" if there is any kind of knocking or tapping... Imagine we were like that with our women?!


Turks.

[Themoog2]

Has anyone else been to view it yet?
It's a shame cause its OK other that the clacking.

[Paulpen]

Tbh asking any mechanic about an engine noise without them hearing it will result in them saying that - no one wants to commit to saying what it is in case they are wrong and then get the blame as you have brought it.

Also that ones been for sale for ages in various different places and they didnt seem great when when I tried to get hold of them to get some details about it so certainly wasnt go to travel the distance to view it !

[Themoog2]

It's still on my mind..
Like I said, it drives well with no knocking or rattles. Everything works but the ac wasn't cold and I forgot to check the piano roof.. I may go back again

[henrym3]

Make sure you keep us posted