XSeries-forum

hi all, had a quick look through forum but no joy, I have a 2003 e53 3.0d,owned for around 6 weeks, give it a service couple days ago, oil,air,castrol edge 0w30 oil as recommended on castrol website, also changed crankcase breather from toilet roll type to vortex type, (not sure what oil was in before change) I now have a light ticking noise when car is warm,can't really pinpoint location, seems to be loudest from bonnet latch front grill area,but may also be front top engine, oil level is right on max line, would there be a chance I disturbed something when changing breather as I did (stupidly)  :blink: Climb in engine bay with all plastics off to do it as I couldn't see rear hex bolt. Any advice would be very welcome. 

If you have a long screwdriver you could put the handle to your ear and touch the other end to different bits under the bonnet and see where it's loudest.  That will help narrow the field of possibilities.

Richard

Hi Leeg,

Rob here again (from xoutpost).

Do you want to check that you haven't pushed the plastic protector of the aux fan onto the fan. You say the tick is near the hood latch.

Another question, does the ticking vary with Revs?

If not, I reckon it will be something hitting one of the fans.

Without the engine running, spin the Aux fan by hand and see if you here clicking.

You can also take the covers off, and check the main fan as well.

Regards,
Rob

Thanks again to all for feedback/input, much appreciated, iv uploaded a video on YouTube, titled
bmw e53 ticking noise, might get a better understanding off what it may be, 

To me it doesn't sound a "metallic" ticking,sounds like plastic is catching.

could be a cable tie on the fan???
Does it stop if you stall the fan???

Might be a noisy injector that was masked before and you are a little over sensitive to any noise...

Haven't tried stopping fan, will it be ok to stop the fan wile moving, how should I stop it, can I disconnect, if it was something catching wouldn't it do it as soon as its started/running, Is there a way to check for faulty injector without diagnostic plug in.

The fan nearest engine should be on a viscous coupling.
You can stall it easily at tick over but be careful.

Injectors can be unplugged separately, and with top cover off you can see if there is any carbon around the injectors pointing to gas leak past the injector seal

Been on it again today, took everything off that and replaced breather with original, all bolts,screws,hex,s were all there and tight, had really good look in engine bay with torch and didn't see anything suspect, done the screwdriver listening thing, tried stopping fan but didn't seem to want to so I didn't push my luck, (if I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck) put back the bits/bobs not 100% but I'm sure it's bit quieter now, going to try find a good mechanic, any recormendations the southwest uk please let me no.

Sorry about my grammar it's not my iPad its me I just can't spell. 
Thankyou all again for help/advice with this issue.

Depends whereabouts in the southwest, but can recommend Emtec in Salisbury, Andy and Steve know their BMWs, and don't charge the earth.

Dave
2003 BMW X5 4.6iS Auto
2007 '57' Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T Auto

Hi Dave,
Thanks for comment, bout 70 miles from me, if I don't get any other options I'll def consider them, iv used grants in Wellington bmw Indy before but wasn't too impressed, got a lot off mmmmmm aaaaahhhhhh maybe. Then quite a big bill only had health check.

Grants would have been my view, except they are not so up to date especially on these..
But then is anyone??

Just another throw away possibility..
Potentially exhaust manifold leak??
They have been known to split and might sound like that?

Its one of those hard things to diagnose if you are not with the car!

Quick update...... Done another oil/filter change, bmw parts guy said use 0w40 so got mobile 1 0w40 turbo diesel, engine seems to like it better, ticking noise has almost gone but still there, should I have gone down the 5w30 root, parts guy at bmw even said years ago x5,s were run on 10w40, I'm really sorry if I'm stretching this problem to the max,

also now have what I describe as engine shudder when switch ignition off, any ideas...  :-[

I would get a scanner on it, my car made a ticking noise that turned into a knocking noise. Turned out to be a faulty injector. Car would also shudder on shutdown as you have described.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi smokey,
Thanks for reply, do you no if there is a reasonably priced scan tool on the net I can buy or would you say have a garage do it.