Watch, listen, suggestions - United Bimmer Community

**mzbmw325i** · 01-26-2007, 10:06 PM

my E30 325i '91 engine is making strange sounds, please have a look at the clip and hear the sounds the engine is making running and i await your feedback

especially the clicking sound as i do a close up, is the engine nearing the end....it is shy of 400 miles to hit 200k

http://s179.photobucket.com/albums/w...v?t=1169870613

witeshark · 01-26-2007, 10:12 PM

Sounds a lot like my car! I think it may need a valve adjustment

**xsperf** · 01-26-2007, 10:25 PM

lol sounds like a diesel almost, yes something with valves, does the clicking sound get faster when you rev it up?

**mzbmw325i** · 01-26-2007, 11:23 PM

to tell u i never listened to the ticking as i step on the gas pedal, i think its the same throughout. but this ticking has been on for a while and i have been driving it like that as far as i remember.

would adjusting the valve make it sound more "normal" or it wouldn't bother it much

i noticed gas consumption is up a bit, any ideas on that?

thanks

witeshark · 01-26-2007, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mzbmw325i

to tell u i never listened to the ticking as i step on the gas pedal, i think its the same throughout. but this ticking has been on for a while and i have been driving it like that as far as i remember.

would adjusting the valve make it sound more "normal" or it wouldn't bother it much

i noticed gas consumption is up a bit, any ideas on that?

thanks

Usually all the valve tappets need adjusting (12)

**celsdogg** · 01-28-2007, 01:51 PM

you can adjust the valves it it may minimize it, but the M20 does not have quiet valve operations. they are kinda supposed to sound like a typewriter.

it sounded fine to me, and i have had two M20's. if you can, try taking an audio only clip with a higher bit rate, and while your under the hood listening, open the throttle a little bit, just pull it open with your hand. not too much now. . .

**xsperf** · 01-28-2007, 05:21 PM

yea u can pull the throttle open w/the cable under the hood, oh and whens the last oil change uve had? maybe if the oil is getting old(really old) the valves will be noisy, maybe you need a different viscosity

**mzbmw325i** · 01-29-2007, 11:34 AM

xsperf

i changed the oil 2 1/2 months ago, i plan to change it this weekend. i use 5-30 castrol regular oil, not the synthetic one, would it make a difference if i add synthetic oil, that stuff is pretty expensive and i read somewhere that if it has not been used in a long time it i snot recommended, due to its thinness and might leak more from the gaskets on the engine. Especially my engine is almost 200k.

Change the viscosity? You mean the type of grade oil I put in or...

I live in Arizona and in the summer time I use the 20-50.

Changing the type of oil grade like that does it harm the engine?

**mzbmw325i** · 01-29-2007, 11:42 AM

celsdogg

how do i a take audio only, i used my digital cam to make the video, u mean extract the audio from the clip. after reading your replies, it seem that this is a common sound for the M20.

i may do the valve adjusting, but i am not too leaning towards it right now, would adjusting the valves also affect fuel consumption?

thanks for the input guys.

**celsdogg** · 01-29-2007, 12:39 PM

honestly bro, it sounds fine. but your concern reminds me of myself.

**Akuma** · 02-09-2007, 09:00 AM

sounds like a usual M20 engine. The tappets are never quite quiet on them.

**celsdogg** · 02-09-2007, 02:46 PM

^^^ yup. thanks for the backup

**Exilion** · 03-04-2007, 05:37 PM

I had the same sound and I did a valve adjustment this past weekend just because it was past time to do it. It ended up making my engine twice as loud. I had a mechanical buddy check it and he said the valves were adjusted properly just that in general as cam shafts wear down their operation gets louder.

So now I'm deciding on whether or not to replace the whole assembly. Right now it's running alot better... just my little bimmer sounds like a F350 truck.

**Numark318i** · 03-04-2007, 05:56 PM

I have an M42..its not taht loud. but everytime i hear an M20 it sounds like valves. I think its just the fact that its 15+ years old.

**c1apton** · 03-04-2007, 06:06 PM

I'd do the oil change to 20w-50 (since you live in Arizona) THEN do/ have someone do the valve adjustment. Tappet/lifter noise is common on those but yours is slightly louder than normal. Not a major problem but it's a maintenance item that should be done every 30k or so. Your mileage will also benefit from keeping valves adjusted.