Major tappets-like noise and loss of power over 90mph.......

[Stickle]

As the title reads, major tappets noise has started just today while bombing on the A1. Got increasingly worse the higher speed i went.

The car is fully oiled plus the fact its started just today when before the engine sounded good is making me worry its something major.

When i increase speed to 90+ the car loses power. It could be a gearbox problem but the gears are smooth, not clunky or feeling like its on its way out.

Am taking it to A1 BMW to get it checked out but any ideas before i go there please? Chars.

[E30BeemerLad]

broken rocker?

best not to try giving it any beans on the way over there

[Zayyan]

Is this an M40-engined car by any chance?

I'm told this problem is due to cam wear meaning the valves don't open fully - is revving over 4.5k difficult/impossible as well?

How many miles on it? Any mileage over 100k seems to be good for an M40 before it starts ticking due to cam wear

Obviously if it isn't M40 ignore me, though it could apply to a less shit engine I suppose

[Stickle]

Its a 1990 318i, 105k.

In its state i've not dared go over 5k revs, the noise is relentless! However its not impossible to, no.

So if its cam wear what needs replacing? Cost?

And the above for a rocker cover?

[Andy325i]

I knew this was an M40 318i just by reading the title!

Probably the best place to get the cam kit is Euro car parts or GSF.

Off the top of my head you should be looking to change the following:

Cam
Followers
Hydrolic lifters

and check the spray bar is spraying (about £12 from BMW)

The M40 can suffer loss of power with the smallest amount of wear on the cam, so it may not be visible in some cases, but yours sounds like something will most likely be visable


Andy