E30 Zone

My car has done 161k miles with BMW history until 140k but the top end rattles like a beast, its just had fresh 15 w40 mineral oil and filter but its still terrible, ive babied it, ive ragged it and it wont go away!! can the lifters be rebuilt, or should I just drop £100 for new camshaft, lifters and rockers?

hydraulic tappets...


well known problem on the m40 more of an annoyance than anything else... dont cause any damage.

Just do the camshaft, lifters and rockers. If the rattle is your main problem, after you've done the job you won't recognise the sound of your engine. I nearly cried with joy...

its annoying that people think its broken though lol! when im just rolling along at 30-40mph I can hear a ticking noise, drives me mental I dont like any rattly type noises from my car, thats it, engine apart tomorrow hehe

my pete had the same prob with his 318i when we rebuilt the top end his misses thought wed changed the engine as it was like night and day

the rattle is the only problem with the engine otherwise its perfect, the cambelt snapped about 50k ago so it had alot of work then. I think i will just do the top end, its worth it the car has got 12 month MOT 6 months tax, its gotta be my daily driver coz im thinking bout getting a classic Porsche 911...

I'm thinking about a Porsche 911 as well, Just thinkin how nice it would be!! Do the top end of the engine, most rewarding job i've done yet. Be very carefull with the timing though. It must in the exact way it a came out!!

hi I've got a m40 1.8 engine car too and am very interested in getting the top end done as it sounds tappety.

how long will the changes usually last for and will it cost a lot to get it sounding nice and quiet?

cheers

If you DIY it I think a camshaft kit is a about £200. Dunno how much a garage would charge. Mines has been in for 12000 miles now and it still sounds good. Taps first thing in the morning but clears up, this is normal. Need to keep the oil fresh though!

I've found recently that in cold weather, if you wear a woolly hat over your ears in the car, this filters out the tapping and you can hear the proper engine/exhaust sound instead. Fiver from millets.