E30 Zone

Hi. i've got a 1986 325.The tappets have been a little noisey since i got the car so checked and adjusted the gaps (some were loose ,some tight on shim). After this they sounded alot better but still not quiet. I drove the car around for a bit then rechecked them and the gaps are fine. Could it be a oil pump problem? Oil light has never come on but when i look through the filler cap when it's running there isn't alot of oil splashing about. Is this normal?

The "Tappety" sound is normal, but it should not be excesive, should sound like injector tick, but slightly louder. If you are worried, check the oil spray bar the gose over the cam, as these can get clogged.

this is more than an injector tick. Every now and then is sounds like a valve is sticking as the tap goes to a clunk like as if the cam was shafted but then it goes back to a tap again. Should oil be flying around the cam/rockers when the engine is ticking over?

Oil does not really "fly around". If you are worried, check the oil spray bar the goes over the cam, as these can get clogged.

i'll go and take a look now.Do they just unbolt from either end and pull out?

dumpydave wrote:Do they just unbolt from either end and pull out?

The oil spray bar ?

yeah sorry the oil spray bar. I assume they just pull off when you undo the nuts at either end. then just blow it out with an air line?

There is only one spray bar.
Undo the retainers at either end, but be carefull, they do round of. and then it should pull out.
I have used petrol and white spirits to clean the spray bar out.

ok cheers. Fingers crossed that'll be the problem. I know there's only one spray bar, i said "they" as a general reference to all spray bars on 325's

Its £10 new from BMW.

Andrew

i had a spare head that has gone porous which didn't tap. Took the spray bar off of this head and put it on. The oil seems to flow out of this one much better than the old one. Took car out for a spin and all seems well at the moment. Thanks for your advise though chaps.