E30 Zone

Help a fellow bmw driver please. When I accelerate a ticking noise can be heard from the engine, at idle you don't hear it, nor when decelerating.

Any ideas greatly appreciated. Someone suggested exhaust manifold?

e30 320i conv 1988, miles 130k

Have the valve clearances been checked lately?

Yes a leaking exhaust manifold gasket will cause the noise,It's usually more noticable when the engine is cold,broken manifold studs are very common,there are two on each port one on top and one on the bottom, easy to check when the engine is cold (by touch).

Mine makes a ticking like you describe which, on mine is the exhaust manifold. As SGP says, it is worse when the engine is cold as the manifold expands and shuts the crack up when hot.

Sounds like you could be describing 'pinking' as well.

Does the sound alter at all when the engine is hot/cold?

Wow, what a response, thanks to all of you for your words of wisdom and I suspect experience.

I will have to check on valves. The noise is constant, I will admit that after 10mins I don't notice the noise having tuned it out. though I'm told it is still there by my long suffering wife.

Thank you for your suggestions, I will spend another weekend with my baby and not the wife.

Just to update all it was the exhaust manifold, which was a pain in the rear to fix, screws had to be drilled out, mainfold had warped, a real b4st4rd job, won't be going near that part of my car again.

But alot smoother drive, now discovered a new noise from the exhaust, front , middle and rear, yet more money to throw away, especially when kwik fit said new exhaust system complet £500.. ouch

Kwik fit are rip offs !!!! you can buy 1 alot cheaper

OEM BMW system is about £400 IIRC - many aftermarket systems available for less than that.
Kwik-Fit are to be avoided!