Ticking when warming up

[dan2241989]

Hi guys - finally got the intermittent idle sorted thanks to your help.

Next question is - when the car is warming up then engine ticks for 10-15 seconds - then goes away this repeats until it's fully warmed up.

I'm lead to believe this could be the oil spray bar,

Any thoughts would be great.

[Brianmoooore]

Sounds like fairly normal behaviour for a M40 engine. The only unusual thing is that it stops when warm.
This engine was BMW's first attempt at self adjusting hydraulic tappets, and it wasn't entirely successful as regards longlivety.
Faulty oil spray bar will result in a worn cam, which won't go away.

[dan2241989]

Thanks Brian. When the car is warm there is hardly any tapping. It's pretty quiet. The car has done 88k and has been serviced regularly. Nothing to worry about then.

I'm also puzzled on the exhaust. It sounds like it blows when it gets to 3k revs - but have been told this is just how they sound?

[ravstar13]

Hi

I had the ticking on my M40, I used slightly thicker oil in the warmer weather seemed to help but never went completely, I ended up changing the tappets in the end and still got abit once in a while,which on hindsight was a waste of money.With the slight blowing, try and get the fuel filter changed if it has not been done recently, i did that on mine and it really made a noticeable improvement.

[dan2241989]

Yeah I've done the fuel filter that seemed to help in general to be honest. I think the baffles must of gone.

On a 1989 would this have a cat?

[Brianmoooore]

On a 1989 would this have a cat?

Only if the original owner was an early tree hugger.
If it has a cat., it will have a lambda sensor, and the electrical plug for this is a four pin round socket, clipped to the underside of the battery tray.
If a lambda is fitted, there will be a plug and lead fitted in this socket, otherwise it will just have a blanking cap.
A cat. really hurts the MPG on an M40 engine.