A sort of ticking?

Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:15 pm

Ive just noticed a kind of ticking noise whilst driving seems to start above 1500 rpm or so and get louder when revs increase. Its weird though because i can only really hear it whilst sitting inside the car - not really from outside even when bonnet is open Does not get louder when you open the window. definatly engine related though.

Its almost like when you thumb through a pack of cards hard noise to explain.

The car is running like a dream other than that, I dont think its tappets as I used to own an old e21 that the tappets were noisy on and you could here that from outside more than in...

Any ideas?

Doug

Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:31 pm

Injectors?

I have heard they apparently tick

Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:46 pm

You could be missing a small rubber bung in your steering colum. The noise will travel through the tube of the steering colum from the engine bay to the interior.

The fix is easy, take the horn button off and put some blutack on to the end of the steering colum, you will see a small hole in the center of the big nut that holds the wheel on.

Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:50 am

is it a really lite sounding fast ticking noise when you accelerate only and past 1500rpm? ? i have the same - it sounds like there are hudreds of little plastic gears behind the speedo that are marginaly out! i woulds love to know how to stop this? it is definately coming from behind the speedo and rev counter though - could be the mpg gauge working over time? ! hope you/i find a solution, will keep you posted.

Fri Oct 14, 2005 12:38 pm

Same here! I have a suspicion mine is caused by the econometer, which doesn't work properly - two symptoms from the same area usually points to the same fault.

I've had it in bits, and there is a geared post which if not engaging properly may be causing the ticking.

Another possibility is the rev counter.

Fri Oct 14, 2005 12:42 pm

Why don't you try the easy option and listen to what Andy335Touring said first.
You newbie's ask for advise and still jump to your own conclusion

Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:28 pm

it may sound odd but bluetack is the answer i had the same annoying ticking on my 320i until some-one on the zone suggested blocking the hole in the steering column

Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:44 pm

Same here ! It has been happening since I bought my car in june 2006 and found out from an expert that is a common noise and it doesn't apply to any problem. The comment I heard from the expert was 'the sort of ticking that E30 engiens get away with'

Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:00 pm

jonbuoy- i dont mean to sound off but who are you talking too? who jumped to what conclusion? - i was just posting my similar experience hoping that pooled information would help - thats the idea tight? help?
there was no need for the reprimanding post
was there?
sorry iif i have totally missed something...

Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:50 pm

Jon, you never know, they may be experiencing a different/new problem. I think you're right though, give the easy fix a try before dismantling your clocks guys!

Chiiiiiiiiiiiill

Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:12 pm

lol
bluetack worked a treat!!
no need for removing the clocks! - silent driving
thanks a million

still think jons post was a bit wierd more than anything else?...

thanks all the same

Sun Oct 16, 2005 5:06 pm

The noise I can hear is not muted by the bluetac - however have left that in to save me from worrying later

Sounds like this is a common problem..

Its definatly the engine thats causing the noise and Im starting to wonder if the sound insulation is just poor and I can hear the tappets. Im going to be ajusting them next weekend - Any top tips?

aNy of you guys from Edinburgh? Ive just moved there from Cornwall...

cheers

Doug

Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:37 pm

Hi Doug - sounds like we're running in parallel with similar threads on what sounds like a common problem.

There is an excellent article on this site by Adam on setting up the tappets - see here: http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... echnva.htm

It's just a case of taking your time and being methodical about it. Always worth going round them all a second time too just to make sure you got it right.

Keep an eye on my thread too - there's some interesting new thoughts on that lately.

Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:19 am

JOSEMI wrote:Same here ! It has been happening since I bought my car in june 2006 and found out from an expert that is a common noise and it doesn't apply to any problem. The comment I heard from the expert was 'the sort of ticking that E30 engiens get away with'

WTF ? so you came back from the future ???

Just a side note. I have the same annoying ticking... I was convinced these are valves. I'll try that blocking stuff tonight and report back

Mops.

Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:35 pm

Thank you for this thread! FIXED IT! I thought there was a serious problem, as I just had to change the rocker cover gasket (thought it was related)

Weird thing was, just put an Mtech 2 wheel on the car, which was when I heard the horrible noise after, so I looked under the bonnet and had a poke around, thats when I noticed the rocker cover gasket was fucked. So I changed that this afternoon.

Never would of know it was leaking tho unless I had changed the wheel!