Virgin in need of help!

Post Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:27 pm

Hi gents new to bmw ownership used to have a vauxhall lol! Have just purchased a e30 touring 318i sounds like its a bit rattly up top like cam worn or tappets are screwed what would be your opinions to do, example dump the engine and buy a 6 cylinder or repair the 1800i if so anyone know of any good garages in essex as the bmw specialist nearest to me wants the earth to do any work whatsoever!
cheers JJ

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:24 am

DJJX2 wrote:Hi gents new to bmw ownership used to have a vauxhall lol! Have just purchased a e30 touring 318i sounds like its a bit rattly up top like cam worn or tappets are screwed what would be your opinions to do, example dump the engine and buy a 6 cylinder or repair the 1800i if so anyone know of any good garages in essex as the bmw specialist nearest to me wants the earth to do any work whatsoever!
cheers JJ

You have a M40 engine, which has BMWs first attempt at hydraulic tappets - which wasn't too successfull.
Do the tappets knock all the time? When it's cold? When it's idling?
The noise doesn't sound very good, but it's basically harmless and won't have much effect on performance.
An engine flush could either make the problem worse or better depending on whether the problem is wear or gunge. Do you feel lucky?
You could try changing to a different grade of oil as well
Touring is a good candidate for an engine swap as it allreadt has suitable brakes and suspension, just needing stronger front springs for the extra engine weight.

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:10 pm

I have the same engine with the same noise! It's ok to live with, I tried an engine flush and different grade oil but it comes back.
I've picked up a 2.8 m52 engine now to do the conversion as someone said that's why BMW designed the hydraulic tappets to make the noise so you could slip something bigger in (

)!

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:14 pm

hmmmmm. slip in some thing bigger, that would be good.

if its the tappets you can have them replaced for about Ãƒ”šÃ‚£140

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:39 pm

make sure its not injector tapping noise before doing anything drastic, knackered injectors can make quite a tappety racket.

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 9:22 pm

tim_s wrote:make sure its not injector tapping noise before doing anything drastic, knackered injectors can make quite a tappety racket.

Nothing compared to an M40 with clapped tappets though!

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:18 pm

nasir325ic wrote:hmmmmm. slip in some thing bigger, that would be good.

if its the tappets you can have them replaced for about Ãƒ”šÃ‚£140

well id jjump at this price as tappets are around 9 quid each and theres 8,plus you will require new cam seal ,cambelt etc ,oil plus filter change -is this parts only or is it a bodge job????

Post Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:21 pm

Have you tried doing an engine flush? This might improve things or it might make 'em a whole lot worse. If you are planning on a transplant anyway then it wouldn't hurt I suppose....

Post Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:44 pm

DJJX2
E30 Zone Newbie

Joined: Feb 10, 2006
Posts: 8

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:42 pm Post subject: re virgin in need of help

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Thanks for the info guys AOL is being shite and wont let me post a reply so Just to say thanks again and mite try an engine flush if not get all the bits required.If I ask for anything else bear with me as im feeling my way into BMW ownership! Just fitted my 8x18 black and stainless steel lipped wheels getting it lowered on saturday should look good! I hope! lol will post pics asap, once again thanks for all the suggestions and help!

Cheers JJ