How to reduce Tapping in an M40?

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:29 pm

My 318i had an oil change few months back and has become tappety as hell, coincidence?not dont much milage as I have a daily drive as well

Anyways she is having a full service with BMW bits next week and ive got some Castrol GTX, so she will have that in her, but is there anything else i can do to quieten her without damaging her, I want here to do another 100k! (currently on 150k ish) (no magic beads or other daft suggestions please)

usually ok once she is warm but when you stop in traffic or are otherwise at low revs she starts tappin away

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:31 pm

Did you use a thick oil for cars with over 70K (or 100K?) on the clock? Other wise new cams/tappets or ajustment. Or just go 6 pot if you can!

I woulnt invest too much ina M40 engine

(for the record i have an M40 also)

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:36 pm

I am moving up to a 325i next year, i've had two 320i's so know how nice 6-pots sound!

I will be putting the car up for sale soon, I just want to make sure there isnt a problem with it, if its just the oil then i will be happy selling her, if it needs tappets changing then i will change before selling her.

Ashamed to admit it was probaby whatever oil i saw first,

about 15-40 i think Duckhams, but couldnt swear to it.

i'll see if i can get GTX high milage then

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:39 pm

dobbie82 wrote:I am moving up to a 325i next year, i've had two 320i's so know how nice 6-pots sound!

I will be putting the car up for sale soon, I just want to make sure there isnt a problem with it, if its just the oil then i will be happy selling her, if it needs tappets changing then i will change before selling her.

Ashamed to admit it was probaby whatever oil i saw first, about 15-40 i think Duckhams, but couldnt swear to it.

i'll see if i can get GTX high milage then

why dont you ask advice of oilman? The correct oil is essencial

tappety engine is usually valve clearence

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:49 pm

ok just been reading his thread, looks like i chose the wrong oil!

oil aint cheap though even halfords oil is about Ã‚£4-5 a litre here

ho hum, spending Ã‚£200 on servicing a car worth Ã‚£450... ho hum

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:50 pm

Dobbie if its only worth 400 sell it and let the new owner invest the money in their car!

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:53 pm

No NO NO!

A thick oil is the last thing you want! it will block the oil ways!

M40 have hydraulic lifters no valves which are not ajustable.

I think halfords 10w40 is pretty good value for money for m40. go for 5w 30 full sythentic if you want to spend more!

Before the oil change, take the vlave cover off and clean:
Valve cover
Plastic tray
Generally in the head
Spray bar - (replace is even better as its cheap)

Clean with Carb Cleaner (99p from 99p shops...use at least a can)

Loads of crap will come off

Don't tighten the 10mm bolts on the valve cover to much

Change oil

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:55 pm

or just forget it and buy my IS!....

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:01 pm

Gwynleym10 wrote:or just forget it and buy my IS!....

Really? Do you have one fo sale? Must have missed that

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:01 pm

lol I would buy your iS but that drivers seat would collapse if I sat on it

seriously though, I just want to make sure the next owner has no problems. I've only owned her 18 months maximum but she has been well loved.

I bought all the servicing parts with the intention of keeping her, so may as well service her now. (or get hubby to do it!)

I hate buying a car that needs a service. (paid a "bargain" 550 for my toyota, needs a service, 2 tyres and a window regulator, adds another 400 to the price

)

Gonna giver her full service, beg my dad to spray the arch (he runs a body shop) include my 15" bbs and hope for about Ã‚£850

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:11 pm

Chris-W wrote:
Gwynleym10 wrote:or just forget it and buy my IS!....
Really? Do you have one fo sale? Must have missed that

Nothing like a bit of shameless advertising! Not working mind.. Surely you have already owned this IS anyway?!!

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:11 pm

[quote="Gwynleym10"]No NO NO!

Hi what is the best thing to use to flush out thick oil from M40 engine and is it easy to change spray bar? thanks

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:18 pm

Wouldn't bother flushing it, just change the oil twice in 6 months or so...

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:22 pm

Hi thanks for reply ,what about spray bar?

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:29 pm

Hi Found your post on changing spray bar in another thread thanks

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:31 pm

spray bar is three bolts

also worth replacing the bolts as they have holes in the them for the oil to travel through

Its the bit that goes across the middle

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:38 pm

Hi On holiday next week so I will have a go at spray bar. Thanks for the help

Post Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:09 pm

dobbie82 wrote:My 318i had an oil change few months back and has become tappety as hell, coincidence?

is there anything else i can do to quieten her without damaging her,

You need to find what grade of oil was in it before the oil change.These tappets are very sensitive to oil grade.

Although it sounds terrible, and certainly won't help you sell it, the knocking is virtually harmless and has little effect on performance.