'tapping' engine

[LLcoolK]

I know many of the e30's have this noise, but is there anything i can do to stop it or keep it from getting louder!!
cheers

[fowler]

regular oil changes and to make sure the tappets are correctly adjusted

[LLcoolK]

anything i can do to get rid of the noise completely?

[ajm-e30]

just adjust the tappets mate, mine were quite bad so spent an hour adjusting them earlier and it sound much better already

[bmwe30mtech]

What engine is it? If a 1.6 or 1.8 M40 then in reality there is nothing much to be done. Live with it, despite it being really annoying!

[munky30]

castrol high mileage engine oil

But that wont get rid of the noise altogether.... there's a reason TAPpets have that name...

[Brianmoooore]

castrol high mileage engine oil

BMW don't do 'high mileage' engines!

[munky30]

[aceraf]

You can get all sorts of addatives...i used some from halfords, was in a purple tin.... works quite well when the car's upto temp.....really noisy when i first turn the key though

just adjust the tappets mate, mine were quite bad so spent an hour adjusting them earlier and it sound much better already

How would you adjust the tapets???? I've only had time to service mine, and the odd bits and bobs....not looked at engine since

[LLcoolK]

its a 2.5 cab, so just regular oil changes and adjusting the tappets then?

[Renton500]

Someone has told me of a trick to block out this noise when you're driving, i haven't tried it yet, but I have been assured it works.

Basically, you get a blob of blue-tack and stick it on the nut on the end of your steering column under your steering wheel centre cap. Apparently this gets rid of most of the engine noise from within the car!!!

[Templ8e30]

Renton, the blue tack trick works a treat

Push it firmly over the steering wheel nut so it covers the hole in the end of the shaft, stops the tapping noise from coming up though the hollow shaft.

Cheers,

Iain T

[Renton500]

Thanks Ian.

I need to adjust my tappets, once they're done i'll try the blue-tack trick for any remaining noise.

[slinky2000]

blue tack, I must give this a try!, lol

[aceraf]

Basically, you get a blob of blue-tack and stick it on the nut on the end of your steering column under your steering wheel centre cap. Apparently this gets rid of most of the engine noise from within the car!!!

what about the noise outside the car????

[slinky2000]

just an example mate, now does it compare to this sound:

[liam012]

that sounds like there is too much clearance between one of the tappets or maybe even a dry rocker due to oil starvation (sometimes if the bar is slightly bent it can drip wrong or if old can get blocked up)

[aceraf]

just an example mate, now does it compare to this sound:

mine gets louder as i rev higher....not sure what it sounds like on the outside...may have to get ma mate to rag my car about so i can hear it!!!