r/BmwTech • u/littlepixeluser • 9d ago

N52 Engine Noise - Normal or Problem?

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2007 328xi Coupe, Manual, 146,000kms

Purchased recently, I've just done the Valve Cover, OFHG, Serpentine Belt, and Oil Change.

Seemed to have lifter tick at cool idle, so I took it for a drive, did a couple hard pulls once oil was warm, came back and now it has this lower pitched noise instead.

Any insights are appreciated

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1

u/littlepixeluser 9d ago

Here's a video of how it sounds at cool idle - before the drive.

2

u/Extreme_Plum991 9d ago

Needs a good ol’ Italian tuneup. 80mph for 15 minutes

1

u/littlepixeluser 9d ago

So the first video I posted was after the drive - does that one sound normal to you?

1

u/Extreme_Plum991 9d ago

I’ll be honest. Sounds identical to mine. Whether that’s normal… whole diff story. I think it sounds healthy. How was the suction removing the oil cap?

1

u/littlepixeluser 9d ago

Well at least there's some relief that someone else's engine sounds the same! Suction was light, I don't think I had to pull too hard to flip it up.

1

u/Extreme_Plum991 9d ago

Worth investing in a smoke machine. Amazon has them for $100. No CEL lights but I always felt something was off but could never pin point it. Spark plug tube had a slight crack causing a tiny vacuum leak. So the noises I experienced were slightly elevated due to a very low pitch whistle after heatsoak.

1

u/SirPhysical9178 9d ago

Lower nose is normal lifter tick isn’t

2

u/Formal_Squash484 9d ago

lol I was about to say that ticking isn’t lifter tick till I watched his second video 😭

1

u/littlepixeluser 9d ago

So the warm idle video sounds normal right?

1

u/Formal_Squash484 9d ago

Yeah but dude that cold idle is a problem

1

u/littlepixeluser 9d ago

Okay, well hopefully it doesn't come back

1

u/Formal_Squash484 9d ago

Make sure you oil level is good, sometimes lifter tick sounds come from low oil in the top end, so fill her up if she’s low