Hearing a ticking noise from the engine of your BMW can be annoying. This sound can be caused by a number of issues, some of which are minor while others may be more severe. Having a good knowledge of what leads to these ticking sounds can help you to do your best to have them addressed. Let’s consider possible causes of engine ticking in BMW cars.
What Causes Engine Ticking?
- Faulty Hydraulic Lifters: Hydraulic lifters are important parts of your BMW’s engine that ensure that there is right spacing between the camshaft and the valves. A lifter can become faulty or worn out and as a result produce a ticking sound. This problem is prevalent in the earlier models of BMW cars. When the lifters fail, they’re unable to maintain this spacing, and metal parts make a clicking sound against each other. In order to solve this problem, the bad lifters have to be changed out for new ones.
- Exhaust Manifold Leak: The exhaust manifold in your BMW is the component that gathers exhaust gasses produced by the engine and directs them to the exhaust system. If the manifold has a leak, there could be a ticking sound especially when the engine is cold. Fixing this problem normally requires the replacement of the gasket, or the complete exhaust manifold to seal the leakage and silence the sound.
- Worn Timing Chain: The timing chain in your BMW’s engine helps in ensuring that the valves and pistons move in harmony. If the timing chain has been worn or loosened then it has the tendency to produce a ticking sound. This issue is very critical and deserves attention as soon as possible. A timing chain that has stretched can lead to a loss of the engine timing and poor performance or in extreme cases, total damage to the engine. The timing chain needs to be replaced to avoid severe issues that affect the health of the engine.
- Injector Noise: Fuel injectors are the devices that inject fuel into the cylinders of the engine. This process may at times create a ticking sound which is okay as the injectors open and close to allow fuel into the engine. However, if the noise gets really loud, there could be a problem with the injectors that would have to be looked at. This could imply that the injectors are contaminated, defective, or are not working as they should.
- Valve Train Problems: Valve train of your BMW involves components like camshaft, valves, lifters, and any other related parts. Any issue that affects the valve train will result in the production of a ticking sound. This may occur if the components become old or do not function as efficiently as they are supposed to. The valve train requires constant checks, and any form of damage should be attended to as soon as possible. Valve train problems, if not fixed in good time, may lead to other severe problems within the engine and this affects the performance of your BMW.
What to Do If Your BMW Is Ticking
- Listen Carefully: The first thing to do when you notice a ticking noise in your BMW’s engine is to listen closely. Try to find the specific place the noise is coming from. Could it be coming from your engine or some other place? Locating the source of the noise can help you work out what could be going wrong.
- Visit a Mechanic: If you can’t find out what is causing the ticking noise or if you are not ready to diagnose and solve the problem on your own, then it is advisable to take your car to a mechanic. Having your BMW taken to a mechanic guarantees that the problem is well handled and will not endanger the car any further.
Get Help From Our BMW Professionals
At Bavarium Autoworks, we hold the solution to 
all European car needs in Mountain View, CA. When you have driven your BMW for some time, you may begin to notice some ticks here and there because some of the parts of the car will have worn out. If you notice these sounds, you should bring your BMW directly to our shop.
Our certified staff will take care of your BMW in the way that it should be. We also help drivers from Cupertino, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Jose, and Saratoga, California. Let our qualified staff ensure that your car remains in the best shape possible as a BMW. Feel free to give us a call on 650-962-9401 to book your BMW next appointment.
* Black BMW M4 Car image credit goes to: Brandon Woyshnis.