Chatty Valve?

[aTron12]

I have a resurfaced, rebuilt head that was installed a few years ago and since then my mechanic has done two valve adjustments since the initial install. I notice that when the motor is cold or if I am driving with my windows down, I am hearing a "clack, clack" besides the typical M20 sewing machine sounds. I can really hear it if I am driving past a retaining wall or a line of cars. Could this be a wonky valve or even something else? He is very adimant about keeping things spec and does great work otherwise. He's just a little harder of hearing so I wonder if he maybe just didn't catch it? Ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Adam

[euromobbin]

my 325e is loud as f*** and the top end including valves and all that were done less than 40k ago

the owner of the shop that did my rebuild said its two things: the injectors firing but mostly the SOLID LIFTERS

he said if theres no noise theres a problem

anyone have any info to back this up?

my car sounds like a diesel

[Jaxx_]

the sewing machine sound is normal. if you hear anything louder than that (or deeper) you might have another issue. I would check the bottom end for any noise out of the ordinary. You can use a long piece of hose up to your ear and use it similar to a stethoscope.

[aTron12]

It's not really any deeper. It truly sounds like a normal valve but just louder. Like a "clack clack clack" but just out of place. I'll try the stethoscope trick to verify where it is coming from.

[LJ851]

my 325e is loud as f*** and the top end including valves and all that were done less than 40k ago

the owner of the shop that did my rebuild said its two things: the injectors firing but mostly the SOLID LIFTERS

he said if theres no noise theres a problem

anyone have any info to back this up?

my car sounds like a diesel

M20 does not have lifters at all so they won't be causing the noise you hear.

What can happen is that the tip of the valve can wear into the rounded shape of the adjusting eccentric thus causing an inaccurate valve adjustment using a feeler gauge at the valve. You can get a more accurate valve adjustment at the rocker to cam interface, but the spec is different because of the rocker ratio.

[ROLLingKING]

You can get a more accurate valve adjustment at the rocker to cam interface, but the spec is different because of the rocker ratio.

Brilliant. im getting my valves adjusted next week so ill ask the mechanic about this

[bmwguy325is]

I have a resurfaced, rebuilt head that was installed a few years ago and since then my mechanic has done two valve adjustments since the initial install. I notice that when the motor is cold or if I am driving with my windows down, I am hearing a "clack, clack" besides the typical M20 sewing machine sounds. I can really hear it if I am driving past a retaining wall or a line of cars. Could this be a wonky valve or even something else? He is very adimant about keeping things spec and does great work otherwise. He's just a little harder of hearing so I wonder if he maybe just didn't catch it? Ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Adam

Most often when I hear clicking driving by a wall or somthing its an exhaust leak.

[Ceeker]

These are quite simple engines; aside from the mild ticking you hear from the injectors there is some valve noise which is inherent in this motor build. normal, anything louder or more excessive means they need adjustment or something is really worn. rockers surfaces are beyond tolerance and would most probably need replacing.
if the valve heads are rounded this should tell you the amount of wear on the head and valves. If you got a rebuild- true rebuild - then you would have all new valves, rockers, cam, seals and necessary machining done. shops usually do a valve adjustment off the car and does work but ideally should be done once the head is mounted.

[e21jps]

heres a common mistake people make- the valve lash spec is 010 but thats at the valve where the eccentric sometomes wears a little hollow so the setting is not correct when you put the feeler gauge in, the result is too much lash. To solve this most people set the lash at the cam but because of the rocker ratio the clearence at the cam should only be 065" NOT 010" many mechanics just look at the spec of 010" and set this at the cam..... too much! so maybe your machanic has used the wrong setting, its verry common

the other thing is worn rocker shafts can sometimes "clack" a little when they get old

[Vince30]

A ticking m20 is a happy m20

[e30:)]

i used to get asked if my first e30 was a diesel lol.