The N52 6-cylinder engine in my mom’s E61 5-Series BMW wagon is notorious for suffering from a hydraulic-valve-lifter tick. In modern BMW engines, hydraulic valve lifters are used to ensure that proper valve clearances between the valve and the cam follower are maintained. However, when these cars sit, the oil inside the hydraulic lifters can drain out. Thus, when the engine is started, there will not be proper oil pressure in the lifters and the engine will tick.
My mom’s E61 was produced in September of 2006. However, BMW updated the design of the engine head at a later date and included a check valve that maintained oil pressure in the valves when the engines are shut off. This fixed the ticking issue in many cars. This fix did cost BMW dealerships money, and individual lifters were often replaced before the head was replaced in a preliminary attempt to fix the problem.
Sadly, my mom’s car left its warranty behind many miles ago and will not be receiving a new engine head. For now, she’ll just have to play music over the ticking.
Another solution has been discovered by BMW’s dedicated enthusiast group: don’t drive like a grandma. By driving at a higher RPM, the engine oil circulates better and can help prevent the lifter tick. So, you can add this excuse to the notebook: “I’m sorry officer, I have to drive at six-thousand RPM because I am trying to fix a lifter tick. I’m sure you understand…”
Exhaust Fumes 