Z4-forum.com

raymond.harper wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2017 3:28 pm Given all the cost and heartbreak you have been experiencing I would suggest spending no more money and just run the car as it is. Then if or when it breaks get a secondhand engine for the car.

Yeah. Think you might be right. But not really what I wanted out of the ownership experience and the noise is annoying! I bought the car because of the low mileage and apparently bullet proof engine!

Cooky3 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2017 6:16 pm

raymond.harper wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2017 3:28 pm Given all the cost and heartbreak you have been experiencing I would suggest spending no more money and just run the car as it is. Then if or when it breaks get a secondhand engine for the car.

Yeah. Think you might be right. But not really what I wanted out of the ownership experience and the noise is annoying! I bought the car because of the low mileage and apparently bullet proof engine!

So, as I asked before......Have you taken it on a good long drive to see if this is a permanent noise at the rev range....it could disappear, worth a try.

Just as an experiment why dont you try some Wynns oil treatment for lifter treatment to see whether the noise is less audible.

firebobby wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2017 7:32 pm [quote=Cooky3 post_id=<a href="tel:1488892">1488892</a> time=<a href="tel:1511543798">1511543798</a> user_id=25942]
[quote=raymond.harper post_id=<a href="tel:1488847">1488847</a> time=<a href="tel:1511533702">1511533702</a> user_id=22916]
Given all the cost and heartbreak you have been experiencing I would suggest spending no more money and just run the car as it is. Then if or when it breaks get a secondhand engine for the car.

Yeah. Think you might be right. But not really what I wanted out of the ownership experience and the noise is annoying! I bought the car because of the low mileage and apparently bullet proof engine!
[/quote]

So, as I asked before......Have you taken it on a good long drive to see if this is a permanent noise at the rev range....it could disappear, worth a try.
[/quote]

Hi. Yes, vehicle driven 50 miles to where it is now and has been driven a fair bit whilst there. It's not going away unfortunately...

Ducklakeview wrote: ↑Wed Nov 22, 2017 9:59 pm [quote=Cooky3 post_id=<a href="tel:1488380">1488380</a> time=<a href="tel:1511383518">1511383518</a> user_id=25942]
Thanks.

Is that dual mass flywheel???

What does that do and is it easy to replace worst case - approx cost?

I am a technical div ducklakeview...

If I remember correctly from sitting in it (although I've sat in a FEW) James's old car is a manual yes?

Therefore if the DMF (dual mass flywheel) is worn, it "could" be the two components vibrating against the internal springs.

Cost wise, a lot less than the work you have already had done

I did a full clutch/DMF along with rear main oil seal and spigot bearing in a 2.0 recently, came in at circa £790 I recall.

However, the main thing here is the diagnosis, it may well not be, BUT...

Mike
[/quote]

Hi Mike. Not the DMF either. Glad about that because of the cost but also frustrated the noise can't be located...

Hi all.

So been a while since I last posted on this as very busy through December. So, new timing chain, tensioner, guides, two x VANOS hubs, hours of investigative labour and no cure. £1,200 in parts and Colin has pretty much waived his labour - I paid him a nominal amount in that figure as I couldn't not pay him anything!

Just have to live with it because I am not paying more money out! Not the noise I wanted to hear in tandem with the straight six but hard cheese as they say!

Incidentally, the old chain guides and chain look fine at a glance - when I can be bothered I'll have a proper look and post some pics. You may recall plastic slithers were found in the oil but if the guides look ok what else could it have been?

Anyway, so Colin offered to bring the car back this way on Saturday before Christmas. Wanted to put the whole thing behind me as they say and move on.

Anyway, upon arrival Colin looked like he was going to die of stress. On the way over the ABS light has come on and the heater was not working. What on earth is going on here? Colin said he simply couldn't give me the car back in a worst state than when I delivered it! Fair play to him. I said the heater had been working without issue for about the three days I have had the car since I bought it and he confirmed the same whilst he has been road testing etc. Could this and the ABS issue occurred due to the car standing a fair bit outside over the last 3+ months?

I spoke to him today as it was his first day back since I saw him. He said the heater starting working on the way home but the ABS is still on! He hopes to plug the car in tomorrow to read the code etc...

Do I need to become a die hard enthusiast 'no matter what' Z4 owner to appreciate the car or have I committed a hideous crime in a prior life?

Hells Bells! - just skimmed through this thread, what a nightmare! I feel stressed just reading it - and now the dreaded ABS warning light
Fair play to the previous owner though.
I guess its one of those 'time will tell' situations regarding the noise.

I think you need another opinion. Your mechanic has obviously exhausted everything he can think of so its time for another pair of eyes to go back to basics and look at the simplist things first. As an example when my Son had his car MOTd a few weeks ago there was a metallic ticking coming from the bottom of the engine and they thought it was his timing chain, tensioner or the guides and that it was a fairly major strip down. The garage is very reputable but I thought it a good idea to get a mobile mechanic to take a look. He mentioned pulley tensioner waterpump etc but said he would start simple. The result - a piece of metal looking like the head of a small nail had welded itself to the aircon pulley. Simple repair and no ticking or other noises.
I think we all have to admit defeat from time to time and it is time someone else took a look at your car. I think you mention plastic residue in the oil. That could simply be a previous owner dropping an oil cap into the engine whilst topping up or during an oil change, part filling with oil using a funnel and then starting the car with the funnel still in place. These have all happened.

Cheers Mike6.

I don't disagree with what you are saying. One of the issues was getting anybody to look at it and 3-4 specialists were either unwilling to take it on or didn't want the hassle given the nature of the noise. It is not there or if it is, not really noticeable from cold through to when the temp gauge is up to normal. It only kicks in when the whole engine is fully warm...

All pulleys, oil filter housings etc checked. And everyone suggested it was timing chain sounding although noise resonates and is difficult to trace apparently. Chain or hubs was independently suggested by all pretty much, post tensioner replacement.

Engine heat shields checked.... But someone might find something I guess...

A cheapish suggestion op if it's doing it when it's warm.

Drain the oil out and fill it up with a thicker oil. Like a 10w40. It's an old trick for masking death rattle on a warm engine. If it goes away then you may have it (worn engine bearings) if it's still there you can probably rule out a worn crank etc. Only need cheapo stuff if it's just for testing.

I fully agree about doing an oil change with thicker oil for elimination purposes. However, I think the oil has been changed recently so why not try some Wynns lifter noise reducer or Wynns oil conditioner/engine noise reducer poured into existing oil. Both will have the effect of slightly thickening the oil and because they are slippier than oil should reduce engine noise. It will only cost a few pounds and you never know!!!
Let us know how you get on.

Mike6 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:32 pmI fully agree about doing an oil change with thicker oil for elimination purposes. However, I think the oil has been changed recently so why not try some Wynns lifter noise reducer or Wynns oil conditioner/engine noise reducer poured into existing oil. Both will have the effect of slightly thickening the oil and because they are slippier than oil should reduce engine noise. It will only cost a few pounds and you never know!!!
Let us know how you get on.

Was probably changed with the same oil though. Either method should do the trick.

If it goes away sadly it's probably a dying engine. Which are like 2k in this case just to buy.

Hi all. Apologies for the late update. Got the car back ten days ago. Engine noise there and going to live with it. Not going to faff anymore and if it dies so be it. Engine idles smoothly, power is there and when engine was dismantled for the work done Colin commented on how clean it looked.

Re. The ABS light. Narrowed to a steering wheel sensor. On the diagnostic it could not be recalibrated. Colin got hold of a second hand sensor, installed it, calibrated it etc and all sorted. At this point the battery appeared weak having stood for a while. I got him to put a new battery on. After this Colin tried refitting my original sensor to see if it would recalibrate. And yes, it did. So not sure if the weak battery caused the issue and dodgy heater or what.

Anyway, he charged me cost price for the battery and sent the sensor back so sorted for £100!

So now intend to enjoy the Zed.... Not a great start but taken it on the chin and enjoyed a couple of trips with my youngest already...

Here is the git motor.... With my little lady on board...

Cooky3 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2018 10:15 pmHere is the git motor...

Most people have nice names for their cars! Drive it, enjoy it.