Valve clearance adjustment ? & Diesel Pinking ?

[X5-D-Sport]

Recently noticed one of the engine valves ticking...

Are these valves hydraulically self adjusting, or manual adjustment ?

The oil is regularly changed, and the ticking does marginally decrease in noise volume when the engine has been running for 20 mins... but is very clear when freshly started

Also noticed that the engine pinks when the throttle is applied - only hear it when the sound is reflected off the siding barrier panels on the local 40mph carriageway. (it sounds like a petrol engine pinking)

So, is there an adjustment for the ticking valve ?

And is diesel pinking normal for the E53 diesel under load... or is this likely injector noise ?

Any ideas appreciated.

[X5Sport]

I thought the M57 engine used hydraulic lifters?  Might be a worn one (you have 24 to check).  I have never seen anyone refer to adjusting them and there is no adjuster as such showing in RealOEM - well not that I have found on the valve parts list.

Knocking in a diesel is pretty much standard and difficult to eradicate because of the way a diesel works.  You might just be hearing completely normal diesel under 'load' noises when you accelerate?  The soundproofing on these cars does remove a lot of noise and I have certainly noticed more noise on the X6 because BMW have fitted less to it to keep the weight down.

If the engine is dirty - deposits in the cylinders - you might get pinking from that.  Try putting some fuel/system cleaner through.  BMW supply an official version.  Part no:  83 19 2 296 922 BMW group diesel additive

These engines do tend to be a bit 'rattly' when cold - though nowhere near as bad as a 4-cyl - and quieten once warmed up.  I would expect an older/high mileage engine to get gradually noisier.

[X5-D-Sport]

Many thanks again Richard...

Knowledge is POWER - hell, you must be HUGE lol...

Have a can of injector cleaner to pop in when the tank level drops a bit more.
And will keep an eye on the possible lifter rattle. She's done 140k miles, so will keep listening.

I have fixed soooooo many rattles on this car, and it make the remaining ones more noticeable I think maybe...

I gotta get the air con fan fixed still, and will be checking power to the connector plug today...wondering if there is a relay that feeds the master power to the fan, + the trigger wire feed for speed...

Is there a module for the AC fan control Richard ?

[X5Sport]

Right, after doing a bit of head scratching and searching on RealOEM, the AC Control unit is the device in the dash with the buttons/displays on.

I'm going to go out in a limb and suggest that unit does the control of the fan etc based on the data from the thermostat inside the car, compressor temps etc.  As a module it seems just a tad too pricy to be just a display unit with buttons!

I can't immediately find any relay connected to the a/c system listed separately that goes in the three normal locations (under bonnet, above front fuse board, part of rear fuse board).

There is a temp sensor inside the a/c system and it appears to be inside the car itself - presumably to control the system based upon user settings.

I looked at RealOEM in the A/C, Vehicle Electrical sections using my old car VIN to check the sections against something real.

What I don't have is a vehicle circuit diagram to understand how each part of the A/C is strung together and what signals go through which modules.  The key bit is to find what that fan connects to and therefore what drives it speed wise.

[X5Sport]

BMW WDS HERE:  http://www.bmw-planet.com/diagrams/release/en/e53/

I can't use it as I don't have a machine with Internet Explorer and it's only compatible with IE 5.5 and newer, not Firefox or Safari!

Try looking up pusher fan....

[X5-D-Sport]

Fab info Richard... Thank you again... Will start prodding under the bonnet shortly.

Let you know what I find.

Initially, will see if there is power to the main fan connector.

Firstly, when the ignition & engine start, there is NO fan dancing hinting at a knackered fan.... it appears just DEAD.
Will let you know what I find re power shortly.

Cheers.

[X5-D-Sport]

Well, there is definitely a valve adjuster needed...

Do the hydraulic valve adjusters have a seal kit as a repair possibility, or is there a common replaceable part (common to ALL lifters) under the rocker cover ?

any suggestions, as I want to get the bits BEFORE the engine comes to pieces.. ?

[X5Sport]

There is a repair kit on RealOEM if memory serves.  Hopefully you only buy one for one, not a set of 24!

Have a look at the engine section on that site.

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Richard,

What is the exact name of the part Im looking for ?

And is the repair kit likely to be a bunch of seals or steel bucket pistons ?

Not seen the insides of the engine, so am a little naïve here !!

[X5Sport]

What year/engine?  Sorry having an 'old' moment - aka brain fade  :-[

This is the valve part liston a facelift 3.0d.

What I cannot be certain of is whether you need to get the head off first.

[X5-D-Sport]

brain fade - I've been suffering this since the age of 5....

I wouldn't let it bother you if it's only just started for you ha ha...



X5 E53 face-lift 218 hp diesel 2004

[X5Sport]

edited my earlier post....

[X5-D-Sport]

Seems a little drastic to remove the head to adjust valve clearances/replace parts ?

presuming it's item 3 - compensating element ?  guessing this expands to set the clearance ?

[X5Sport]

My engine tech days go back to hydraulic & bucket tappets which some needed the valve stem secured to change parts.  Mind you it only took an hour to get the head off, parts replaced and refitted!!  Adjustment was two minutes with a socket and Tbar.  You could leave the valve in place if the bucket was removed.  I can't from the diagrams anyway, see what holds the bucket part (4) in place.  If the bucket comes off then the valve stays put, and the head too.


Calling kkx5....... :help2:  try sending him a PM to see if he knows?

Item 3 looks to be a hydraulic lifter.  Found some piccies of the part: 11332249817 via Google.  It's used in a very large range of engines.  No obvious adjustment so it may be simply a case of ensuring that cylinder is at BDC, push the valve stem down, pop the old one out and slot in the new one......or it could be  :crazy1: of a job.

[X5Sport]

Just read on a BMW forum that the M57N alignment elements are not adjustable so the duff one will have to be replaced.  Trying to find the procedure.

EDIT:  if the M57N engine is the same design principle as the M57 then the valve gear is underneath the camshafts - which explains the lack of attachment bolts - and therefore the camshafts have to be removed to change the lifters!

Anyone on here confirm that?