Anyone know what this new tapping sound could be?

[Brokenline]

The tapping/ticking can be heard on startup and when rpm's rise. I know s54's are noisy engines but this is a new fun sound for me. I'm waiting to get the car scheduled for VANOS and a valve adjustment. Not sure if this is drivable until then?

[Brokenline]

Btw, bearings were done 6 mos ago and the bottom end was inspected. I'm just going to keep this parked as it might be VANOS.

I'm still curious if anyone has had a similar sound. I'll update this post once it's in the shop.

[BL92]

Video link wont open

If they were BE bearings, take the car back asap, A member here had similar issues
Other wise do your valve clearances and change the oil a few times to clean out the gunk
When your valve clearances are getting done, send off the cam cover to the machine shop and have it washed

[Andratch]

Can't open your video, but if it's this sound:

I think I have this sound. It's the loudest when the car has been sitting for multiple days without being started. Then on first start only, I hear it for about 2-3 seconds. After it has been started once - even for just 5 seconds - I won't hear it again.

Leads me to believe it's the tensioner, but mine is new. I don't know if there's a wrong way to install the tensioner...I just tightened it in until i hit the torque spec.

In this video you hear it just briefly at the 5 second mark. It's not as loud as it was this morning when I started it for the first time in a week.

The answer is "bearing failure" either due to improper torquing of the bolts, or a batch issue with the bearings themselves. I had this issue, and it was resolved only with new bearings and new bolts.

[Brokenline]

Video link wont open

If they were BE bearings, take the car back asap, A member here had similar issues
Other wise do your valve clearances and change the oil a few times to clean out the gunk
When your valve clearances are getting done, send off the cam cover to the machine shop and have it washed

Ah dangit, thanks for letting me know the link wasn't working. Uploaded to imgur. https://imgur.com/a/J4HbIwW

[Brokenline]

Can't open your video, but if it's this sound:

The answer is "bearing failure" either due to improper torquing of the bolts, or a batch issue with the bearings themselves. I had this issue, and it was resolved only with new bearings and new bolts.

Thanks for the video reference! I re-uploaded the videos. https://imgur.com/a/J4HbIwW

It does sound similar, but mine is more of a higher pitch and sounds like it's coming from the top end.

[Ramage]

The tapping/ticking can be heard on startup and when rpm's rise. I know s54's are noisy engines but this is a new fun sound for me. I'm waiting to get the car scheduled for VANOS and a valve adjustment. Not sure if this is drivable until then?

I am almost 100% sure that is rod bearings

[Andratch]

To me, that sounds like the vanos exhaust hub.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kig3ODsnU0

My sound went away after a couple seconds (though you could hear it at higher revs under load), and was "deeper" than yours.

[Brokenline]

To me, that sounds like the vanos exhaust hub.

My sound went away after a couple seconds (though you could hear it at higher revs under load), and was "deeper" than yours.

Thanks, im leaning towards my VANOS being one foot out the door also lol. Waiting to get it in the shop now. Im hoping it's not the rocker arms like some videos have shown. That job looks intensive.

[jpy1980]

Subbed.

I have a whole new Besian VANOS system and ACL bearings and I also have this sound for a brief moment at start up. Ugh, I hope I don't have to take the car back to the shop.

[sapote]

I am almost 100% sure that is rod bearings

The noise frequency is too high for rod bearing problem. Sounds more like chain noise.

[sapote]

Open the VC and look around chain guide, most upper right ones are about breaking point after 80K miles.

[BL92]

It will tick if it sits for like 2 weeks

Start it daily !

[E11even]

Put a stethoscope or even an extra-long rachet extension up to the VANOS and listen. If it’s coming from the VANOS it’s usually pretty obvious. I had a similar noise after VANOS rebuild and could hear clear as day coming from the oil pump disc.