nm4

Just purchased an E63 - love the car. I noticed the engine tends to make a slight knocking sound and the lifter tick is quite evident (my other car is rear engined and sounds very different). I was hoping someone could tell me if these sounds are normal. The lifter tick is evident early on but doesn't seem bad...as the video goes on you can hear a tapping/knocking sound. Car has 70k and is in very good shape, always well maintained. It's driving perfectly with no check engine light. Just wanted to make sure it's OK to use in this shape.

E63 Engine Sound

Thanks,
NM

PieRat

link don't work. these engines m113k and m156 noisy and sound like shut at idle. unless it sounds like it tearing itself apart and running strong it probably fine...best to get a service at the dealer or something and they'd tell u if it fukd

nm4

New link:

PieRat

is it the same other side¿

nm4

Seems to be the same yes.

NM

PieRat

ticking is fine imo but that knock when you rev it a bit sounds weird to me but I'll let the 63 crew weigh in I've only got m156 through my mates car I recall it was nasty and noisy like my m133k but unsure if it knocked a lol or not.

503C43 ////AMG

As mentioned above the ticking sounds normal to me but the knocking sound when he held it slightly above idle is not normal and concerning.

anomadtoo

Yes these engines are noisy; and lifter tick is prevalent. Playing around with different oils and LM additives can help for sure and quiet it down.

like others that other ticking at rev is concerning and not normal.

Rovel

Open the valve covers and investigate the condition of the lifters and cams instead of guessing. It is quite easy. Hope this video of mine helps. It is head bolt replacement video, but you can see the process for opening the valve covers. Ideally, there should be no loud noises.

jpman

that is a lifter you’re hearing when you rev the engine.

I would get that taken care of ASAP and possibly abstain on driving without taking the valve covers out and inspecting cams and lifters.

it sucks to hear this, but that’s my 2c. Better be cautious than to regret it later.

nm4

Follow up: Car was taken to a local MB Indy specialist. Very nice people. They took the valve cover on the drivers side off and borescoped as well. The oscilloscope suggested the ticking was before cylinder 5 fired; they suspected a lifter but said the lifters and cams looked good. Cams had minor wear. I’m not sure how much of the lifters they could see (I have no pics of them)

An engine flush and oil change was performed at their recommendation but the ticking persists. It’s not just at idle and occurs when the engine is cold or warn.

I will get another opinion but am wondering what to do? Keep driving it ? Or have the lifters replaced? They suggested the cams were ok and don’t need to be replaced at the present.

Thanks for your advice,
NM.

Rovel

The lifters are supposed to spin as the engine works. Sometimes they get stuck and don’t spin. This may cause the tick. If this is the issue then eventually both the cam and the lifter will wear off.

From the video I didn’t hear any ticking. But I heard knocking when revving up. That’s not normal.

There isn’t too much to go wrong with these engines. The pistons, cylinder walls, and the entire bottom part are very strong. And you aren’t having any misfires, are you?

The weakness is in the top: adjusters, cams and lifters. I think it’s one of these. I’d remove the cams and take a closer look at the lifters.

jpman

hmm - could be an adjuster. There is a video from tasos on YouTube where he grabs a wrench and checks that the adjusters are locking.

checking for a stuck lifter (not spinning) should be easy. Should be able to see a mark in one direction.

if the cam lobes look clean, I’d say look into the adjusters.

glad on first look it looks ok, just get a second opinion.

anomadtoo

As mentioned and you’ll find all over the forums, these engines have consistent lifter tick; you can here it in your video. You can change fluids up or add Ceratec later. Work on finding that other rattle on revs.

If your cam lobes aren’t worn/very minimal wear then the bucket lifters shouldn’t be much either. But if you do remove your cams the might as well change out your bucket lifters to the upgraded ones. And if you do be careful with the cam adjusters.

nm4

I thought the lifter sound was the loud tapping? I’ve had 2 mechanics see the car and both thought it was the lifter making the loud tapping sound. Are we wrong in assuming that sound is a lifter? If so, what should I ask the mechanics to check?

Thanks,
NM

MartinWake

sounds similar to my bmw days

jpman

Could also be mistaken as a cam adjuster. I can imagine this sound could also be mistaken.

nm4

Quick update: Took car to the local MB dealer. They said no codes, runs fine and the noise could be a lifter vs HPFP. Then they told me to just keep driving it or alternatively pay $2500 labor for them to examine the heads. Any thoughts? Indy shop suggested doing headbolts and lifters and leaving the cams. Now I’ve got a car that I’m afraid to drive and no solid answer on what to do lol

Thanks for your help,
NM

Bankroll

Rovel

I think you should stop loosing your sleep, open the valve covers and inspect. That’s the only way to know for sure. I attached the how-to video for you above. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself then find an experienced indy. $2500 is a rip off. My indy pulls the heads off, changes the head bolts and lifters for that price.

nm4

Rovel,

I have already had this done. See above. They said the cams looked ok and what they could see of the lifters was ok. They are asking around $3300 for headbolts and lifters but I want to make sure that is the issue causing the noise. Some here suggested there was another issue and I haven’t been able to confirm.

Thanks,
NM

Rovel

Lifters, cams and adjuster are the most common. Adjusters usually rattle at start up, but cams and lifters tick constantly. Without removing the cams, it is not possible to see condition of the lifters. I think you said that’s how they investigated yours. I hope it’s not something else

hachiroku

mine made the same noise upon occasion after its 2nd set of NEW lifters. i chalk it up as cam adjuster noise. good oil will prevent this noise from appearing often or at least in my case. Motul XCess 8100 5w-40 and LiquiMoly MoS2.

nm4

Here are some pics of the cam lobes for cylinders 7 and 8 (per the shop the two with the most wear). They suggested the cams were ok but I am no expert. Again the dealer wasn’t interested and advised me to drive the car until an error light came up or the engine began performing poorly.

Thanks in advance,
NM

Rovel

Those cams indeed look OK. There is minimal wear but it still has a lot of life left in it.