HELP -- 02' 530i engine knocking
 

my car started making this weird noise this morning

http://youtu.be/GUpgyo7WUgk

its from the passenger side toward the front end of the engine, around vanos/cylinder #1


before i take it to my mechanic, how safe is it to drive? i had to drive to work and back around 5km total but i made sure not to go over 50km/h or 2500rpm.

i read somewhere that it could be a loose spark plug? i got them replaced 2 weeks ago.

does the knocking sound follow your RPM or no?

are u using the right engine oil for your car?

is your engine oil level good?

Check your plugs, although that sounds really loud to be a loose spark plug.

Is your SES light on?

recently after replacing the crankcase breather valve, OBC reported low engine level so i topped up with Total 5w40 just until its time to change the oil (i still have like 1k or so to go)..its fine now. As for noise, i tried to hear it while driving but i couldnt make much.

should i rev it while parked to see if the noise follows rpm?

no check engine light and no weird smells either...

this is the video where he had a loose plug..sounds somewhat similar: http://youtu.be/NtwwS2UBHfs

Did you find any oil stains in your driveway/garage at all?

Check the plugs if you can just to be sure one hasn't worked loose, it's a long shot though.

i think its your lifters

The sound is similar to my old 330xi had which were the lifters. There isnt anything you can do about it but thats if its the lifters. This was common in the 2000-2001 E46's but I haven't heard about this in the 5 series.

no oil stains since i took care of all leaking culprits (valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket) over the past 3 months...

in its current state, you think its safe to drive to my mechanic? its a good 10-15 minute drive..

yeah its safe to drive .

but make sure ur using the right weight for your engine and it is topped off.

product called 'molyslip' is really good for making your lifter sound go away.

was it okay to drive?

i thought sticky lifters made ticking noises not knocking though? besides, i remember when the valve cover gasket was replaced, i asked my mech if there was any sludge or if anything looked sketchy he said what he saw was pretty clean for a 10 year old car.

does this make sense?

hmm
lifter sound on my 328 was... *gluck gluck gluck * kinda like knocking noise and ticking noise at the same time..lol

****! okay ill guess ill just wing it and drive it to my mech tomorrow morning.

thanks all for ur support...will check back in later.

So it WAS the spark plug...the white shell was broken at the neck due to over-torquing...replaced the plug, and she purrs now.