Is the knock sound in the morning normal?
 

my 2000 x5 with 245k drives and shifts strong, with no issues. It has always been doing this: first crank in the morning it sounds like a harsh knock for a second until the oil gets to the motor then goes to normal, is that normal for these 4.4 motors?

It is not happening on my X5... but I have only ~70k maybe you need to look at oil pump?

Wow 245k?! Yea I would think any number of creaks/groans/knocks would be normal. Lots of clearances exceeded in that engine if its never been rebuilt, which will make some noise.

ya 245k lol, I bought it for my wife for $3500, haven't spent a penny on it yet. Even water pump and thermostat were changed. Transmission was changed 2 years ago so I got lucky. But who knows, the motor may last another year, 5, who knows. So far, strong , no hesitations, no smoking, no messing.

I have an '01 X5 4.4i with 107k and it makes the hard knocking sound as well, it also did it when I first bought it with 97k.
I've read that it has something to do with Vanos (automobile variable valve timing technology developed by BMW).

Changing the oil and adding a bottle of Lucas helped it. Didn't take the knock away fully, but definitely helped.
Hope this helps! :thumbup:

** Didn't mean to double post **

just a motor oil lucas?

I used 10-40 Synthetic Motor Oil & a bottle of Lucas Oil additive.

maybe check timing chain tensioner