Tappet noise or timing chain guide?
 

I picked up a 2001 540i6 about a week ago and I have noticed this tick that you can hear in the car sometimes and with the hood closed. I've tried doing some research and it's come back with 100 different ideas on what it could be and how to fix it so i figured i would make a video and let some of you guys give me your best guess. :dunno:

The noise seems to be isolated to the left bank at the very front of the motor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDxIayARZZE&feature=plcp

any help would be greatly appreciated

First of all, Welcome to the forum! :)

Secondly, the noise ur hearing is vanos unit. Real common on these motors to sound like that. I guess the only option is to either buy new seal kit from : http://www.beisansystems.com/index.html (which are now available for m62tu motors) OR buy new vanos unit (which could be expensive).

Either way, I would not worry too much about it. The engine wont explode on you. :)

Research timing chain guides, don't get too spooked yet.

But a fresh gasket and washer, drop the oil pan and look to see if there are any chunks of plastic.

I was planning on doing an oil change pretty soon so I'll drop the pan then and check for bits of plastic. I had looked at info on the guides and after shelling out the cash for a new clutch and flywheel this week I'm hoping I can avoid more maintenance cost at least for a little bit haha. Thanks for the help guys.

Regarding the Vanons unit, I was refered to dr.vanos by a friend of mine who is a big bmw enthusiest but i was bummed out to see they didn't offer anything for the m62tu engines. does anyone know of somewhere that you can buy rebuilt vanos unity for a reasonable price?