Hey everyone,

My E34 (1995 525i M50) has developed ticking noises. I have had the lifters replaced about 2 years ago, but since then I had a blown head gasket that has been replaced.

I have now developed a ticking noise that sounds a lot similar to sticking lifters. What's really weird though, is that the ticking noise only really comes into play when the car is in gear and has been idling for a couple of minutes. The longer the car's in idle, the louder it becomes. I have an auto transmission, and when I put it into Park or Neutral, the idle RPM goes up a bit and the sound disappears. The sound also disappears when I put the gas down to move the car (ie. when traffic lights turn green, etc)

Do I have sticky lifters? I thought that if I was to have them, then the sound would be there all the time, and increase in loudness / frequency when the RPMs build up.

BTW, I also have a rattly alternator / belt that my mechanic doesn't know why is happening. Whenever there's electrical load on the car, or the car's idle, it makes a 'rattling' or gurgling noise. Rattling isn't exactly the right description for the noise, but it's the closest I can come up with for now. It seems that whenever this noise is evident, eventually the ticking noise comes along with it, but I am not sure if it's just coincidence or if they are related.

With the last oil change, the car was filled with Castrol semi-synthetic 15W-40.

Any ideas / comments are most welcome.