I have a 2002 BMW 330ci (E46) with 90k that developed an extremely loud lifter tick. The tick was heard after the engine warmed up and was loud enough that pedestrians on the sidewalk would turn and look at my car. When I would pull up to a mechanic shop, the techs would tell me right away that I had a bad lifter before even popping the hood. One of them even shook his head and told me that I basically was screwed. With that noise, I wouldn't be able to sell or trade the car. Three different BMW mechanics told me that I would have to have the lifter replaced - a $2500 job that involved removing the cams. And since I can't afford that, I tried to get free/cheap advice from different mechanics. One mechanic tried an engine flush (do not know what he used) and Lucas Oil stabilizer. Another tried MMO. Another one tried MOS (I think that's what he called it). And still, tick tick tick tick.... I heard and dealt with this tick for 5 months, giving up on going to any more mechanics, and trying everything I could find on the Internet - Rislone, thinner oil, thicker oil, and am now trying Auto-Rx. I even bought a can of Wynn's Hydraulic Valve Lifter Concentrate on eBay from someone in the UK as a backup plan to Auto-Rx. Believe me, I was ready to give up and just live with it if none of those worked. Well guess what - 1200 miles into the cleaning phase and what I thought was an irreparable lifter tick is GONE. When I drained the oil from the cleaning phase, it was extremely black. My mechanic who first likened using Auto-Rx to using aspirin to cure cancer admits that it seems to be working. I don't know about him but I'm a believer in the stuff now. I'm now 200 miles into the rinse phase and still no tick. Additionally, I've noticed a smoother engine and better performance. It feels like my Bimmer again! Thanks Frank, I just wish I knew about Auto-Rx sooner.
