Valve adjustment

[iliad]

Today, I attempted to adjust my valves but I think I ended up making it worse.
The engine noise is louder when its idling, but the engine runs smoothly otherwise.
If it is making a louder Click Clack noise does it mean that the gap between the valve and the valve eccentric is too big, or too small?
Thanks in advance,
Brian

 

[Big Daddy]

Read this tech article on Valve Adjustment by Pelican Parts.

 

[Doughnut]

Today, I attempted to adjust my valves but I think I ended up making it worse.
The engine noise is louder when its idling, but the engine runs smoothly otherwise.
If it is making a louder Click Clack noise does it mean that the gap between the valve and the valve eccentric is too big, or too small?
Thanks in advance,
Brian

I've done the same before: valve cover off, valve cover on, valve cover off etc...
Yeah, you made the gap between the rocker and the cam to large, thus = loader ones.
Looks like valve cover off again time for you [8)]

 

[Big Daddy]

I remember adjusting valves on Chevrolet V8's and I did it so much I had a set of covers that I had cut the center out of so I could adjust them while the engine was running.

 

[echothreezero]

Just keep in mind that you shouldn't tighten them until the noise stops as chances are you have now over tightened than and you will just increase wear.

I was told by a guy who was at BMW when the e30 was new that its better to have noisey tappets that are adjust as per spec than quite ones that are overtightened.

 

[iliad]

Just keep in mind that you shouldn't tighten them until the noise stops as chances are you have now over tightened than and you will just increase wear.

I was told by a guy who was at BMW when the e30 was new that its better to have noisey tappets that are adjust as per spec than quite ones that are overtightened.

I have taken the valve cover off 4 times already and it still makes noise.
Is there any other way I can do this?
can I run the engine with the valve cover off?

 

[Doughnut]

I have taken the valve cover off 4 times already and it still makes noise.
Is there any other way I can do this?
can I run the engine with the valve cover off?

Not with the BMW m20, With various other engines, yes.
The 1990's model GM 3.6lt v6 could run without valve covers, but only for a short amount of time before the oils started splashing everywhere [thumbd]

 

[echothreezero]

If you have adjusted them, run the engine and checked the clearances and they are OK, then you just put up with the noise. I've only owned one e30 without tappet noise and it had only done 80,000kms. It started making tappet noise at around 110,000km and I had the valves adjusted by BMW. The noise was quieter but didn't go away. They told me they could tighten them to remove the noise if I liked, but that I shouldn't as discussed above.