Firstfives.org

157K, yeah it didn't look bad to me either, maybe it is the CV's, but just doesn't have that click sound you usually hear from those...??

Thanks Blaise!

REman, I haven't read all the text yet, so apologies if I'm echoing here. I've had the tick-tick-tick noise with a 535i. It turned out to be the HEAT SHIELD rubbing up against the drive shaft U-JOINT. I took down the heat shield to verify (drive around the block), then reinstall with adequate clearances. Annoyance solved. Hopefully your problem is just as simple, Good Luck!

Yeah I tried that John but was still ticking away with heat shield off.
Not sure where to go from here but will keep monitoring and report back.
Thanks for checking in.

Ok so I finally figured it out this morning...it was the the front driver wheel brake dust shield that has been rubbing against the caliper!!!. Took it off and ran around without it off and low and behold no more ticking. I thought I ruled that out a while ago because all other times that happened it was more of a scraping sound than a tick but this time it was because it was just catching the caliper just a little in one spot and you could also tell on the dust shield because it was nice and clean (from scraping) in one little spot.

Thanks for all you inputs, very much appreciated.

(problems with photo bucket, tried to post pic)

Have to change those rubbers, they are way dry and just don't perform as intended. You'll love the feeling once you change them. It's like when you change into good new tires,remember?

Go for it!

Aware of dubious ticks, they are like the communists-they know when to stop and when to start...