Ticking noise

new to the e46 world and loving it. Just bought a e46. In the process of doing the tuneup things and just got around to replacing my air intake tubes. replaced the filter and all of sudden i have this tapping noise (sounds like lifters) in my engine. my valve cover gasket was leaking so i changed that and dried off the plugs hoping this would stop it. Next thing im going to do is mabey run some Seafoam or Auto Rx and clean out the sludge from inside. Get some Mobil 0-40, do an oil change and hopefully this will cure the ticking. Ive read so many pages everynight, youtube vid etc and how to get rid of this ticking noise and nobody has a clue. The hotter it gets the more noisier it gets. Anybody have any insight?

come back after you change your oil.

ok thanks

ok so i seafoamed the motor and the ticking went away. Did my oil change and the tick was back. Went and bought rilo oil treatment which is known to quiet down and remove sludge from engine. no more lifter noise even though it still has the old motor sounds (if you get what i mean). Now all of a sudden my oil light stays on. Before it would just flicker. Hoping its not the oil pump and just the sending unit. car only has 137k.

Use heavier weight oil by castrol. Helps cushion the slap. Ive had probs with toyota i bag drive only and no rod bearing issues since switching to heavier weight oil. I dont like additives. Clean oil is better

Again?

lol