throwing this out there,

currently running the LX hollowtech I (M572 or something) with cartridge bb - the one with the plastic cup - and (as I have posted on other threads) have been plagued with creaking/clicking noise under load, which is driving me nuts.

Crankset is properly installed but creacking continues. figure I will get the winter out of it and ride it into the ground but my mind is already turning to an upgrade.

I was thinking of something like the FSA alpha and FSA platinum bb as it's reasonably priced, but the LX M580 Hollowtech II with external bearing bb is also a good price now and is getting good feedback.

Question is: I like the look and price of the new Shimano but am worried that if I do buy it the damn creaking will start all over again. Is that noise endemic to shimano or was it only a problem with certain bb/crank setups and will the external bb bearings and lack of a stupid plastic supporting cup go anyway towards solving it?

Anyone have any experience of what I am talking about?

Apologies for hogging the forum with this infernal click, but I swear to God I'm starting to hear it in my sleep

Hmmm. Creaky/clicky noises are something that BB's do sometimes, and is not just limited to any particular make. Things you can do to try to sort the problem are:
-take all the bits out, including the bb cups from the frame.
-clean everything you can see, especially the threads.
-get your BB shell faced and chased.
-put everything back togethere with LOTS of grease.
-make sure everything is nice and tight.
-check your pedals and chainring bolts, as the noises somtimes have amazing powers of ventriloquism, and the noise is not always were you think.

As to upgrading, the new LX is miles better, but you will still need your BB shell faced, and probably have to replace the middle ring with one that isn't made from moonbeams and gossamer.

thanks troll - have done most of the above already and might have another lash at it if I have some free time again. Very disheartening though when you just can't seem to shift a damn problem

question - when you're talking about getting the bb shell faced are you saying it should be done anyway, or it should be done prior to fitting the new LX?

also is it a job that my local LBS (not bad mechanics but don't see many high-end mtbs) would likely be able to do or is it quite a specialist job (yes I know I could just ask them and I'm sure I will but um... it's raining outside and I just made coffee)?

Facing the bb shell is making sure that the faces of the shell are perfectly parrallel. If you use any sort of external bearing system this is really important to have done, but it is a generally good idea to have it done for any BB system. The bad news is that this takes a special tool, which is expensive, so you will probably need aspecialist shop.

reading the above post spanner it looks like a Hollowtech with octalink BB