E46 Oil Leaks?

Hello,

I recently noticed that my E46 is leaking oil on the driveway.

Where exactly is the leak?

What needs to be replaced / fixed?

Cost?

Thank You

gee, this is getting ridiculous.
open the damn hood and snap some photos for gods sake.

Oh come on, Jason, let us have fun with this one!

OP, if those leak spots are from the spot you always park your car, then it looks like something from both the engine and from the differential...which seems minor, but the diff only holds one liter of fluid or so, so you want to listen for signs of extra hum from the rear.

As far as the front leaks, remove underskirt, clean up the engine from beneath as best you can with engine degreaser and then rinse off as directed. Then drive and look for fresh signs of oil.

Among our most popular leaking sites--oil filter cap, oil filter housing, ccv, vcg (but that would burn and smell like smoke). There are other sites too, but these are our most popular sites...for oil. Check both your oil level and PS fluid level too, as PS fluid leaks often too...right from the hoses beneath the reservoir and often from the reservoir cap.

Search and read and then get in and fix those you want to. Monitor fluid levels, but check the diff level pretty soonish. Just open fill cap and if fluid doesn't drip out, stick your pinky in to see how low it is...if low, just drain and refill, which is a good idea anyway. I think the diff gets a crush washer, though that might be for the trans...I forget. One has them, the other doesn't.

Okay, this is the nicest, most helpful response you'll get. Now, please leave your computer a while while the guys here have some fun with you. Thank you in advance for the entertainment!

Also, you might want to contact Abby in the lab; she's great with oil splatter analysis!

Originally Posted by dmax

Oh come on, Jason, let us have fun with this one!

OP, if those leak spots are from the spot you always park your car, then it looks like something from both the engine and from the differential...which seems minor, but the diff only holds one liter of fluid or so, so you want to listen for signs of extra hum from the rear.

As far as the front leaks, remove underskirt, clean up the engine from beneath as best you can with engine degreaser and then rinse off as directed. Then drive and look for fresh signs of oil.

Among our most popular leaking sites--oil filter cap, oil filter housing, ccv, vcg (but that would burn and smell like smoke). There are other sites too, but these are our most popular sites...for oil. Check both your oil level and PS fluid level too, as PS fluid leaks often too...right from the hoses beneath the reservoir and often from the reservoir cap.

Search and read and then get in and fix those you want to. Monitor fluid levels, but check the diff level pretty soonish. Just open fill cap and if fluid doesn't drip out, stick your pinky in to see how low it is...if low, just drain and refill, which is a good idea anyway. I think the diff gets a crush washer, though that might be for the trans...I forget. One has them, the other doesn't.

Okay, this is the nicest, most helpful response you'll get. Now, please leave your computer a while while the guys here have some fun with you. Thank you in advance for the entertainment!

Also, you might want to contact Abby in the lab; she's great with oil splatter analysis!

THANK YOU dmax

Yes I always park my car there.

I did check under the hood there is no sign of oil leak there, but I do think the front could be the output shaft seal.

The rear like you mention is the differential, but it's leaking less there than the front.

Roughly what can I except to get it repaired from the Dealer or an Indy Shop?

I know I could have searched, but the better result came from all you funny people

Originally Posted by KH0

THANK YOU dmax

Yes I always park my car there.

I did check under the hood there is no sign of oil leak there, but I do think the front could be the output shaft seal.

The rear like you mention is the differential, but it's leaking less there than the front.

Roughly what can I except to get it repaired from the Dealer or an Indy Shop?

I know I could have searched, but the better result came from all you funny people

It's probably not the output shaft seal. And, if it is, I'm sure it's a very slow leak.

Clean up the bottom and drive. Then look with a good flashlight, like my favorite, the xl50!

Seriously, we don't know where the leak(s) are from and thus can't guess what it would cost...but it'd be a good deal more than what you could fix it for. Truth is, once you identify source of leak, you might not 'need' to do anything.

But, to give you an example, a post just today came in...the guy was quoted almost a $1000 for oil filter housing (maybe the gasket only)...still, that's $600 for what you could do in a couple of hours....first diy, maybe 4-5 hours worst case.

CCV is a horrible 4 hour diy too, but everyone here seems to manage it.

Oil filter cap is a 5 minute repair and that could be all it is...the 0-ring in the wrong place, or by mistake, doubled up.

We not that magical here...we don't know the source and thus can't guess a cost...though I would guess it's not what you think. Don't forget, oil drips down and then blows back. It could be from anywhere, really.

I am no stranger to DIY, it's just I haven't done any work underneath the car. It's going to be more harder considering the winter is almost here.

I will investigated more and keep you posted.

Hope it's not a expensive repair.

Wish me luck.

Thanks Again dmax

Hello All,

I took it to Midas for inspection, and it was a leak from:

Transmission Tail Seal & Differential

They told me they cannot work on a BMW as it is a specialty vehicle

What place in Canada should I look for to do the repairs? (Mister Transmission)

What can I except to pay to get it repaired?

Thank You.

Mister Transmission Quote:
Transmission Output Shaft Seal
$150 Labor + $43 Seal + BMW SAE 75W-80 MTF-LT-2 1 Liter Synthetic Transmission Fluid $38.80 + TAX = $261.93

Differential Driver Side Seal (MINOR)
$200 - $300 Labor + Parts + Fluid + TAX = CURRENTLY UNKNOWN

Finally I have some pictures taken from iPhone mounted on a block of wood.

Transmission Output Shaft Seal


Differential Driver Side Seal

You don't have an oil leak. The neighbors dog is taking a dump in your driveway. Ask them to change his diet, and it should clear up.

Originally Posted by MJLavelle

You don't have an oil leak. The neighbors dog is taking a dump in your driveway. Ask them to change his diet, and it should clear up.

Yeah Your Funny

Want A Cookie

cheapest way to get rid of oil-leak: put 2 pieces of thick cardboard in said-spots on driveway. remove & replace every few weeks. problem solved.

Originally Posted by KH0

Mister Transmission Quote:
Transmission Output Shaft Seal
$150 Labor + $43 Seal + BMW SAE 75W-80 MTF-LT-2 1 Liter Synthetic Transmission Fluid $38.80 + TAX = $261.93

Differential Driver Side Seal (MINOR)
$200 - $300 Labor + Parts + Fluid + TAX = CURRENTLY UNKNOWN

Finally I have some pictures taken from iPhone mounted on a block of wood.

Transmission Output Shaft Seal


Differential Driver Side Seal

did your service engine light turn on and did you noticed smoke and smelled something burning in your car?

Originally Posted by tirador33

did your service engine light turn on and did you noticed smoke and smelled something burning in your car?

no & no.

Hi, guys.... I'm new on here and to 46 ownership (usually rocking e30's).

Have a oil leak causing smoking and want to ask what ccv and vcg stand for that Dmax mentioned in the first reply??

Tia.

Bump, please answer the above question for the newbie???

??

?????,

The CCV is the Crankcase Ventilation Valve. But that is not exactly a correct name, since it is not just the valve that causes issues, but all of the hoses as well. So it is the Crankcase Ventilation System - the valve, and all of the extra hoses associated with it. You may know this as the PCV valve, except BMW has developed a much more complicated version of that $8 valve, and the $2 hose connected to it. The BMW system compares to a PCV system like a paper airplane compares to a B2 Bomber. It is infinitely more complex and expensive.

The VCG is the Valve Cover Gasket. This is the gasket that fits between the large plastic cover on your engine, and the engine block. On my old 68 Firebird, the previous owner had made a set of VCG's out of cardboard, and they lasted for 60k miles. You can not do that on a BMW. It is a $40-$60 gasket, and 15 grommets that are about $.60 each, if you buy them online.

Now, I suggest you read a lot more, and avoid threads where people ask about stains on their driveway as a way to find an oil leak. For all we know, one of those spots was where the neighbors dog took a dump.