This is on my BFFs brand new F55S. She thought she'd spilled something on the car somehow and asked me to take a look when she was over. I noticed she had the same "spill" in the exact same places on both sides of the car so figured it was not that.
Anyway when you lift the hood, there is a place at each corner and this mess seems to be dripping from it. I figured it out when I pressed on the hood a bit and created more drip! Needless to say it's made a mess out of her trim and I'm thinking it will be a pain to get off.
When I thought about it I realized my R56 had grease dark spots in the same place and I always thought it had to do with me dripping the liquid wax or something when I was detailing. But mine were nowhere near the extent of this.

 

I wonder if that is cosmoline residue that has "bled"?

 

That's cosmoline. Odd, since I recall BMW saying some years ago they stopped using cosmoline. Mine's still doing it a bit after 5mos. And hot days seem to make it leak more.

 

I was thinking it is cosmoline as well. I have a bottle of cosmonot so will offer that to her to try.

 

My f56 had the same thing when I got it about a year and a half ago. I used some of the plastic cleaner to clean the plastic and with regular washing it goes away. It is annoying and idk where it came from but it only happened when I first got it and hasn't happened since. No problems or anything with my car other than that!

 

I also had this. Washing and some Back to Black took care of it.

 

They should quit it with that crap! I never had any but a lot of people have. It's a PIA.

 

+1 cosmoline residue , A couple washes underneath the hood and you should get most of it.

 

I don't get it. Cosmoline is a protectant for ferrous metals and other unprotected items. What the heck are they putting it on under the hood? What isn't plastic under there is mostly aluminum except for the fasteners!

 

Sea transport protect the bolts , hinges , and stuff, they been using it for years. I guess extra protection.

I cleaned most of it off my R52 and my R58 , the R58 had a bunch more then the R52 did new.

Good info here at the VDC port where they used to coat the car, think they just do section and underbody now.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...on-center.html