My 2009 JCW has developed an oil leak with oil accumulating and dripping from the lower A arm. The oil ends up on the ground just inside the right front tire.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

 

All I can think of is the right rear gasket on the oil pan. Is it towards the front side of the engine or back further on the A arm ? Do you have a pic and have you looked at the engine from the side underneath ?

 

Took the car to my mechanic and he diagnosed the oil leak as coming from the timing chain tensioner bolt, which had begun to back out. He phoned Mini and confirmed the "campaign" for replacement of this tensioner.
After Mini finished with my car they had replaced the tensioner, the chain, some rails that had broken and pieces ended up in the oil pan (dropped the pan to clean it out), the front crank seal (suspected of leaking), new oil and filter. All covered by the campaign.
I was lucky that the engine started to leak as it hadn't yet started making the rattling noise that indicates timing chain issues.
BTW. If you live in Houston, F2 is a very knowledgable and honest service center. They have been doing service on my Minis and BMW's for years and I have never been disappointed (I am not easy to please).

 

I have the same leak. 09 Clubman S. Car is out of factory warranty. Called MINI of North Scottsdale, my service adviser checked my VIN with MINIUSA & I am covered by a "recall". Car goes in first thing tomorrow.

 

I also have a leak that seems to favor the passenger side of the engine but I'm pretty sure mine is starting at the valve cover and working its way down the engine. There is an obvious ring of oil coming from under my valve cover. I'm planning on doing a DIY gasket change to see if that resolves the issue, if not I may replace the gasket and valve cover.

You may want to check yours also, it's a relatively common issue.

 

I do have a very slight leak from the valve cover gasket. I need to get around to fixing it.

 

Any idea which recall this is covered by? I seem to have a similar leak.

 

This was covered by the timing chain tensioner recall (campaign). The tensioner mounting bolt had backed out, which is the cause of the leak. I was lucky that the leak caused me to take action. The timing chain was rattling against the guard (actually broke off a piece of the guard, which ended up in the oil pan). New chain, tensioner, guard, oil pan gasket.
Stan