I looked at a 2005 MCS today that I'm considering buying. When I popped the hood to look around, I noticed what appeared to be some oil pooled below the oil dipstick. I could see it when I looked straight down from above the dipstick, and it appears to be pooled on the plastic "tray" under the engine. Any idea what this might be? If I decide to move forward on the car I will probably have a Mini dealer give it a look, but thought I would ask here too.

 

Could be black goo leaking out of the passenger side engine mount. That is a common problem with the 05 and 06 MCS. The engine mount is a metal canister near the passenger wheel well. Look around the bottom of it have black goo everywhere. If the engine mount is leaking it is usually easy to see.

If not the engine mount there are various places that could be leaking oil. The oil pans are a common oil leak area.

 

Is it something I should be concerned about/treat as a deal breaker?

 

Assuming that it is the passenger side engine mount, should not be a deal breaker. Part is $125 or thereabouts, relatively easy DIY to replace.

 

Is the engine really clean....it might have been washed down to make it look better or hide a leak....
touch the goo....see if it is the engine mount oil....or maybe engine oil...could be a leaking valve cover gasket....oils are different...

 

It is 90% the mount I bet...
About $90 for the part...plus an hour labour(min charge).

Isoproprol (rubbing) alchool will clean up the goo....

 

As others are saying, if it is the engine mount it is no big deal.
However, if it is an oil leak that can be much more expensive to fix due to the amount of labor it requires to correct most of the common oil leaks on a Mini. Even a valve cover leak, that is about the easiest oil leak to fit (replace $80 gasket), costs about $400+ at a dealership. An oil pan gasket is about $800 to replace at a dealership.

 

What should I expect to pay to take it to a Mini dealer for an inspection?

 

I would guess about an hour of labor, so about $125 depending on the shops hourly rate.

 

That's about what I expected. As such, you can imagine my shock when Mini of Manhattan (NYC) quoted me a whopping $400 for an inspection. They'd "check the fluids and tires" for a mere $180...what a sweet deal!!

 

Any easy way for me to tell if I'm looking at it on the dealer's lot?

 

$400 sounds like an "Inspection I" which first occurs at 30K miles

 

Who knows. I told them I wanted a pre-buy inspection, and that's what they quoted me. I guess that's just the NYC markup.

 

If the mount leaked and has not been replaced or the fliud cleaned up, it should be easy to spot from the engine compartment. The mount is on the passenger side of the engine near the wheel well.
Here is a NAM post with a picture of the engine mount and the black fluid that leaked out:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...yone-else.html
Here is a NAM thread on the issue:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ount-leak.html

If you can reach the fluid at the car dealer, stick your finger in the fluid to see what if feels like. Is it just oil or more thick/goo including mount fluid? If oil try to pin-point where it is coming from but it will probably be hard to tell.