Hi everyone,

I've been lurking for a while, but today I could really use an understanding community.

Just took my 2006 JCW in for inspection. 57,000 miles. Apart from the usual and needing new tires (which I expected), they called me not long ago to tell me they found some "significant" leaks around my rear main seal, oil pan gasket, and water pump. The final tally isn't in yet, but you really don't want to know the prices they quoted me.

I'll see how much an independent shop quotes me.

In any case, major bummer.

 

You need to clean the engine thoroughly, then periodically look to see if you can determine the source of the leak. Likely sources of an oil leak are crank position sensor, valve cover, and oil pan, in that order. Only after ruling out - or fixing - those would I look at the rear main. Loss of coolant from a leaking o-ring between the water pump and block is a separate, and possible, issue.

 

That's a fantastic idea. Thank you.

 

Almost every Mini engine I have worked on has had an oil leak from the O-ring on the crankshaft position sensor. As suggested above you should start by cleaning the engine thoroughly and replace the crankshaft sensor O- ring and then evaluate the other engine oil leaks.

 

#1 I would have them show you the "significant leak" and see if it is that bad.

#2 then I would clean it all off and see how long it takes for it to leak again that way you can determine how bad and what exactly is leaking.

 

+1. This is a pretty simple fix if you do it right. See here for detailed discussion.
Definitely look outside the dealer for more reasonable labor rates.

 

That's definitely my plan. Picking it up today and going to have them explain to me why they think that's where it's leaking. I try to keep the engine pretty clean, but I'll go over it again this weekend and keep an eye on it. I've known the dealership to be wrong about things on occasion.

I was mostly just shocked at the quote they gave me. Around $7000 for what amounts to at most $500 in parts. I know the job is a PITA, since you have to pull the front end and drop the transmission, but wow. I think I'm in the wrong line of work.

 

Excessive quotation. You need to sent the car to my friend's BMW shop
$1500.00 tops and probably less.

 

So I had the tech walk me through what he saw. Clutch dust mixed with oil near the inspection hole points to a rear main seal leak. Water/coolant mixed with oil near the front indicates water pump and oil pan gasket leak.

I'm still going to check it out myself after cleaning everything up, of course.

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

 

Make sure the coolant isn't coming from the thermostat - it's a known issue, and costs $30-35 and an hour or so.
I'd do the CAS and thermostat, clean it up and go from there.
Even if the rear main is seeping, unless that is THE culprit, I wouldn't spend several grand to stop a small oil leak.