I just had my Mini up on lift for a front wheel alignment and the mechanic pointed out that the underside of the engine looked wet with what looked like oil?

Last week, I put a piece of cardboard under the front end (I do it every so often to be on the safe side) and the next morning when I pulled it out, it was spotless.

I've checked all fluids and everything is fine. Any ideas?

 

Common issue. It seeps while driving, not dripping so no signs are typically left on the floor.

If you go to the "stock problems/issues" section of 1st Generation, there are plenty of posts on this topic.

 

What seeps while driving? Engine oil? Trans fluid? Power steering fluid? What?

 

Engine oil....oil pan gasket and crank sensor seal.

Other leaks at back near PS pump cooling fan is typically from Power steering fluid line.

 

I've checked all fluid levels and everything looks good.

So if I keep on top of my levels, is this something to worry about? Should I head to the service center ASAP? Or can I wait until the next scheduled maintenance?

 

My suggestion....
Wash the underside of the car off...usually a self service carwwsh ...just aim the hose under the car...drive for a couple of days or even a few miles...then the spotb of the leak will be more identifiable....a PS system leak or tranny leak would need yo be fixed asap...engine oil can usually wait a bit...
A slow leak can usually just be monitored...keep an eye on the leaking fluids level...and replacement put off till a second job is done that saves you some time and $$ by combining them....or the leak simply gets bad enough..I needs to be done.
Just a reminder....when the leak stops... You are out of the leaking fluid...a VERY BAD THING.
I I suggest you DO NOT TRY stopleak in a bottle...
The stuff has a mix of chemicals that swells seals and gaskets...all of them... And when present...they swell...but after they are depleted, or the oil changed, they shrink... And the seals (all of them) get smaller...and new leaks can start...and old leaks get WORSE. the crap is like crack in a bottle for your motor...you slowly need to use more and more to get the same effect and cannot stop......

 

Waiting too long on the oil pan gasket will just cost you more money in the long run.

From what I have seen, the cooling fan for the powersteering pump gets gunked up from this seepage of oil making moving fan parts suseptable to the accumulation of dirt/sand and other debris. When the fan seizes blowing the 5am fuse, the pump is no longer properly cooled eventually the rather expensive PS pump can/will fail.

If you replace the oil pan gasket, be sure to also order the bolts for this job. BMW's parts ordering system has these down as "ordering in conjunction with" the first generation oil pan gaskets. Although I have not seen an actual bulletin on this yet......

Here are the bolt part no's:

07-13-1-500-896 SCREW WITH Flange x11 @ 1.68 ea.
07-13-1-500-897 SCREW WITH Flange x1 @ 4.16 ea.
07-13-1-500-898 SCREW WITH Flange x1 @ 4.35 ea.

 

Thanks. I'll try to make it to the service center in the next week or so.