Just starting finding small drops of motor oil under the car, close to the front, right side.

I know someone will know what's leaking, unless it's common for these cars to leak from various places.

2004 R53 167K

 

i think the most common place to leak oil on the r53 is the crank position sensor

or the oil pan gasket

 

Are you sure it was motor oil? The leak could be from the motor mount. Check that.

 

I agree with SaltySalt. It's common, and if it's on the front right, it will be crank position sensor. If it's on the front left, it will be harmonic balancer/crank shaft seal.

 

Agreed with possibilities ... crank position sensor and motor mount.



Motor on!

 

The engine mount is the most common to leak near the right front.

The crank sensor seal is at the front of the car and middle so I wouldn't consider that to leak near the rt front.

 

I hope it's option 2.....option 1 looks like it might be a pain in the rumpski to change.

 

Actually, no, I'm not sure. It's oil, and it's blackish.....

 

actually option 1 is very easy and super DIY, the motor mount oil is a thicker black, and if you pop the hood, youll see it spread all over the crash bar next to the mount

 

I agree with suggestions that it is probably the engine mount (thick black goo) or the crankshaft position sensor seal (normal oil).
Here is diagram of what the engine mount (#3) on passenger side looks like:

Here is diagram of where the crank position sensor (#8) is located:

 

Funny, this stuff doesn't SMELL like motor oil, but it has the FEEL of motor oil.

Does anybody know what the motor mount oil SMELLS like?

 

Btw, the car isn't home or I wouldn't ask.

 

Motor mount looks great. Must be the seal.

 

Clean the engine well and then look for the leak. Many people (including Mini Techs) have changed the oil pan gasket trying to resolve an oil leak when the leak was actually coming from the crank position sensor.

 

I see no oil anywhere by looking in the engine from the top.

I do see a bit of oil in one of the bolts behind the coil..

 

Where can we get access to those exploded diagrams?

 

www.realoem.com

 

I had my 03 leak at the seal between the engine block and the oil filter holder(can't think of the correct word to use)

 

Check the oil filter housing and cooler. Sometimes leaks from the oil cooler attached to the filter housing can appear to be more like oil than coolant by the time it reaches the garage floor.