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Stock Problems/IssuesDiscussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Clubman (R55), Cooper and Cooper S(R56), and Cabrio (R57).
Most likely the oil seal. The vibration damper can be removed (and will NOT affect timing) for a better look at it, without loosening the main crank bolt (which WILL affect timing).
Take a look at items 13 and 15 in the attached chart, one may have worked loose. Then there's the valve cover gasket. Might have to support the engine and remove the engine mount to find the leak.
If your "small pastils" is the freeze plug looking thing, it should be replaceable. Pretty sure I've seen threads here that described oil leaks from that plug --- bad seal, not perforated. Might be able to get at it by just pulling the vibration damper. Be sure to get a replacement before punching out the old one.
Yeah, this was difficult to isolate and identify. The leak persisted after replacing O-rings for timing chain track bolts. A remedy for me was to remove the paint and apply JB Weld Extreme Heat over the entire faces of both detent plugs. I don't ever imagine needing to access anything behind these ports. Difficult camera angle and focus, but one of the 2 caps is shown covered with JB Weld