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I recently bought a 2011 Cooper S with the N18 engine. I spent some time trying to check the car for leaks and I couldn't find any apart from the place that you can see marked in the picture below (the picture shows the spot that is now clean):
The oil is not dripping on the floor. It just accumulates a little bit there. I cleaned it with a rag and so far I haven't seen any yet but I haven't drive the car much.
What is causing this and what am I looking at in terms of repair?
That said, it's just a guess from an Internet picture.
Cheers!
Dan
Ok thanks. I didn't know this big part was called the oil cooler.
I moved to another country and I'm trying to find a mechanic that can take care of the car from now on.
If oil is actually dripping from those two weep holes, your rear main seal is leaking. That joint circled in your picture is the mating surfaces between the engine block and the transmission.
You likely won’t notice any dripping unless you drive the car. But, since you have it clean, drive the car a little bit, and check it again to see if it is actually coming from those holes.
If it were leaking from the oil cooler/filter joint, you would see oil dripping around the outside of the casing at that spot. The oil cooler/filter is up the side of the block next to the turbo.
If oil is actually dripping from those two weep holes, your rear main seal is leaking. That joint circled in your picture is the mating surfaces between the engine block and the transmission.
You likely won’t notice any dripping unless you drive the car. But, since you have it clean, drive the car a little bit, and check it again to see if it is actually coming from those holes.
If it were leaking from the oil cooler/filter joint, you would see oil dripping around the outside of the casing at that spot. The oil cooler/filter is up the side of the block next to the turbo.
Ok that makes sense. Before cleaning it I took a look and the oil is coming from the place marked in blue. There wasn’t any other oil running from the top into that spot.
So to my understanding this is something that needs to be taken to the dealer and considering the place of it a lot of disassemble is required and will probably cost me a fortune no?
Figure about $1000-1500, since the transmission needs to be removed to access the main seal. One of those things where it makes sense to replace the clutch, since you’re in there. I would keep an eye on it for a little while to try and see how bad it might actually be. Take a drive to the store, and check it again. Park over a drip pan to see how much oil is actually dripping out. If it’s a small amount, and doesn’t seem to be getting worse, then you might be able to let it go for some time. Don’t ignore it, but also don’t think you have to rush out to get it fixed.
Figure about $1000-1500, since the transmission needs to be removed to access the main seal. One of those things where it makes sense to replace the clutch, since you’re in there. I would keep an eye on it for a little while to try and see how bad it might actually be. Take a drive to the store, and check it again. Park over a drip pan to see how much oil is actually dripping out. If it’s a small amount, and doesn’t seem to be getting worse, then you might be able to let it go for some time. Don’t ignore it, but also don’t think you have to rush out to get it fixed.
This car is 127k KM now and apparently (according to the previous owner) it got a new clutch at 91k. I wonder if the service was not properly done and now it has a leak.
Before he delivered the car to me he drove around 80 km's to reach my place and I could only see a very small amount of oil "pooled" in that place. I cleaned it with a napkin and so far it's been clean but I only moved the car around in the garage so no serious driving at all.
The car seems ok overall and according to the onboard computer everything is up to date. I just wonder if people can trick it and skip the main service somehow. I would like to be able to check if all the major service it needed so far was done but from 90k-127k it was done outside of official BMW garages.
It’s possible they did the clutch job, and passed on the main seal. Or, they did the clutch and main seal, and either didn’t clean it up after or botched the seal installation.
Like I said, just keep an eye on it. If it stays clean, just motor on!
The oil cooler leak is common as is a leaking turbo oil line. Both are located on the engine block in front. So easiest way is to remove the bumper cover, bumper, radiator/fan, and the downpipe/cat. assy. Nothing is really difficult about this but it's a fair amount of work. The usual symptom is oil pooling under the front of the engine as well as smoke/smell from oil dripping down onto the exhaust pipe.
What you're showing, however, is the junction between the engine and the clutch housing and your oil, if coming from the weep holes, is likely from the engine rear seal or possibly from the transmission input shaft seal. Either way, a much larger job.
