Ok, so I swapped to Redline 5w-30 two weeks ago, all went well, no leaks etc. My 2005 R53 was happy.

However, I get home today to find a small puddle of oil right near my passenger side wheel.

I originally thought the oil filter housing, or the oil plug.... not the case all is well. I investiate further, and find oil appears to be leaking out from an area under the passenger side motor mount area, I can't get a good view based on the angle. I am concerned as you would expect.

The area I speak of is basically this: if your looking into the engine bay, on the left side is one of the motor mounts, it appears to be coming from th underside of this area, right along the valve cover line.

Also, I am hoping someone will confirm whether the factory warranty will cover this?

Any thoughts out there? See attached picture.

 

Very common problem with '05-'06 Minis. The brown stuff is actually hydraulic fluid from the failed motor mount. I went through 3 of them in the first 25K. They've since replaced it with a better part, although it looks like the original sucky ones. I haven't had problems with mine since the 3rd replacement...2 years/20k ago.

 

Nate. Your RF engine mount let go leaked out All the hydraulic fluid. If your under warranty. Bring it to the dealer,if not have your local shop or you take car of it.




Guido minitech

 

That has nothing to do with your choice of engine oil. What that picture shows is the hydraulic motor mount leaking. A very common problem with the 05-06 MCS. If you are still under warranty get to the shop & have them fix it.

 

Hot damn... I was really freaking out here. The last motor mounts I replaced were years ago that were solid rubber, I actually didn't know they had fluid in them... you learn something everyday :-)

Thank you guys for all your help. I really appreciate it.

 

of cleaning up the oil....

And here's the bad news. It will happen again. This is a part that sucks.

Matt

 

This is going to sound really ignorant, but I'm just curious, because I've not had one go out yet...

What happens if you just *don't* replace it? There have been some people that had them broken for a lonnnng time before fixing them. What is negatively affected?

 

Typically lost power on launch from sloppy mounts.

 

I have had this same mount on a 6/04 build leak (it was original). For anyone else potentially reading this, don't rule it out if your Mini is not an 05/06, as this may be on some 04's as well.

 

that looks like rubber, fails as well, just not as fast.

Matt

 

anyone have a pic of what the older rubber one looks like? I have an 03 that had repair done and I wanna compare what they put in vs what is supposed to be there.

 

You can sometimes get clanking/clacking noises from the now-empty mount under certain conditions (turning while accelerating from a stop, for instance).

 

The hydraulic fluid may eat your paint as well. My sister's '06 MCS had this problem, and the dealer fixed it (paint and all) under warranty.