Front engine oil leak 2004 325i

[Dervi325i]

Just quick question on this, haven't.taken anything apart have a slow oil leak that probably make my oil light on after almost 2 weeks, its a 2004 BMW 325I with 130k on it, the leaks definately from the front just wanted to know a common leak, when I took it to the shop.....(non bmw shop) they said POSSIBLY front seal or oil pan or possibly both, but does look higer than the oil pan from where the leak is! Need some tips

[slowlanemcvane]

Most likely culprits are the VANOS line and (more likely) the oil filter housing gasket seal.

[Dervi325i]

What is the vanos line?

[slowlanemcvane]

It's the oil supply line for the solenoid that controls the variable valve timing system (VANOS, in BMW terms) on your engine.

[slowlanemcvane]

This photo shows the two ends of the VANOS oil supply line. On the left, you see the point where it mounts to the VANOS unit. On the right, the line snakes down under the intake manifold and mounts just behind the oil filter housing (yellow arrow). As you can see, the oil line has been leaking and is wet with oil.

[hooRAH]

Yep. Oil filter housing gasket.

[Martin 03 325i]

Yep is either vanos line, ps line, vcg, or ofhg..so start the process of elimination

[Dervi325i]

Dam best help I have ever had, I'm new to this forum but not new to forums! I'm definately gonna get up under there clean everythin up and go from there! Probably jus do both and eliminate all together! Anyone kno a good place to get these parts other than the dealer?

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[pghpsu]

Im in the same boat as you.

DIY here:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=659100

Its only a $6 part so you can find it anywhere.

[slowlanemcvane]

I used ECSTuning to get the part when I did mine. I think it was $4 plus shipping when I bought it. It's 90% likely that you actually have two leaks, one from the oil filter housing and the other from your power steering line. Most E46s (or anything equipped with an M54, since my wife's X5 has the same leaks) have these sorts of little leak issues.

[hulax145]

Just had the same thing happen to my 330. Started noticing a small oil leak and the need to top oil off by 1/2 quart every couple of weeks.

Review this thread:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=882732

Mine was the filter housing gasket; take your airbox out and look down behind the alternator for signs of leakage on the engine where the metal is 'waffled' in pattern. Not a bad fix.

[Dervi325i]

Man you guys were dead on, when I started taking everything apart saw where all the fresh oil was coming from, but no more leaks for sure

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[slowlanemcvane]

Good job buddy. Glad to help!

[ryansser]

Im in the same boat as y'all i think as well. I took my pan off to do my control arms this weekend and it was wet and so was the underside of the engine. Wasnt hitting the driveway yet, and i was out of time, or I would have inspected further to find the exact culprit. Im due for an oil change and will delve in more deeply at that time. i wish it was leaking when i inspected the underside of the car before i bought it 2 months ago. Just my luck!

[Dervi325i]

I also get 1 more problem I like to fix, I was gonna start another thread but might as well as here! CHECK ENGINE LIGHT has been on, the code that came up is possibly a bad o2 sensor! But which one?? That's the crazy thing I'm running into cause from what I was told it has 4 of them

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[slowlanemcvane]

Depends on what the code reads. What you need to do is get the actual code and figure out what sensor it is from that (Bank 1 sensor 1, Bank 1 sensor 2, Bank 2 sensor 1, bank 2 sensor 2).

You are correct that there are four sensors on these cars (2 pre-cat, 2 post-cat). If you're getting a bad sensor indication and you determine that it is, in fact, a bad sensor then the best plan is to replace it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, gentlemen, but sensor 1 (regardless of bank) is pre-cat, and sensor 2 is post-cat. And Bank 1 should be cylinders 1-2-3 (from the front of the engine) and bank 2 should be cylinders 4-5-6.

I prefer to replace all four at a time. Gets a little expensive, but it's pretty affordable if you're a careful shopper. I think I spent about 200 and change for all four of mine right after I bought my car.

[Dervi325i]

Ok where can I find the o2 sensors for a pretty good price? Ican replace all four but when I priced em they were like almost $180 a peice

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[slowlanemcvane]

Check Amazon.com. I know it sounds funny, but I bought mine there and they were right around 55-60 a piece if I remember correctly. Bosch is the ones that I bought, given me 20,000 trouble-free miles.

[Dervi325i]

Do all the sensors pretty much car the same part number? Pretty much sayin is Sensor 1 jus the same exact sensor as the rest of em?

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[slowlanemcvane]

Nope. The Sensor 1 O2 sensors (regardless of bank) are the same part number. Bosch calls them 13477. The Sensor 2 O2 sensors (regardless of bank) are the same part number. Bosch calls them 15109. Need 2 of the 13477 and 2 of the 15109 to do all 4. Amazon currently has the 13477s on sale for $44 each. And they also have the 15109 available for $39.99. Smokin deals, if you ask me.

[ska11153]

Regarding the oil leaks. I have a leak, same kind of thing, maybe about 2k miles after an oil change I'm getting the oil light. I took it in and my mechanic told me the leak is coming from the Oil Filter Adapter Housing to the block and that the gasket there is blown. Is this the same gasket that you guys are referring to?? He told me you have to take the whole side of the engine apart and it's an all day job. Any insight or short cuts would be helpful.

[danewilson77]

Samne gasket. Did you have him show you the leak?

It's about a 3 hour job, and a $4 part. Eff your mechanic. Sorry...

You will need to pull alternator, and unbolt PS reservoir (no need to drain of disconnect any lines though. Obvious oil drain will be completed prior to OFHG and assembly removal.

[slowlanemcvane]

What Dane said. It's a little time consuming but a very straightforward job. When I did mine I knew about the leak for a while, but I was content with adding a quart every 3,000 miles. Did it at my next scheduled oil change, just so I would have a "big enough reason" to buy a new filter and oil. There are plenty of DIYs out there for this job. So just look one up, buy the part from a reliable vendor (I got mine from ECS), and get cracking. You'll be happy you did it yourself rather than paying a monkey in a garage to waste your time and money. Good luck, bud.

[Dervi325i]

Nope. The Sensor 1 O2 sensors (regardless of bank) are the same part number. Bosch calls them 13477. The Sensor 2 O2 sensors (regardless of bank) are the same part number. Bosch calls them 15109. Need 2 of the 13477 and 2 of the 15109 to do all 4. Amazon currently has the 13477s on sale for $44 each. And they also have the 15109 available for $39.99. Smokin deals, if you ask me.

SO i got these in and i dont know why i didn look at the connectors before i took the o2 sensor out, but the 13477 is a short kinda looking style, and the 15109 is long, BUT i was doing the pre cats and the 15109 was had the long wire, but looks like its meant for the post cats, and the 13477 are short, but neither on of em look like they will fit the pre cats cause the connectors look like the post cats kind

all the sensors i purchased have 4 wires inside, they are 2 white, grey AND BLACK, but the pre cats that i need to change have 5, a red, yellow, black grey and white, im confused

[nathancarter]

Late to the thread, sorry.

13477 might not be right for your car. At least for the 330i, the O2 sensors were revised in production date 03/2003 - it's likely the same for the 325i. I don't know the Bosch part number for the later ones.

Exactly what codes were you getting that caused you to suspect the O2 sensors? Often, lean-condition and rich-condition codes are misdiagnosed as O2 sensor failures - when actually, the O2 sensors are working as intended, and reporting a problem with fuel or air delivery.