Oil Leak Game - where is it coming from ! Please play.

[DomE39]

Hi all

First post - please all advise where you think this leak is coming from? It isn’t fast but noticeable - maybe a small coin drip or two after a day of sitting.

Previous owner mentioned it may need a new rocker cover (hairline crack) and maybe a new sump gasket.

From the location it seems as though it is coming from the rear main seal or the transfer case (is there a seal there too?).

I have had a read of other posts - some folks are saying it may be from somewhere completely different.

Anyway thanks in advance.

https://ibb.co/TWr807G
https://ibb.co/xXyhcf4

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Please play? Screw the game, why don’t you clean the game board, run the car, park it and get investigating as to where the leak is coming from.

[ross1]

This is like asking us to guess what you had for dinner.
These engines leak when old, from various places. A bit of searching will give you all the usual suspects but at the end of the day somebody will need to actually look around and probably get dirty.
If the engine is a mess you may need to clean in first as the drips will travel about and where they drop from doesn't always indicate the source.

[jclausen]

It looks super clean what leak the big three valve cover, oil filter housing gasket and oil pan gasket, then power steering

[JimLev]

Your sig says 2004 E39 530, typo or are you on the wrong forum? Do you have an E60?
It’s a BMW, they leak from every place possible.
https://repairpal.com/2004-bmw-530i/problems

[Phenoxs]

IMO this looks like it’s coming from the rear main seal, now this is an assumption from the given pics.

The pics only illustrates the bottom of the car. So I’d check the top parts with a flashlight to verify the leak isn’t seeping from above.

If it’s not leaking from the top portion, then my next assumption would be the rear main seal.

Hope this helps, good luck.


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[pleiades]

Be sure to check the valve cover gasket, especially along the rear right edge of the cover. Many of the sixes leak from that area if the gasket is old or was improperly replaced, and the oil will follow the gap downward between the trans bell housing and engine block, collecting in the spot shown.

[AusE39er]

I would put $2 on valve cover gasket given where that build up is.

[jclausen]

I don’t think I have ever had to replace a rear main seal in all the years working with bmws, so inspect carefully

[Chedley]

Valve covers and oil pan gaskets...

[DomE39]

Your sig says 2004 E39 530, typo or are you on the wrong forum? Do you have an E60?
It’s a BMW, they leak from every place possible.
https://repairpal.com/2004-bmw-530i/problems

Thanks - typo! 2002 E39 530!

Cheers for the link.

- - - Updated - - -

Cheers for all the replies - I am in the process of replacing the valve cover gasket / oil pan gasket. It seems as though there is a hairline crack in the valve cover itself so will replace that too.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

They did make 2004 E39 wagons for a half a year or so since that moron Bangle couldn’t figure out how to incorporate the ugly Bangle butt into the E60 wagon...