New 135 Owner, New league of problems. . .

[nj135i08723]

I've had my 2008 135i for about 9 months now but certainly have driven it more than most (got it with 36k, now has 53k) and after doing the plugs and oil changes myself (50k and 46k respectively), I'm running into my first repair situation.

I have what I think is a BIG (half a quart in about 3 weeks after topping off after noticing I was down a quart) oil leak somewhere and I cannot figure out what it is. After putting the car on the lift at my godfathers' shop who deals mostly in domestics, it looks to be a rear main because there is a lot of oil back there but also a ton of oil under the belts near the sway bar. The Pan itself is dry.

WTF?? could I really have a rear main issue at 53K miles doing what BMW recommends for maintenece? if so what does this cost and could it be a less severe problem that's more common? I know there is a different school, of thought between foreign and domestics, so please help a newcomer to this community out. I really don't wanna shell out thousands on a car I just bought or put a "for sale" sign on it. I love the thing.

[amsnow440]

Did you check the valve cover gasket?

[nj135i08723]

I did not. is it that hard to get to? how much more work is there than getting to the plugs?

[amsnow440]

You have to first take the cowl off and then it's four bolts to remove the engine cover. You should be able to tell by then.

Cobb has a nice DIY video on changing the plugs which shows the engine cover removal:

Valve cover gasket DIY:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=775317

[Stvee]

Make sure to check the valve cover itself for cracks while you have the engine cover off. Fairly common issue on our shitty plastic valve covers.

[nj135i08723]

thank you for your input guys!! it turned out to be the oil filter housing gasket. not a drop now!! Sorry for the delayed response

[ShocknAwe]

oil filter housing gasket and you had oil down by the rear main? That explains the wet belts, but I'd check on that rear main again in a little while.

[nj135i08723]

it was actually dripping into a crevase on the bottom of the engine and runnng to the back and down.

[RsPhi]

I would check the oil filter housing first, When those leak the oil goes all over the place. When you're driving the oil gets all over the back of the engine and transmission, that's probably why you see oil coming from the rear main seal.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

oil filter housing gasket and you had oil down by the rear main? That explains the wet belts, but I'd check on that rear main again in a little while.

Go look at any older BMW with a M54(which is largely the basis for the N54/55), the oil filter housing gasket leak distributes oil on that entire side of the engine.

[edisapimp]

Glad this worked out to be an easy fix!

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Go look at any older BMW with a M54(which is largely the basis for the N54/55), the oil filter housing gasket leak distributes oil on that entire side of the engine.

Was tinkering a little today and when I was in there I looked around. I see how it would now. Interesting.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Was tinkering a little today and when I was in there I looked around. I see how it would now. Interesting.

The even more interesting part is that the S54 does not have this issue despite using the same gasket as the M54 and being based loosely on the M54.