335i Oil leaks - not valve cover

tilua · 12-17-2015, 12:34 PM

Ok so I have about 105K miles on the car and recently replaced the valve cover gasket thinking that is where the leak is coming from. Also, I had the oil filter housing gasket replaced about 35K miles ago.

What is a possible leaking point that I should be looking at? Below are some of the picture of the underside of the engine. THere seems to be 2 separate area with oil leaks.

Please help

BeastMode335i · 12-17-2015, 12:53 PM

That's a pretty serious leak..

I'd guess it's an oil pan gasket...

ucdbiendog · 12-17-2015, 11:01 PM

did you also replace the valve cover? that has been known to crack as well. where is the leak starting from?

tilua · 12-18-2015, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucdbiendog

did you also replace the valve cover? that has been known to crack as well. where is the leak starting from?

I just replaced the valve cover gasket 2 weeks ago. The oil filter housing was almost 40K miles ago.

It does seem that oil is puddling around the oil pan gasket though. I just ordered the oil pan gasket to replace this weekend. We'll see. :-/

lichtgelb · 12-18-2015, 08:45 AM

Looks like the oil pan. You need the bolts too. There is a different set of bolts depending on whether you have an auto or manual transmission. When the oil pan gasket leaks oil will pool around the bell housing/engine interface and if you didn't know any better you would think the rear main seal was leaking.

grizz311 · 12-18-2015, 08:56 AM

Oil Pan

mweisdorfer · 12-18-2015, 10:00 AM

A 335 n54/n55 typically leaks in one of four spots at about the 100k mark, if not before.

1) oil filter housing gasket
2) valve cover gasket
3) rear main seal
4) megatronic sleeve in the transmission housing

The oil pan gasket is typically not a concern until after the 150k mark; please notice I said "typically".

The valve cover gasket can be misdiagnosed unless you take a mirror with an LED light on it and look at the back part of the valve cover near the fire wall. Also, valve cover gaskets can be temperamental when being replaced. Sometimes they can be pinched, and if you don't use the right kind and amount of caulk style sealant near front of the valve cover near the vanos area has been known to be problematic too.

12-17-2015, 12:34 PM	#1
tilua Private 19 Rep 97 Posts Drives: 2008 335i convertible Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	335i Oil leaks - not valve cover - need help. Ok so I have about 105K miles on the car and recently replaced the valve cover gasket thinking that is where the leak is coming from. Also, I had the oil filter housing gasket replaced about 35K miles ago. What is a possible leaking point that I should be looking at? Below are some of the picture of the underside of the engine. THere seems to be 2 separate area with oil leaks. Please help Attached Images
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12-17-2015, 12:53 PM	#2
BeastMode335i Maximus Decimus Meridius 1130 Rep 4,584 Posts Drives: F30 335i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Down South iTrader: (2)	That's a pretty serious leak.. I'd guess it's an oil pan gasket... __________________ F30 335i Melbourne Red Metallic M-Sport Package
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12-17-2015, 11:01 PM	#3
ucdbiendog Captain 91 Rep 610 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi E90 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Reno, NV iTrader: (0)	did you also replace the valve cover? that has been known to crack as well. where is the leak starting from?
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12-18-2015, 08:45 AM	#5
lichtgelb Lieutenant 107 Rep 485 Posts Drives: 2009 E93 335i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Flyover Country iTrader: (0)	Looks like the oil pan. You need the bolts too. There is a different set of bolts depending on whether you have an auto or manual transmission. When the oil pan gasket leaks oil will pool around the bell housing/engine interface and if you didn't know any better you would think the rear main seal was leaking.
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12-18-2015, 08:56 AM	#6
grizz311 Captain Rus 46 Rep 348 Posts Drives: 2012 335i coupe Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (2)	Oil Pan __________________ JB4 Stage2 / BBS / ST / Alpina B3 / BMS / AA / ER / VRSF / Remus
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12-18-2015, 10:00 AM	#7
mweisdorfer Major General 1905 Rep 6,968 Posts Drives: 2007 Black/Black 335i e90 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Holly, MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW E90 335i [0.00] 2008 bmw x5 [0.00]	A 335 n54/n55 typically leaks in one of four spots at about the 100k mark, if not before. 1) oil filter housing gasket 2) valve cover gasket 3) rear main seal 4) megatronic sleeve in the transmission housing The oil pan gasket is typically not a concern until after the 150k mark; please notice I said "typically". The valve cover gasket can be misdiagnosed unless you take a mirror with an LED light on it and look at the back part of the valve cover near the fire wall. Also, valve cover gaskets can be temperamental when being replaced. Sometimes they can be pinched, and if you don't use the right kind and amount of caulk style sealant near front of the valve cover near the vanos area has been known to be problematic too.
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