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      11-12-2016, 01:38 PM   #1
puttforedough12
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F30 Oil Leak??? Engine Out Of Car!

USA,

I am back from being oversees in Germany for the last 3 years. Picked up my 2 year old 335i F30 M Sport (bsm) at the Oxnard, CA port. Took the trek out to Las Vegas and have been here in the area for a couple months now. Noticed a small oil leak in the garage and was hoping for maybe a loose drain plug. After pulling off all of the undercarriage plastic, was stunned on how much oil I saw... Noting that the drain plug was fine. Oil cap and oil filter fine. Engine oil measures good. This is when panic started to set in. Even though I have full warranty, I was scared for my baby. Scheduled a visit with my SA ASAP. Dropped her off and got a call the next day with an update. My knowledge about cars and BMWs are very entry level. The call was two leaks, oil filter housing gasket and drain pan gasket. Was told a simple 25 mile run the next morning to check leaks and she should be good to go. No phone call the next day. I called them last night and the leak has now moved to the valve cover gasket, which means my engine is out of the car right now and won't be ready for about 4 more days. I miss my car. I hope she is going to be OK. Anyone have an engine pulled and put back in? Will she still be my ultimate driving machine?

SA had mentioned very unusual for such a low milage car to have these issues. My thoughts were not voiced but coming from the autobahn, and the speeds achieved, hopefully didn't accelerate the current situation.

Just wanted to share my current scenario.

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      11-12-2016, 04:46 PM   #2
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I've never heard of a BMW engine getting pulled in order to replace a valve cover gasket or even a head gasket.
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      11-12-2016, 04:49 PM   #3
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I think it was a head gasket, after you mention it... Worry some.
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      11-12-2016, 04:53 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by puttforedough12 View Post
I called them last night and the leak has now moved to the valve cover gasket, which means my engine is out of the car right now and won't be ready for about 4 more days.
It is unlikely the engine needs to be removed for valve cover gasket, maybe the SA meant the valve cover is removed, and the new parts won't arrive in 3-4 days?

Do note service department still needs to bill hours back to BMWNA, and BMWNA will not reimburse more than a few hours for valve cover gasket. Removing and reinstalling engine will take a few days.
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      11-12-2016, 04:55 PM   #5
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Unfortunately, I clarified with them about the engine being pulled, so it makes me wonder if I misinterpreted what was wrong or he is just telling me that. Won't get it back until Tuesday if everything goes smoothly.
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      11-12-2016, 04:57 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by puttforedough12 View Post
Unfortunately, I clarified with them about the engine being pulled, so it makes me wonder if I misinterpreted what was wrong or he is just telling me that. Won't get it back until Tuesday if everything goes smoothly.
If the engine is pulled the problem probably will be a lot more serious than just valve cover gasket. Please keep us informed what the final invoice says.
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      11-12-2016, 09:33 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarianride View Post
If the engine is pulled the problem probably will be a lot more serious than just valve cover gasket.
+1, changing the valve cover gasket doesn't require pulling the engine.
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      11-13-2016, 09:18 AM   #8
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"Oil leak" is much more likely to be valve cover gasket than head gasket. Maybe pan gasket? Pan gasket is also a part that they might not stock.
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      11-13-2016, 03:14 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rak299 View Post
"Oil leak" is much more likely to be valve cover gasket than head gasket. Maybe pan gasket? Pan gasket is also a part that they might not stock.
Another thread dealing with the oil pan gasket. Posted a PDF from ISTA on how to replace that.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1324118
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      11-13-2016, 03:26 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
I've never heard of a BMW engine getting pulled in order to replace a valve cover gasket or even a head gasket.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarianride View Post
It is unlikely the engine needs to be removed for valve cover gasket, maybe the SA meant the valve cover is removed, and the new parts won't arrive in 3-4 days?

Do note service department still needs to bill hours back to BMWNA, and BMWNA will not reimburse more than a few hours for valve cover gasket. Removing and reinstalling engine will take a few days.
Based on ISTA, if you're replacing a valve cover gasket, you don't need to pull the engine.

If you're replacing a cylinder head gasket, ISTA has you pulling the engine.

See attached PDFs.
Attached Images
File Type: pdf Removing and installing sealing cylinder head cover (N55).pdf (370.5 KB, 274 views)
File Type: pdf remove cylinder head.pdf (762.3 KB, 1238 views)
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      11-13-2016, 05:04 PM   #11
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I have not looked at that engine closely enough to know, but on some cars they say to remove the engine when you can actually get enough clearance to get the head off by disconnecting the rear motor mount and jacking up the rear of the engine. The mechanics know and get the job done in half of the scheduled time.
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      11-13-2016, 08:04 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Polo08816 View Post
Based on ISTA, if you're replacing a valve cover gasket, you don't need to pull the engine.

If you're replacing a cylinder head gasket, ISTA has you pulling the engine.

See attached PDFs.
Good info, so maybe OP's case is head gasket replacement then.
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      11-14-2016, 08:50 AM   #13
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A leaking head gasket would produce oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil, not an oil drip. So it's not a head gasket. More likely valve cover or pan gasket, neither of which require engine removal.
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      11-14-2016, 11:15 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roundel335 View Post
A leaking head gasket would produce oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil, not an oil drip. So it's not a head gasket. More likely valve cover or pan gasket, neither of which require engine removal.
Based on ISTA, you may need to lower the front axle for the pan gasket.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1324118
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      11-14-2016, 12:58 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Polo08816 View Post
Based on ISTA, you may need to lower the front axle for the pan gasket.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1324118
I stand by my statement...it does not require engine removal. Period.
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      11-14-2016, 03:27 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roundel335 View Post
I stand by my statement...it does not require engine removal. Period.
I don't disagree. Like I said, ISTA says it requires lowering the front axle.
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      11-19-2016, 11:10 PM   #17
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Got the car back. It was a leak on the back of the engine coming from the head gasket. From everyone I talk to, should I be worried about future issues? SA told me no coolant in the engine and I should have nothing to worry about. I left the bottom plastic covers off and I am in oil leak monitoring mode. Confirmed the engine was removed (that's what they tell me).

During this procedure would you think the oil would have been replaced, recycled, or not drained? I was told the oil didn't have to be replaced, even with the die added?

Thanks
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      11-21-2016, 06:27 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by puttforedough12 View Post
I was told the oil didn't have to be replaced, even with the die added?
Leak test die does not require the oil to be changed afterwards.

You even get engines from the factory with it in. They hot test every X engines.
You can tell when it is a hot test engine when you open the oil cap and find florescent green oil in a brand new car. It only replaced at teh regular scheduled engine oil change.
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      11-21-2016, 08:33 AM   #19
puttforedough12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E90Fleet
Quote:
Originally Posted by puttforedough12 View Post
I was told the oil didn't have to be replaced, even with the die added?
Leak test die does not require the oil to be changed afterwards.

You even get engines from the factory with it in. They hot test every X engines.
You can tell when it is a hot test engine when you open the oil cap and find florescent green oil in a brand new car. It only replaced at teh regular scheduled engine oil change.
Thank you. That actually makes sense after you mention it. No leaks yet after 150mi
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      01-29-2021, 11:32 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by puttforedough12 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by E90Fleet
Quote:
Originally Posted by puttforedough12 View Post
I was told the oil didn't have to be replaced, even with the die added?
Leak test die does not require the oil to be changed afterwards.

You even get engines from the factory with it in. They hot test every X engines.
You can tell when it is a hot test engine when you open the oil cap and find florescent green oil in a brand new car. It only replaced at teh regular scheduled engine oil change.
Thank you. That actually makes sense after you mention it. No leaks yet after 150mi



My car has been in for 35 days. I've had all common leaks fixed and I'm only at 49k miles on a 2014 435I. They pulled the heads off and actually pulled the block out with intentions of placing the heads completely. They were saying i has porous aluminum at first but today said all of block and heads are in great shape and are replacing the head gasket only. It was leaking oil only, no coolant mix or anything.

The leaks were pooling around the intake and ending up sitting down on my cover and i they were pretty bad leaks. So I'm hoping they are right about the gaskets. Sometimes they can get bent or warped but they ended said the head gasket looked fine. Glad i have a warranty!
If i see another drop in the floor i will just trade it that same day for a g20. This time I'm not mentioning it. They can deal with it when they go to sell the car. I'm sick of the bs at the dealership.
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      01-30-2021, 01:33 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RoundelM3 View Post
A leaking head gasket would produce oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil, not an oil drip. So it's not a head gasket. More likely valve cover or pan gasket, neither of which require engine removal.
Yes agree BUT we have had more than a few leak from a corner of the head, down the block and totally soak the undertrays, so no they don’t mix oil and water when this happens.
Seeing this a fair bit and it was very common on the older 1.8 motor out of both the E36 and E46 3 series, did many of those at the time, in fact on those engines it was fairly regular but it does happen occasionally on these newer engines too.
And when this occurs there is zero coolant and oil cross contamination
Next one we do I will post photos with head off and show offending oil leak.

Last edited by bellguy; 01-30-2021 at 01:51 AM..
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      01-30-2021, 08:25 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bellguy View Post
Yes agree BUT we have had more than a few leak from a corner of the head, down the block and totally soak the undertrays, so no they don’t mix oil and water when this happens.
Seeing this a fair bit and it was very common on the older 1.8 motor out of both the E36 and E46 3 series, did many of those at the time, in fact on those engines it was fairly regular but it does happen occasionally on these newer engines too.
And when this occurs there is zero coolant and oil cross contamination
Next one we do I will post photos with head off and show offending oil leak.
That would likely be a problem near an oil passage and not a true head gasket leak causing loss of compression. Nonetheless, engine removal is NOT required in either case.
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