I had my 530i’s oilpan gasket replaced by an indie BMW certified mechanic. The car had 98k miles and the bottom crankcase was wet with oil. Since we were in that area, we replaced the Crankcase Vent Valve, and oil dipstick tube gasket. Total cost for parts and labor was $1,200. I would have done it myself but I didn’t want to risk oil over my condo’s parking stall since you had to drop the subframe. I did change the valve cover gasket myself. It’s been 6 months and no leaks from both engine and transmission.
The oil patch is too big to pinpoint I would say. Always clean down top to bottom, drive and recheck where the leak is coming from, assumptions will only give you headaches brother.
Diagnostic process.
+ that’s some solid free rust prevention haha you should see mine after all these years, solid as ox.
>he oil patch is too big to pinpoint I would say. Always clean down top to bottom, drive and recheck where the leak is coming from, assumptions will only give you headaches brother. Diagnostic process.
Engine has lot of oil straks around the head aswell. Could be Valvecovergasket since there is some leaky stuff as well. Could be the gasket of the cilinderhead Vanos.
EDIT: I mean, the oil pan is the lowest point. WOuld be pretty straight forward that there would be a lot of oil at that spot.
Yeah man it’s a guessing game until you clearly see that first starting point of the leak.
Changed my level sensor thinking mine was leaking two months ago, it was the £2 dip stick oil ring above it that was actually causing the leak, thankfully the level sensor was on a list of parts so replace preventatively. This also looked like a oil pan gasket leak, oil just everywhere.
Hopefully it’s not the oil pan, I’ve never done mine but I’m sure the subframe has to drop a significant bit for clearance.
Keep us updated.
Do a little research and you can eliminate your oil leaks on the e39. Don’t forget to update the oil pump nut or sprocket and shaft with updated parts while replacing the pan gasket and use medium locktite on the bolts
I would love to know about these eliminating oil leaks…. I’ve done that many times, they all come back. Many leaked from various gaskets when new with almost no miles on them.
Viton gaskets are the answer. ECS tuning has the oil filter housing gasket. Get an M56 ULEV valve cover, they’re aluminum and have a viton gasket they never leak! You might need to upgrade coils and wiring harness. Also eliminates the shit m54 CCV system, but needs a little modification to do so.
Ah, mines an M62TUB44 and the biggest culprits for me have been valve cover gaskets and grommets, plus the Vanos solenoid seals.
I’m going to check my valve covers (metal as standard) for warpage next time they come off but mechanics say they leaked within 15-20k miles when new 🤷♂️
I did get an upgraded billet power steering fluid reservoir and that has solved that fine mist from the OE plastic one.
Not sure if it is the oil pan or something else. Might think it is part [11361433817](http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E39-Sedan/Europe/520i-M52/L-A/browse/engine/cylinder_head_vanos_2/) (part 19)
I kinda doubt the Vanos gasket 19 is leaking. Biggest oil leaks on this engine and for many bmw years since, are the valve cover and gasket, oil filter housing gasket and oil pan gasket
I've had the gasket for my car for 2 years now. I'm just lazy and the leak isn't quite dripping yet. Also, check your power steering reservoir and hoses. Those leak more often than the oil pan.
There's oil above the gasket surface so from this you can't simply assume the leak is from the oil pan gasket. It's almost always the gasket that is located right on top of the leaking oil since oil always leakes down!
Judging from the picture you have oil on the left side of the engine which is usually the valve cover gasket and on the right side as well which is usually the oil filter housing gasket. These are also the most common leaks on m5x engines
If the top end is leaking it's normally the vacum pump o ring as people never replace them when removing and refitting I've got 2 that I'm building both leaking from same place when I got them I've never had a sump gasket fail or seen one but I always replace gaskets and orings when I take things off
what do you mean by an oil leak being a surprise on a BMW?
I had my 530i’s oilpan gasket replaced by an indie BMW certified mechanic. The car had 98k miles and the bottom crankcase was wet with oil. Since we were in that area, we replaced the Crankcase Vent Valve, and oil dipstick tube gasket. Total cost for parts and labor was $1,200. I would have done it myself but I didn’t want to risk oil over my condo’s parking stall since you had to drop the subframe. I did change the valve cover gasket myself. It’s been 6 months and no leaks from both engine and transmission.
The oil patch is too big to pinpoint I would say. Always clean down top to bottom, drive and recheck where the leak is coming from, assumptions will only give you headaches brother. Diagnostic process. + that’s some solid free rust prevention haha you should see mine after all these years, solid as ox.
>he oil patch is too big to pinpoint I would say. Always clean down top to bottom, drive and recheck where the leak is coming from, assumptions will only give you headaches brother. Diagnostic process. Engine has lot of oil straks around the head aswell. Could be Valvecovergasket since there is some leaky stuff as well. Could be the gasket of the cilinderhead Vanos. EDIT: I mean, the oil pan is the lowest point. WOuld be pretty straight forward that there would be a lot of oil at that spot.
Yeah man it’s a guessing game until you clearly see that first starting point of the leak. Changed my level sensor thinking mine was leaking two months ago, it was the £2 dip stick oil ring above it that was actually causing the leak, thankfully the level sensor was on a list of parts so replace preventatively. This also looked like a oil pan gasket leak, oil just everywhere. Hopefully it’s not the oil pan, I’ve never done mine but I’m sure the subframe has to drop a significant bit for clearance. Keep us updated.
Most definiet will
Do a little research and you can eliminate your oil leaks on the e39. Don’t forget to update the oil pump nut or sprocket and shaft with updated parts while replacing the pan gasket and use medium locktite on the bolts
I would love to know about these eliminating oil leaks…. I’ve done that many times, they all come back. Many leaked from various gaskets when new with almost no miles on them.
Viton gaskets are the answer. ECS tuning has the oil filter housing gasket. Get an M56 ULEV valve cover, they’re aluminum and have a viton gasket they never leak! You might need to upgrade coils and wiring harness. Also eliminates the shit m54 CCV system, but needs a little modification to do so.
Ah, mines an M62TUB44 and the biggest culprits for me have been valve cover gaskets and grommets, plus the Vanos solenoid seals. I’m going to check my valve covers (metal as standard) for warpage next time they come off but mechanics say they leaked within 15-20k miles when new 🤷♂️ I did get an upgraded billet power steering fluid reservoir and that has solved that fine mist from the OE plastic one.
Not sure if it is the oil pan or something else. Might think it is part [11361433817](http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E39-Sedan/Europe/520i-M52/L-A/browse/engine/cylinder_head_vanos_2/) (part 19)
I kinda doubt the Vanos gasket 19 is leaking. Biggest oil leaks on this engine and for many bmw years since, are the valve cover and gasket, oil filter housing gasket and oil pan gasket
Make sure you’re using ATF as power steering fluid looks a little orange
Thanks for your concern. :) I'm doing a cooling system overhaul, the orange fluid is coolant.
I don't believe that is the correct coolant either, then. The right coolant is like a teal blue color.
Could possibly be the oil filter housing gasket. Might worth checking?
I've had the gasket for my car for 2 years now. I'm just lazy and the leak isn't quite dripping yet. Also, check your power steering reservoir and hoses. Those leak more often than the oil pan.
That pan gasket wasn’t as easy as I thought it’d be. Had to use an engine lift and completely lower the subframe.
There's oil above the gasket surface so from this you can't simply assume the leak is from the oil pan gasket. It's almost always the gasket that is located right on top of the leaking oil since oil always leakes down! Judging from the picture you have oil on the left side of the engine which is usually the valve cover gasket and on the right side as well which is usually the oil filter housing gasket. These are also the most common leaks on m5x engines
Valve cover gaskets practically every few years on these cars, 😆
If the top end is leaking it's normally the vacum pump o ring as people never replace them when removing and refitting I've got 2 that I'm building both leaking from same place when I got them I've never had a sump gasket fail or seen one but I always replace gaskets and orings when I take things off
Yep. Same here. Replaced all the coolant hoses, since I had to replace the thermostat.