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      02-01-2013, 03:27 PM   #1
dean911
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Z4MC oil leak

'07 M Coupe with 26K on the clock. Stored for the winter but that is giving me time to nit pick. Read the thread about lose oil pan bolts and mine were fine but there was some oil residue along the gasket and on the inside of the bottom tray. Looking for the source I found this. The oil looks to be coming from under the front of the head. Vanos? Thoughts?

The photos are looking down at the motor towards the front from the passenger side and the mirror is looking up at the head. Valve cover gasket is dry.
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      02-01-2013, 03:40 PM   #2
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Sell it. Now.
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      02-01-2013, 03:48 PM   #3
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My guess would be the valve cover gaskets. Have you had a valve adjustment yet? If not, you'll be replacing the seals when you get the valves adjusted.
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      02-01-2013, 04:06 PM   #4
dean911
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Geauxkart, It is just a leak. The car is stunning and runs great. I have owned 70's vintage Porsches with split magnesium cases for over 17 years. This is just a flesh wound. Just looking for someone with some history along these lines.

Elwesso, the valve cover gasket is dry as a bone. Checked it. This is at the joint of the head and block. I am guessing a vanos sub assembly or something. Have never taken one of these apart yet.

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      02-01-2013, 04:53 PM   #5
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It might be timing chain tensioner and/or seal. I noticed oil leak when it was in Indy shop. Dealer confirmed and performed the work under warranty.
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      02-01-2013, 05:13 PM   #6
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I was hoping my sarcasm was obvious...
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      02-01-2013, 05:26 PM   #7
dean911
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Sorry Geauxkart.

Sometimes I amaze myself at how numb I am to the obvious.

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      02-01-2013, 05:27 PM   #8
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Do you think you need to replace the vanos sealing flange?
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-M3-...nos/ES1892456/
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      02-01-2013, 05:33 PM   #9
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Actually I just got a responce from Brett at Koala Motorsports. Great local shop. He suggested it might be a bolt behind the thermostat that retains a timing chain rail. Seems to be a known leak on the S54. I will find out in March when she hits the streets and Brett gives her the once over.

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      02-01-2013, 05:46 PM   #10
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This is my second S54 and it seems there is always some small leak somewhere. I'm happy that my oil pan is no longer leaking. When you get it fixed let us know.
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      02-01-2013, 06:13 PM   #11
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Figures doesn't it? My Dinal Z3 is flawless, 11 years old with 86,000 miles on it and tight as a drum. Finally replaced an old Porsche 911 for the M Coupe and ...leaking oil? Really?

Oh well, The ride home in November from the dealer in Chicago told me all I need to know, and that is that this car and I will have a long life together.

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      02-04-2013, 10:25 AM   #12
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If you decide to repair it, please let us know what the cause was.

Last edited by bluecobra; 06-06-2014 at 04:21 PM..
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      02-07-2013, 12:35 PM   #13
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Hi!
I had that leak to and BMW pointed at the vanos gasket (the one against the block). They replaced that, and some o-rings for the regulating valve in behind there.
The front and belly of the engine was marinated whith oil and guck, but it didnt leak so much it would drip. And it wasnt visible from above as you say, nor on the dip stick or from under.
It was over a year ago I had it repaired and I really hope its leak free now. I've cleaned the engine twice (from under and above) since the repair and both times I've notised a small amount of oil that looked new/amber. Seems like it originates from the chain tensioning bolt area. And it's also following the head gasket around the front of the engine to a point just above the 2nd header pipe. I will have that checked in the spring. Hopefully its just lingering oil from last time, there are lots of places for oil to hide, and it hides well.
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      02-09-2013, 05:08 AM   #14
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Notorious for leaks, passenger side of the engine, near the transmission is a pressure valve with a faulty o-ring....I just replaced mine....I think it is called a constant pressure valve
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      02-09-2013, 07:30 AM   #15
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dean911,

In that area, there are some possible's.. you have a weep from the high pressure side of the Vano's Accumulator (1850psi) and/or associated piping, Vano's body to block gasket failure or one/both of the two nuts that fasten the exhaust gas recirculation valve (no. eight) to the head is loose.

This leak is too far forward on the engine for it to be the CPV valve.
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      02-09-2013, 05:09 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geauxkart View Post
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMW Maniac View Post
Notorious for leaks, passenger side of the engine, near the transmission is a pressure valve with a faulty o-ring....I just replaced mine....I think it is called a constant pressure valve
No, that's the back., this is the front.

OP, thanks for at least tryign with a picture rather than a description, but you still cannot get a conclusive answer.

Spray the area off with brake clean and recheck after a SHORT interval. Most of the time it is impossible to know where the leak is coming from with such a long interval of leaking. Much easier when you see the first little bits coming out.
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      04-02-2014, 02:13 PM   #17
evel karnievel
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Can You fix the leak?
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      04-02-2014, 11:27 PM   #18
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I had the same leak. At the point where the Vanos assembly joins the block, the joint/seam is 90 degrees to the "line" of the valve gasket...Put a small blob of sealant at the top and bottom "joint/seams" when replacing the valve gasket. The small smear/blob fills in this small "joint" (block/Vanos gasket/Vanos assembly) preventing a leak.

Think about it for a moment and the reason why it would leak here is readily apparent. If you look in the TIS it should show also you the procedure/diagram of where the other blobs of sealant are required to ensure the gasket remains leak free.

It's dead easy to replace this gasket.. And inexpensive as well. Took me little more than an hour start to finish...but I'd had the valve cover off before and was familiar with what needed to be removed to do so.
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      04-02-2014, 11:34 PM   #19
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If you've had camshaft bolt or Vanos work done, suspect the gasket between the Vanos and head. It's crushable metal, so it has to be replaced any time the Vanos is off.
The "mechanic" that did my Vanos bolts didn't replace the gasket, so I had oil dribbling down the front of my block until I did my own Vanos work and replaced the gasket.
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      04-03-2014, 12:13 AM   #20
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is it this leak? pretty common on s54 apparently.

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=358941
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      04-03-2014, 09:33 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by i2ichal2dZ4M View Post
is it this leak? pretty common on s54 apparently.

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=358941
No...as "O-cha" had indicated above, if it was the CPV, then it would be toward the rear of the engine, not front.
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