Oil Leak - BMW Forum

louellette · 03-20-2005, 12:11 PM

My '97 318is with 102k suddenly started leaking motor oil. It is leaking from the right side of the engine at about the level of the bottom timing chain cover.
Has anyone had this problem and if so, is the fix expensive? I change oil and filters and that is about the limit of my mechanical ability. Thanks for any info.

Larry

CiscoKid · 03-21-2005, 09:26 AM

is the leak between the oil pan and the bottom of the engine?

bryan1970 · 03-21-2005, 06:11 PM

although i don't know any exact prices i can imagine that either a pan gasket or a timing cover gasket would be pricey. sometimes with pan gaskets the sub fram has to be dropped but since you have a 4cyl it might not have to be dropped. and with timing covers pretty much everything on the front of the engine obviously would have to come off: belts.pullies,fan shroud,and maybe even the water pump. i think a couple of the bolts on that water pump are also used to hold the timing cover on, if memory serves correctly. and the valve cover might have to come off too.

louellette · 03-21-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CiscoKid@Mar 21 2005, 09:26 AM
is the leak between the oil pan and the bottom of the engine?

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Thanks for the interest. I went to a recommended euro mechanic today. He said it is the head gasket which is common at 90+k on the 318s. He said not to worry, but if I really want to fix it, it is about $1100.

louellette · 03-21-2005, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bryan1970@Mar 21 2005, 06:11 PM
although i don't know any exact prices i can imagine that either a pan gasket or a timing cover gasket would be pricey. sometimes with pan gaskets the sub fram has to be dropped but since you have a 4cyl it might not have to be dropped. and with timing covers pretty much everything on the front of the engine obviously would have to come off: belts.pullies,fan shroud,and maybe even the water pump. i think a couple of the bolts on that water pump are also used to hold the timing cover on, if memory serves correctly. and the valve cover might have to come off too.

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Thanks for the interest. I went to a recommended euro mechanic today. He said it is the head gasket which is common at 90+k on the 318s. He said not to worry, but if I really want to fix it, it is about $1100.

bryan1970 · 03-21-2005, 10:19 PM

yeah i guess if it just leaking a little bit of oil you would be okay for a while. as long as no coolant is leking into the cylinders or the opposite:compression going into the cooling system , you'd be okay for a while. just take it easy on the engine. but the bad thing is that it won't get better as time goes on. and it is a possibility that down the road it could get to the point where coolant starts leaking.

Live_the_Curves · 03-21-2005, 11:05 PM

Ya my head gasket has been leaking for the last 50k or so, a really long time. I can't afford the fix so I drive it as is.

drz · 03-21-2005, 11:18 PM

$1100 !!!! :S Wow. I am guessing the one in mine has been replaced (at least I hope). I have 172k and counting.

I wonder if it is a very complicated job. The part itself is around $200. Anyhow, be careful with that. Like someone said already, you don't want coolant filtering in there.

Furious · 03-21-2005, 11:43 PM

well all though the head gasket isnt cheap to fix, 1100 sounds expensive to me. all in all, just make sure they do it right so there is no problems in the near future.

PR325is · 03-22-2005, 04:00 PM

wow 1100 just to change the gaskets?? that's pretty much waayyyyy too expensive...

is there anyone here in the post who can help louellette and i (same problem) solve this problem by diy?? i just need to know how to open the whole thing and change the gaskets... i want to get rid of the oil leak...

bryan1970 · 03-22-2005, 06:18 PM

it definatly takes quite a bit of mechanical ability. and you need a couple specialt tools too. as far as opening it up just take the valve cover off and you can get an idea at what all needs to come off. but it may be dificult to keep the cams from turning after the chain is taken off with out the BMW tools

CiscoKid · 03-23-2005, 09:34 AM

i bleieve there is a cam locking position, where something can be placed to stop the cam from moving

Furious · 03-23-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PR325is@Mar 22 2005, 05:00 PM
wow 1100 just to change the gaskets?? that's pretty much waayyyyy too expensive...

is there anyone here in the post who can help louellette and i (same problem) solve this problem by diy?? i just need to know how to open the whole thing and change the gaskets... i want to get rid of the oil leak...

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a DIY would be nice, however its such a huge job and so involved that i dont personally wanna post one.