Oil Leak???? - BMW Forum

brapier · 10-28-2010, 09:43 AM

I just bought a 97 540i with 122k. One owner and car has been maintained at local shop for the last 12 years. This morning I noticed three dime sized oil drops in my garage where the car was parked. Should I be concerned?

witeshark · 10-28-2010, 10:01 AM

It should be checked; were the spots near the front or back of the engine?

brapier · 10-28-2010, 10:19 AM

The drops are in line with the middle of the front tires in the middle of the car. From what I know the oil was changed before we bought it and it had a lot of sitting time about a week or two. We purchased yesterday and have driven it about two hundred miles and then parked it last night. This morning after my wife left I went out and found the little drops, about three dime sized approximately an inch apart.

witeshark · 10-28-2010, 10:30 AM

Well I guess I'd start with the usual places like the oil filter mount and pan drain plug.

gidgaf · 11-01-2010, 11:41 AM

Mine was the wire from the oil sensor. I *know* wires don't leak oil (just smoke), so I looked at the oil pan, the valve cover, the oil filter, etc. I wiped them off, drove around, checked them again. Nada. I still had the occasional spots. The next time I changed the oil filter I hit the wire and it fell out- and some oil dropped into the spots.
BTW, if I have a car over ten years old AND it only had a couple dime sized spots after a week I'd be happy.
BTW2, check to see if any oil was dripped at the oil filler hole at the oil change. This is a very common occurance.