Oil leak ( 1 drop everynight)

[X5V8RULES]

it is a clean oil( it s the motor oil because i changed it 3 months ago) i find 1 drop after sitting overnight. I can see that the oil is coming from the underguard protector under the engine compartement( from the middle) . What could it be?

[TwinsPoppa]

Put it up on ramps or a lift. Remove the underguard. Look for the source of the leak. It should be fairly easy to find if its been leaking for awhile.

Not sure how much you could actually see from the top.

[motordavid]

If it were a shorter time after your last change I would have guessed it was 'drained oil' that collected up on the horizontal metal panel near the drain hole...any change that is not fastidious will provide for oil collecting there, and dripping for a few days.

Doubt it's that after so much time, but maybe a slow drip/weeping drain plug bolt?
And, if you don't have ramps or a lift, it is possible to shimmy under there and take a look.
GL, mD

[X5V8RULES]

Thx for thw tips. I took some photo with my iphone. Can you see something?

[Daka]

A random thought....when I had my "indie" do the last oil change his mechanic left a washer on ie: there were 2 washers...(can't trust anyone)

[StartX5]

You should follow TwinsPoppa's directions - when my oil filter housing gasket was leaking, engine oil dropped (1 drop per night). I was wondering where's the oil coming from, I then removed underguard and following oil leak and i saw it came from gasket where oil filter housing attached to the engine.
Replaced oil filter housing gasket, no more oil leak.
Open the hook, look from top -> down see there's anything oil around the engine.

[1stE53]

Yep, the oil filter housing gasket. Mine is doing the exact same thing. I will change the gasket at next oil change.

I don't trust anyone either. Do 95% of the work myself because 1)I enjoy it and 2)don't trust anyone.

[kmagnuss]

Well you can keep your fingers crossed that it's something simple and cheap like that... but more owners have issues with valve cover gaskets, alternator bracket gasket, and upper timing cover seals.

$20 in parts and a couple grand in labor if you take it in...

good luck.

[Ghost-Flame]

I'll bet you 1 qt of Mobil1 0-40 that its the oil filter housing gasket. . You can do it yourself. The V8 is a little different than my L6 but, pretty close. that 1 drop overnight will turn into a qt a week in not too long. Keep you eye on the oil level until you fix it.

You may want t take a look at this thread
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...r-housing.html

Valve cover gasket DIY
Doug's Domain :: BMW Valve Cover Gasket DIY

L6 Oil Housing Gasket DIY, FIY
Oil Filter Housing Gasket DIY - E46Fanatics

[X5V8RULES]

Thanks . You are really helpful! I changed the valve cover gaskets 2 years ago , so i hope itis the oil filter housing gasket