Oil Leak

[mfisher0000]

X5 E53 3.0 with 52k. Started it up after work and headed out to the light...shortly after I smelled something but thought it was the car in front of me. Drove another two or three miles and still smelled it! Pulled into a parking lot and popped the hood. Saw oil coming from The left passenger side. Looks to be coming from two release valves. I left it and have not restarted it! No warning lights and all gauges were normal. No smoke etc from tail pipe! I didn't restart because I had an X3 that sat in extremely cold weather for a few days...started it and it pumped oil into the motor. Turned out it was a common issue in extreme cold. With that said, it has been extremely cold here. Car is garaged at home. It sat outside at work for 9 hours in negative temp. Anyone have thoughts? I'm hesitant to restart. I wouldn't think negative temps would cause this as I'm sure there are X5's in colder climates. Below are photos. This pics on the front passenger side of the motor.

[Ricky Bobby]

VCG? Zoom out a bit so we can see where the leak is a bit better

[upallnight]

Those looks like refrigerant lines going into the ac compressor. Look like you sprung a leak in the AC system. Lucky that it's winter and not summer. Don't think you will need AC for a couple of months.

Or you could have a leak in the valve cover gasket which you will need to get that fix before the summer.

[Ricky Bobby]

^^Thats def not refrigerant that is engine oil lol.

I think he blew VCG, but the cause of that might be a clogged CCV (pressure has to go somewhere and it usually blows the VCG if its clogged)

[mfisher0000]

Thanks for the input! I'm taking it to my friends shop on a flat bed later today to get it inside. I will report back and take another photo later so you can get a better idea of leak location. Thanks again.

[white46]

To me, that picture looks like AC compressor covered in engine oil.
There are 3 engine oil leak points where it can leak down to AC compressor.
1. VCG
2. Vanos gasket
3. Timing chain tensioner

[upallnight]

Probably should check or replace the CCV system since that is probably what caused the valve cover gasket to fail.