N62 4.8 Oil Thermostat Gasket Leak (2007 X5)

[Entropy]

Well I noticed a puddle of oil on my driveway after leaving for work the other morning. The oil level is still spot on, but I think the thermostat gasket spewed some oil. The leak seems intermittent (probably leaks out when the oil is thick and oil pressure is high).

Parts are en route. I don't know why I put up with the third-world build quality of BMW's engines. The engine will be nearly brand new via repairs by the time it hits 100k.

[Xor]

Don't wait for too long. Mine was leaking for a year - approx a quart/mo. A week ago it deteriorated to a glass/min. Luckily it had happened next to home. Don't even want to think what would I do in the middle of highway.

Entropy, take off the protection and check where the leak comes from. If you can't see the location and it's on the left side - welcome to the club.

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by Xor

Don't wait for too long. Mine was leaking for a year - approx a quart/mo. A week ago it deteriorated to a glass/min. Luckily it had happened next to home. Don't even want to think what would I do in the middle of highway.

Entropy, take off the protection and check where the leak comes from. If you can't see the location and it's on the left side - welcome to the club.

Definitely the oil cooler thermostat gasket. Did you also do the oil line o-rings that attach to the thermostat (P/N 17227800958)?

[LightlyToasted]

Originally Posted by Entropy

Did you also do the oil line o-rings that attach to the thermostat (P/N 17227800958)?

I chose to replace these o-rings, rather than risk having to do this job again. The dealer charged me $11 each for the o-rings. The old ones looked fine - not flat, hard, and brittle like the thermostat gasket.

[Xor]

I replaced the o-rings as well. As said above they're $11 each, but I wouldn't forgive myself if I could but didn't and it started to leak

[Westlotorn]

I installed new O Rings for sure, would not do the job without that addition. Way to much work to come back for a future leak.
Grinding down the Torx bit early would have saved me an hour or more. I fought it first before grinding down my tool, the tool is less than $10 to replace with one not ground down.

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by Westlotorn

I installed new O Rings for sure, would not do the job without that addition. Way to much work to come back for a future leak.
Grinding down the Torx bit early would have saved me an hour or more. I fought it first before grinding down my tool, the tool is less than $10 to replace with one not ground down.

I have had to do this before. Hopefully the one I have that is already ground down is the right size for this job. I'll be tackling it next weekend... in the cold, as my E46 is taking up the garage.

[Nanniepoo]

My first response disappeared. Anyways, had a slow oil leak since October. When in for unrelated work (and before I even noticed a leak), dealer diagnosed leaking valve cover and timing cover gaskets. When parking the car noticed a significant puddle of oil under it Sunday. Had it towed to an indy, and they've diagnosed the massive leak so far as front left area of engine but we're not sure....so I think I'm in this club as well. Unfortunately I really really don't have time to do this myself, and from some of the responses, I don't think I'd want to either (not really useable garage, would be on jack stands in ~20 deg weather.

[Nanniepoo]

Car had been leaking a quart every 2 months, not sure if that was the valve covers, this, or a combo. Really hoping just the oil cooler, and this will fix it.

[Westlotorn]

Mine is running with no leaks, now I find the AC unit is growling, could only hear it while in the garage with hood open. Another 2 days and $850. Grrrrrrr.