So heres the "big picture"...

I've been around car forums since they were email lists... and this is the typical evolution:

1. Car introduced, discussion is "what did you pay", "when are you getting it" "what color"

2. Over time, discussion becomes "what did you mod"

3. Then you get "car failed, this is what happened"

4. Finally, you get to what I call 'diagnostic maturity'... people can post a code, symptom and the forum and participants can- on the basis of very little data- identifiy and point them to a solution.


OK, so why is this important here?

We seem to be collecting CELs with virtually no diagnostic detail... 'My cel came on, they fixed it' leaves out a very important point for future owners... A cel can be caused by 200 things... what links a SOLUTION to a CEL is the CODE that caused the CEL!

In Alex's case, it is likely some air/fuel ration issue, charge air something, etc, etc..but I suspect this HIS code is entirely different from the one ID'd in this thread title ("oil leak") and also entirely different from the "recall codes" that we see.

So three distinct issues with these diesels, but all lumped into "My cel came on too".

Hope this explains what I am trying to do....

A


Ps If spyder is a doc, he knows exactly what I am talking about. ;)

Thanks for the details. I guess we'll see if this is a rare or common failure over time.

Funf Dreisig

I can't help but think how much easier my job would be if people came into my ER with a fault code stored on their on-board computer!

But yes, I do thing your "big picture" points are spot on! I've been on this and Bimmerfest forums since I was researching the x535d, and I sure have noticed that evolution occur, and repeat itself with the 2010 iDrive update and now the 2011 LCI....

That being said, the OP and 2 more of us are reporting the same problem as noticing some oil on ground with no CEL or other issues....As part of our service visit, they happened to include some other non-related recall repairs (sensors, reprogram computer, etc)....

Alex's issue seems completely different. He had CEL come on, but did not have any other performance issues or oil leaking. His issue seems to have been an air leak and presumed pressure loss on a different charge air hose than the one causing my problem........Interestingly, the info in the articles that I posted in the link above say that the car should go into limp mode if significant pressure is lost on the charge/pressure side of the system....

Thanks again to Alex for posting his issue and solution :thumbup:

You are all welcome....

BTW, now that my loaner almost died on me and went into limp mode, I know exactly how it feels (wont rev about 2000 rpm)... In the case of my X5 35d, there was no performance degradation whatsoever, could be because the leak was so minor the computer decided "it is OK /warning mode but should be fixed"... Just stipulating

Yeah, agree.

The "limp mode" is usually triggered when the air/fuel ratio or other parameters are so out of whack that there is a risk of damage with allowing full range of rpms.

Maybe 90% of the things that cause CELs do so with almost no noticeable driveability issues.

But that light sure does bug me anyway! (I just cannot understand it when I drive past a car in traffic and there Engine Light is illuminated on their dash... clearly not 'car forum people')

:)

I had a similar incident with my X5 3.0d, took it to the dealer today. they suspected it was the faulty PCV that caused the oil leaked.

will keep you posted.

I have a 2011 X5 35d and have an oil leak that sounds an awful like the same problem suffered by two people in this thread. A couple of drops per day on passenger side under engine. Service advisor said something to my wife about oil line to turbo, but they did not do an extensive look. Without doing the extensive look, he already told my wife that our extended BMW warranty wouldn't cover it. Hmmm...I am trying to get hold of service advisor, but he is not returning phone calls. Another issue entirely. Would love it if I had enough business that I didn't have to return phone calls. Has anyone had a charge air line fixed under extended warranty? I assume because the extended warranty probably does not include coverage of hoses in general, they are using it as an excuse to not cover an oil line? Any ideas?

I have the same issue on my 2011 X5 35d that has about 64k miles on it, and no extended warranty. Did the service adviser give you an estimate? I have an appointment in 2 weeks (fastest they could provide loaner vehicle).

Oil leak
 

We just got it back from shop. 650 for the repair. Ouch. No hoses covered by extended warranty...

My '12 X5D started dripping oil on both sides at around 40k miles. The driver side leak was chewed-up O-ring between the intercooler and th echarge pipe that goes to the throttle body. Completely my fault, because when i previously removed this pipe I didnt install the bolt that connects it to the fan shroud. It was moving and chewing the seal.
Passenger side was looking bad. All 3 oil supply lines for the turbos appeared to be leaking. To replace the long one that goes from the bottom of the engine block to the oil distributor block the low pressure turbo(the big one) has to be removed. I replaced only the top hose and the leak disappeared. It has been good for a few months. When it starts dripping again I will use the factory fittings and order a custom braided SS lines.