Oil leak

[Dalek]

Just noticed that there is oil on the underside of the front of the engine.
Any ideas where it might be coming from by looking at the photos?
Pictures are taken from below, from the front of the car.
Thanks...

 

[colb]

Most likely place for this leak is the gasket on the oil filter housing block where it bolts to the engine block, item 6 in the oem parts diagram. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=CN12-EUR-04-2001-Z3-BMW-Z3_22i&diagId=11_6223

 

[Dalek]

Most likely place for this leak is the gasket on the oil filter housing block where it bolts to the engine block, item 6 in the oem parts diagram. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=CN12-EUR-04-2001-Z3-BMW-Z3_22i&diagId=11_6223

Thank you. Hopefully fairly easy to replace.

 

[2bmws]

Or the cam cover

 

[t-tony]

Best advice is to clean it all down and then watch where it starts to come from. Any leaks will only run downhill.

Tony.

 

[Dalek]

Or the cam cover

I checked that ad the cam cover was done recently. The top of the engine is all clean and dry.

 

[Dalek]

Most likely place for this leak is the gasket on the oil filter housing block where it bolts to the engine block, item 6 in the oem parts diagram. https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=CN12-EUR-04-2001-Z3-BMW-Z3_22i&diagId=11_6223

Thanks Colb, I replaced the gasket you suggested and now all fixed.

 

[colb]

It was always going to be that gasket or the cam cover gasket those are the only sources that can leak oil. The age our cars are now the gaskets have been through many heat cycles and as a consequence they go hard and brittle, crack and end up leaking. Much the same situation for all the rubber vaccum hoses and bellows none of these items last forever.

 

[Dalek]

Well, both of those have now been renewed, so hopefully no more oil leaks.
Thanks again for your advice..much appreciated.

 

[Jams]

@colb - do you know if the oil pan gasket has a tendency to leak? Is it a rubber or paper gasket?

 

[colb]

Yes @Jams sump gasket can develop leaks if it goes bad, it is rubber and is ridged rubber like the cam cover gasket to achieve the seal against the joint. If you suspect its leaking get underneath and clean the area off then run the car to see where its comming from. If you confirm a leak then replace. BMW TIS How to here for the 1.9, explore TIS for other models

newTIS

Bit involved as the engine has to be raised 5cm from the top as you cant use a jack underneath to work on the sump.

Before going ahead and changing it, try tightening the securing bolts, they may have gone loose over time, TIS torque settings here

newTIS