Leaking timing covers
#1
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 545i Sport
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
2004 545i with 103,000 miles
Recently experienced small drips of oil under my left front side of engine. Could not find the source from above or with a flashlight. Took it to my mechanic and he diagnosed it as a leaky oil pain and some gasket on the alternator. After 5 or so hours of labor later I received my car back.
Days later notice an oil leak in the same spot but seems worse. Took it back and he now diagnosed at a leak in e timing cover gasket? A 34 hour job. Somewhere around 5000+ to fix.
Anyone heard of this as a common problem? Should I jus sell my car and cut my losses or get a second opinion. By the way, there wasn't any change in performance or rough idling or anything. Car runs great.
Recently experienced small drips of oil under my left front side of engine. Could not find the source from above or with a flashlight. Took it to my mechanic and he diagnosed it as a leaky oil pain and some gasket on the alternator. After 5 or so hours of labor later I received my car back.
Days later notice an oil leak in the same spot but seems worse. Took it back and he now diagnosed at a leak in e timing cover gasket? A 34 hour job. Somewhere around 5000+ to fix.
Anyone heard of this as a common problem? Should I jus sell my car and cut my losses or get a second opinion. By the way, there wasn't any change in performance or rough idling or anything. Car runs great.
#4
Contributors
Join Date: May 2006
Location: san gabriel, california
Posts: 800
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
My mileage just around 93k and I found oil leaking also but it was my valve cover gasket. I had them replaced and no more oil leak. Good luck with your repair but its about that time for the valve cover gasket to be replaced if you have not done the replacement yet.
#5
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Warwick, RI
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i Sport 6MT
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
look at valve cover gaskets first...they usually leak right at the corner, and will make it look like there is a gasket behind the alternator leaking. There also may be oil "dripping" from the control arms. Mine are leaking with 71k miles.
*If* the timing covers are leaking, and its the two upper ones, then it is an easy fix. The lower one is a bit more time consuming. It seems like he is changing his diagnosis quite a bit. I would get a second opinion, or get a flashlight and trace the oil as high as it will go. The lower oil pan is more prone to leak (steel), but not the aluminum one.
*If* the timing covers are leaking, and its the two upper ones, then it is an easy fix. The lower one is a bit more time consuming. It seems like he is changing his diagnosis quite a bit. I would get a second opinion, or get a flashlight and trace the oil as high as it will go. The lower oil pan is more prone to leak (steel), but not the aluminum one.
#8
Contributors
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SoCal
Posts: 10,496
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550I LOADED, all options except HUD and NV
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
![Twoup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/twoup.gif)
#9
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 545i Sport
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
look at valve cover gaskets first...they usually leak right at the corner, and will make it look like there is a gasket behind the alternator leaking. There also may be oil "dripping" from the control arms. Mine are leaking with 71k miles.
*If* the timing covers are leaking, and its the two upper ones, then it is an easy fix. The lower one is a bit more time consuming. It seems like he is changing his diagnosis quite a bit. I would get a second opinion, or get a flashlight and trace the oil as high as it will go. The lower oil pan is more prone to leak (steel), but not the aluminum one.
*If* the timing covers are leaking, and its the two upper ones, then it is an easy fix. The lower one is a bit more time consuming. It seems like he is changing his diagnosis quite a bit. I would get a second opinion, or get a flashlight and trace the oil as high as it will go. The lower oil pan is more prone to leak (steel), but not the aluminum one.
#10
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Warwick, RI
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2005 545i Sport 6MT
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
FWIW, dealer quoted me 1600$ to do both valve cover gaskets. I'll be doing them myself, and plan on doing a DIY with pictures for everyone here.