Nick mentioned two options to fix the oil leak.

Let's say he were to go with option 2 (the rubber / synthetic sealant that comes from a tube).

Would that sealant last 3 years before you had to reseal it again?

 

If you use the proper sealant (Oil resistant RTV) then it should last forever; My Miata has this factory and the oil pan has been bone dry since 1990 when it was first done.

That being said bmw has the original gasket which has a metal plate with rubber on it (the metal is has thickness) and I would keep it in there just for proper height (bolts/oil pick up/ oil level sensor etc)

 

If you use the proper sealant (Oil resistant RTV) then it should last forever; My Miata has this factory and the oil pan has been bone dry since 1990 when it was first done.

That being said bmw has the original gasket which has a metal plate with rubber on it (the metal is has thickness) and I would keep it in there just for proper height (bolts/oil pick up/ oil level sensor etc)



an aside: its too bad the correct/factory part is flawed and almost certainly going to leak as we all have or are going to have this problem

 

You mentioned, "If you use the proper sealant (Oil resistant RTV) then it should last forever."

Can Nick apply the oil resistant RTV sealant to the gasket area (e.g. the seam where its leaking) without removing the crankcase?

That is, just clean the oil from the area where its leaking and pack it with RTV?

Would that work?

 

I actually did try that; It didn't work. RTV won't stick to an area if its not clean; And there no way to 100% remove the oil unless the pan is removed.

It slowed mine down a bit(I cleaned as much as I could with paint thinner and brake clean) but a year later I just bit the bullet

 

If we were to poll the guys on this website with the N52k engine would they tell us the crankcase gasket started leaking at:

- 50,000 miles ?
- 60,000
- 80,000
- 100,000

 

Wow I’m just reading all of the responses now, thanks for all of the input everyone!!

I’ll be totally honest: for ease of life (I can do stuff at my house, I did the rear sunroof drains cleaning and some other things) but it was a time crunch and I needed it done. I take it to Freeman Motors in Portland, OR and they did it for $1155. Not sure that the OG gasket will hold forever, but I felt it was the way to go. Next day I drove it to Seattle and back and all was well. They included switching out the oil in that price.

I should start another thread as my next project is my faulty CCC and whatever I do I want AUX/Bluetooth

To Seattle after oil pan job, hit 175k miles! Car was sold new from BMW Bellevue.

Rear drains totally clogged with gunk.

 

I get confused which engine I have, it’s the older 3.0 as mine is a 2005. Uncle who gave me the car bought it new, I think it’s been leaking since 150k miles maybe? Has 176k now

 

You have the M54 engine. 2005 was a split year for the 2 engines. The successor was the N52 also had a 3.0 version