Got an oil leak that's showing up in 2 places on my '99 528ia m52tu. 1) Right lower corner of the oil pan which drips on to the lower power sterring hoses. It's not the power sterring hoses as I check this out (and replaced not to long ago). Oil pan gasket shows no swelling but just a drip off the right corner (tab). 2) Another leak between the Trans and Engine. Its not coming down from the value cover. I note slight leakage showing on the right rear corner and I can see in the bell housing window a drip forming from the rear seal carrier bolt. Suggestions on cause and if its the rear main seal how tough is it to get at (Bentley says R&R trans and support engine from above (does any one have a line on securing the engine support bar to lift the engine? and cost?) thanks for your insight and expertise.

My leaks was coming from the upper corner of the valve cover running down my lines making mine look like the rear seal we bad but turned out they weren't. Are you sure it's not the valve cover gasket? Just a thought. Good luck on it and a bump for you.

Yeah, I heard the valve cover gasket was notorious for a leak but I can't detect it. Which upper corner was your valve gasket leaking from. Do you check from underneath or on top to detech the leak. thanks

I looked from underneath then I had a mirror that I had with an extension on it and it was the passanger side rear corner that was leaking

you could try some www.auto-rx.com (http://www.auto-rx.com) and see it that helps?

make sure it is not the oil filter stand gasket that leaks! it's a very common failure. I ended up replacing the oil pan gasket (very hard on I6s !!!) before I realized it was oil filter stand gasket that leaked. it would leak onto the top of the oil pan first (it's on the right side whe you look at it or driver side) and the either to the side or to the back.

Just wrapped up some work to resolve a pesky oil leak. Unfortunately it still leaks, yet there is more to this story. This car is a '00 528i with about 80k mileage.

It appears the gasket behind the oil filter housing, which BMW calls the Aggregate Support w/ Oil Filter, is prone to leakage. This looks a lot like a pan gasket leak.

I first cleaned everything up, and replaced the Oil Filter cover O-ring just to be sure it wasn't something this easy. It wasn't.

Replacing the agg support gasket isn't too bad of a job, and also provides an opportunity to replace a hose or two, and get one of those deep inside the engine looks that you can't see very well from above.

Also once you get everything apart (remove air box, unbolt fan leave in shroud, remove water pump drive belt, remove alternator, set aside power steering oil carrier (reservoir), unbolt and set aside power steering pump) you can see why this gasket is prone to leakage. Aside from being a cheap gasket, it gets hot and the support carries a lot of load from the accessories and drive belt load.

While I had this all apart, I replaced the vent pipe hose that runs off the VANOS and into the pressure regulating valve. This is a tough hose to get to, and was very brittle. Also replaced the suction line to the power steering pump. It was rock hard, and seeping.

While I had the alternator out, I gave it the once over. Seemed to spin ok, and had no previous known issues. I pulled the plastic cooling housing and was surprised to find it full of small leaves and various debris. This could have been a latent short circuit waiting to occur.

Gave the engine a good cleaning while the access was good. This certainly helps to observe the results of your work, and to keep an eye on leaks in general. Unfortunately this area still leaks, and I am bummed.

When I compared the old gasket with the new one, the new one was almost twice as thick. The old one barely protruded from the support housing, as it was compressed and set. It was quite hard as well. I thought this was a no-brainer of fix. New gasket installed, snug it up properly, no more leak. Not the case.

Is there anyone out there with some helpful experience with this gasket/repair? I do not believe the gasket has a pinch or crip as is seats very securely in groove. This is one of those nuisance leaks, which drives us bimmer fantantics crazy.