Oil leak on V8 545i

[Ayrshore]

I have an unusual oil leak on my 2005 545.

It leaks oil down the passenger side of the engine (I'm in the UK, so that's the driver's side to most other regions!), and seemed to be coming from somewhere around the alternator - so I removed the alternator - and now it doesn't leak.

It seems to only leak when the alternator belt is on the car.

The Air conditioning pump seems to have some sort of oil feed through it, but I did think it was from higher up than this.

Anything anyone has came across before?

Thanks.

[Stephen Max]

That is unusual (leaking only when the belt is on, that is). The common leak points for the N62 are the valve covers, the timing covers, the vanos solenoid o-rings and the alternator bracket gasket. In my case, I had a leak that resulted in oil all over the alternator that was due to a bank 2 upper timing cover gasket leak.

[BMWtech6367]

Ayrshore, my experience as a BMW technician tells me that your oil leak is coming from the mounting bracket for the alternator. When you remove the bracket, you will find a rubber gasket that usually dry-rots & causes this leak. On the older V-8's, oil lines would connect in this area and travel to a fender mounted oil filter housing. Why they didn't change this is beyond me, so that is my diagnosis. Should be spot on...please let me know if that rectifies your troubles...

[ragal]

Its 100% the oilpresure screw replace it and it dont leek anymore

i got this failure on my old E64 645ci n62

[Ayrshore]

Does anyone have a part number for this gasket? The guy at my local BMW dealer is a cabbage - he just sent me a 4 page fax of the timing covers... claims never to have sold this gasket and can't see it in the diagrams!

[BMWF30]

I found the part number and price for the alternator bracket gasket on a 2004/2005 545i n62 engine:

Alternator bracket to block gasket: #12317507807 going for $1.20

[E32VED12]

I would recommend replacing all the gaskets on the top end, v/c gaskets, upper tcovers, alt bracket, vacuum pump oring, oil pressure sensor, also does your engine smoke and burn oil? If so all the valve seals need replacing.. Big job!

[Level1Tech]

+1

[Ayrshore]

I'd rather scrap it than replace every seal - but I don't hear many good things about E60s when it comes to oil leaks!

Thanks for that part number F30 - I'll order it tomorrow and get to sorting it sometime this month!

[itsaGthang]

wish there was pics posted to every leak that everyone is talking about cause im trying to pin point where the leak on mine is but just hard to describe since its behind a few parts....

[SmithsonGA]

I am having front covers gaskets and alternator bracket gasket replaced right now. Mainly labor. 2007 550i

[miami2000]

I am having front covers gaskets and alternator bracket gasket replaced right now. Mainly labor. 2007 550i

Hello, did that fix your problem?

[militarydave30]

In general... how difficult is it to replace the Valve Cover gaskets for this or the N52 engine? Seems simple enough... but perhaps too simple? just remove replace the blue or black gasket?

I dont use silicone (RTV) as I know some people cake on the RTV all over oil pans and valve covers... lol

[E39toE60]

These oil leaks get me everytime last year valve covers timing covers and alternator gaskets went at the same time on a 0 degree day?. Now a year later I take the fam to va beach and my brake booster leaked oil on my belt and saturated my alternator and now is costing me 2100 for new alternator belts reseal of vacuum pump and voltage relay and 500 to ship my car back to wv and 250 for car rental. Cant wait for smg pump and valve seals to go. Oh and im at 146k miles with me driving 35k a year. So not to bad i guess but miss my e39 530 more and more.