Re: Oil leaks on prospective car? Should I expect them in a 10 yearold BMW?

admin wrote:

That said - there is a rather common one on the M50 series engine. This
engine uses a cork gasket for the oil pan. With age - the gasket starts
to creep a bit and leaks start. Not massive leaks, but enough to be
visible.

Fix is pull the pan and replace the gasket. Doing this requires dropping
the front suspension down so the pan can be removed. Not a trivial job
for a home DIY - but not awful if you have good tools, jackstands and a
floor-jack. If you don't - it will probably cost you about 4 hours of
shop time.

That's the only "common" oil leak I know of with these engines. The
valve cover uses a "profile" gasket - which is a rubber gasket. These
might dry up and start leaking after a long time - replacement is pretty
simple.

The same engine is prone to valve cover gasket leaks. The rubber
gaskets get hard and brittle with age. The right way to fix that is
with new gaskets and all of the bolt donuts. The cheap fix is some good
gasket sealing compound applied and reasembled.

--
-Fred W

hsg (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk wrote:

Well my E38 is approaching 12 years and no leaks whatsoever. I don't EXPECT
leaks like I don't EXPECT things to go wrong like I don't EXPECT to be cheated
at a main dealer.

Oh, I would definitely *expect* to be screwed at any BMW dealership in
the US, or at least an attempt at same.


--
-Fred W

On Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:27:16 -0400, Fred W <malt_hound (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

hsg (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk wrote:

Well my E38 is approaching 12 years and no leaks whatsoever. I don't EXPECT
leaks like I don't EXPECT things to go wrong like I don't EXPECT to be cheated
at a main dealer.

Oh, I would definitely *expect* to be screwed at any BMW dealership in
the US, or at least an attempt at same.

Fred --- You left out my last bit.

I don't EXPECT it to happen but know it probably will try to be sneaked in so
the scenario is act innocent and naive when booking. Don't sign any work orders
- remember you are NOT an expert so why should you tell them what to do.

I always say - XYZ isn't working can you fix it? they always try to come back
with "We can fit a new ABC control unit" Well I answer something like "I can
take my dog for a walk" When the puzzled look appears I explain that I really
don't know what he is talking about and repeat the question "Can you fix it" and
that is all I say then I add "I would like a full breakdown of what was wrong
and how you fixed it to put in my service records"

This way they can NEVER say to you "We changed the XYZ unit as you REQUESTED but
it didn't fix the problem now we are going to start again and charge you the
equivalent of a Space Shuttle Launch"

Nobody EXPECTS to be fleeced otherwise one wouldn't be able to go about their
daily routing but everybody should be AWARE that not everybody is as nice as
they are.


Sir Hugh of Bognor

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.

Intelligence is not knowing the answer but knowing where and how to find it!

Hugh Gundersen
hsg (AT) h-gee (DOT) co.uk
Bognor Regis, W.Sussex, England, UK