E46 325 oil leak

[daveco]

Evening chaps.

Discovered quite a large pool of oil underneath the car about 4 hours after a drive. Oil levels in engine are fine, no warning lights. Drove it home and went to check again, a small amount of oil under the engine after about 2 hours...there appears to be a leak further up the engine block under the plastic cover, on the left side of the engine (from standing at the front bumper looking in)-any ideas? A crap photo if it's any help. Car has 131,000 miles, serviced regularly etc.

[mark.c]

Can't see much from the picture but at a stab I would say cam cover gasket. I'd whip the plastic engine cover off and have a looksee.

[steve_bmw]

Cam cover gasket

[daveco]

Cheers chaps. Mechanic is unsure after putting it up on a ramp. The plan is to hose down the undercarriage at the front without the under-guard in place, to locate the actual leak.

[_Batty_]

daveco said:

Cheers chaps. Mechanic is unsure after putting it up on a ramp. The plan is to hose down the undercarriage at the front without the under-guard in place, to locate the actual leak.

It's £44 for a new gasket and an hour to fit. Tops. I've just done mine. Leaked in exactly the same place.

[Kettmark]

Worth checking the rocker cover too. I was told I needed a cam cover gasket when it was infact a crack in the rocker cover causing a leak.