[fazman]

So at my last oil change while the car was on the lift, I had my Indy remove the panels to see what the motor was looking like from the bottom. We could see oil around the oil pan area but can't be sure if its from the oil pan or the rear main seal? I have 150k miles and I seem to be losing 1/4 qt of oil every 1000 miles. I do my oil changes every 7500 miles.

How common is it for the rear main seal to be done (my car is a 2008 e90 335XI n54)?

If I am having the oil pan done, how much more work is it to do the rear main seal at the same time? Any other seals or stuff I should do while I am doing the oil pan gasket with 150k miles on the motor?

[nsjames]

its probably from the valve cover. Leaks and then runs down the back of the block.

you should definitely figure out where it comes from before you commit to doing the pan gasket.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by nsjames

its probably from the valve cover. Leaks and then runs down the back of the block.

you should definitely figure out where it comes from before you commit to doing the pan gasket.

I did the VCG at 105k miles (currently at 150k miles). I got a kit from tischer BMW for the gasket and all new bolts. But your right... I should investigate simple stuff before committing to expensive stuff.

[Cruiser124]

Oil pan and rear main seal are two separate repairs that don't coincide with each other.

Rear main seal involves removing the transmission.

I had a major leak on a 335xi with 140k, it was the rear main seal.

If you have oil around the perimeter of the pan passenger side, probably pan gasket.

If the leak is at the back of the engine accumulating by the bell-housing it's more likely RMS than pan gasket. But yeah, verify Valve cover and make sure it's not leaking oil from above and dripping down.

Oil pan and RMS are both labor intensive.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by Cruiser124

Oil pan and rear main seal are two separate repairs that don't coincide with each other.

Rear main seal involves removing the transmission.

I had a major leak on a 335xi with 140k, it was the rear main seal.

If you have oil around the perimeter of the pan passenger side, probably pan gasket.

If the leak is at the back of the engine accumulating by the bell-housing it's more likely RMS than pan gasket. But yeah, verify Valve cover and make sure it's not leaking oil from above and dripping down.

Oil pan and RMS are both labor intensive.

Thank you for this information! This helps a lot.