What is this leak?

petar7408 · 03-15-2018, 01:11 AM

ItsGary · 03-15-2018, 03:23 AM

Common sense tells me you're missing a screw on your plenum box, but I'm not a mechanic

strokemycocktus · 03-15-2018, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItsGary

Common sense tells me you're missing a screw on your plenum box, but I'm not a mechanic

This screw is just for the look, it serves no other purpose. I had mine missing too. Fun part is you can't buy it from the dealer, they sell only the whole plenum with the screws

Pig Farmer · 03-15-2018, 05:47 AM

That's just the self-cleaning plenum fluid. Looks like your low on fluid.

Just kidding. My guess in ascending order of likeliness would be 1) condensation under the hood dripped down on to the plenum, 2) leak in windshield washer line or 3) someone set an empty container of oil on the plenum when changing the oil and a bit of the oil migrated across the surface. I wouldn't spend two seconds worrying about this.

EJT86 · 03-15-2018, 07:09 AM

Looks like you’re 10% closer to having a clean engine bay so I wouldn’t complain too much

doogee · 03-15-2018, 07:21 AM

Looks like you're missing a nut on the plenum. Small amount of oil that collects inside is more than likely seeping out slowly.

Replacement nut is part number 11121401517

BOOF-M3 · 03-16-2018, 12:13 AM

Guys that's a face scratching emoticon with a search button next to it. How did y'all come up with faux plenum screws and clean engine bays, but ok, I'll play along. I say it appears that OP is either
A: low on blinker fluid.
B: Is urging y'all to to use the search button in the future.
C: A trunk monkey has carjacked OP and taken his phone and removed a photo of a stained plenum and added above new post in the OP.

AggieZig · 03-16-2018, 03:59 PM

This topic has been covered at least a dozen times on this forum already and frankly you should have researched the plenum condensation problem before buying your M3. This is a know and very well-documented problem that can happen when not using BMW twin power scroll OEM approved motor oil. Please use the search function instead of wasting everyone else's valuable time.

///M Power-Belgium · 03-16-2018, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Guys that's a face scratching emoticon with a search button next to it. How did y'all come up with faux plenum screws and clean engine bays, but ok, I'll play along. I say it appears that OP is either
A: low on blinker fluid.
B: Is urging y'all to to use the search button in the future.
C: A trunk monkey has carjacked OP and taken his phone and removed a photo of a stained plenum and added above new post in the OP.

C

03-15-2018, 01:11 AM	#1
petar7408 Second Lieutenant 53 Rep 210 Posts Drives: 2016 m3 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: California iTrader: (0)	What is this leak? Last edited by petar7408; 03-15-2018 at 03:01 PM..
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03-15-2018, 03:23 AM	#2
ItsGary Colonel 1458 Rep 2,336 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	Common sense tells me you're missing a screw on your plenum box, but I'm not a mechanic __________________ '09 ///M3 Sedan - Jerez Black/Fox Red Ext. '09 335i Coupe - Alpine White/Black - SOLD
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03-15-2018, 05:47 AM	#4
Pig Farmer Major 340 Rep 1,293 Posts Drives: E92M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	That's just the self-cleaning plenum fluid. Looks like your low on fluid. Just kidding. My guess in ascending order of likeliness would be 1) condensation under the hood dripped down on to the plenum, 2) leak in windshield washer line or 3) someone set an empty container of oil on the plenum when changing the oil and a bit of the oil migrated across the surface. I wouldn't spend two seconds worrying about this.
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03-15-2018, 07:09 AM	#5
EJT86 Brigadier General 2383 Rep 3,726 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] 2018 BMW M2 [0.00]	Looks like you’re 10% closer to having a clean engine bay so I wouldn’t complain too much
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03-15-2018, 07:21 AM	#6
doogee Major 748 Rep 1,256 Posts Drives: '08 M3, '09 328xi Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ancaster, ON, Canada iTrader: (0)	Looks like you're missing a nut on the plenum. Small amount of oil that collects inside is more than likely seeping out slowly. Replacement nut is part number 11121401517 __________________
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03-16-2018, 12:13 AM	#7
BOOF-M3 Brigadier General 4452 Rep 4,014 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Pasadena Florida iTrader: (1)	Guys that's a face scratching emoticon with a search button next to it. How did y'all come up with faux plenum screws and clean engine bays, but ok, I'll play along. I say it appears that OP is either A: low on blinker fluid. B: Is urging y'all to to use the search button in the future. C: A trunk monkey has carjacked OP and taken his phone and removed a photo of a stained plenum and added above new post in the OP.
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03-16-2018, 03:59 PM	#8
AggieZig Private First Class 57 Rep 106 Posts Drives: 2010 E91 328xi Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW E70 X5 35d [0.00] 2010 BMW E91 328xi ... [0.00] 1975 Porsche 914 2.0L [0.00]	This topic has been covered at least a dozen times on this forum already and frankly you should have researched the plenum condensation problem before buying your M3. This is a know and very well-documented problem that can happen when not using BMW twin power scroll OEM approved motor oil. Please use the search function instead of wasting everyone else's valuable time.
	Appreciate 0 Quote