Leaking Suspension Fluid!?

The Ringer · 11-04-2011, 06:46 PM

I know, I know. There's no suspension fluid, per se, but there certainly is something dripping out of a suspension component. I've attached pictures of the problem--they are from the front, passenger side of the car. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

-The Ringer

JamesM3M5 · 11-04-2011, 09:07 PM

Can you take another 4-5 photos? I can't quite make it out. :-P

Yes there is an oily fluid inside that particular suspension bushing. The bushing has cracked and is letting the fluid out. Happens at about 40-60k miles. Dealer will rape you on them, try an independent shop. Must always replace those bushings in pairs.

cn555ic · 11-04-2011, 11:15 PM

If I could guess its leaking oil from your oil cooler in the passenger wheel liner. Look inside and you will see a grill. Behind that grill is the oil cooler. Possibly one of the lines is not tight or developed a leak

JamesM3M5 · 11-04-2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn555ic

If I could guess its leaking oil from your oil cooler in the passenger wheel liner. Look inside and you will see a grill. Behind that grill is the oil cooler. Possibly one of the lines is not tight or developed a leak

His Xi has the thrust arms backwards from the RWD models. All front thrust arm and tension strut bushings have a dark oil filling to damp out road vibrations.

The Ringer · 11-05-2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesM3M5

Can you take another 4-5 photos? I can't quite make it out. :-P

Yes there is an oily fluid inside that particular suspension bushing. The bushing has cracked and is letting the fluid out. Happens at about 40-60k miles. Dealer will rape you on them, try an independent shop. Must always replace those bushings in pairs.

If you are saying check an independent shop, are you also saying "not covered by warranty?"

-The Ringer

The Ringer · 11-05-2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesM3M5

Can you take another 4-5 photos? I can't quite make it out. :-P

Yes there is an oily fluid inside that particular suspension bushing. The bushing has cracked and is letting the fluid out. Happens at about 40-60k miles. Dealer will rape you on them, try an independent shop. Must always replace those bushings in pairs.

Oh, and also....how long do I have? Can I drive it like this for a day? Two days? Two weeks? How urgent would you deem this problem?

Thanks again--the expertise is always appreciated.

-The Ringer

Express · 11-05-2011, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ringer

If you are saying check an independent shop, are you also saying "not covered by warranty?"

-The Ringer

well that depends.. is your car covered under warranty?

Express · 11-05-2011, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cn555ic

If I could guess its leaking oil from your oil cooler in the passenger wheel liner. Look inside and you will see a grill. Behind that grill is the oil cooler. Possibly one of the lines is not tight or developed a leak

in the picture, it looks like the area in question is in the rear on the passenger front wheel well. why would OC lines be there?

edited for clarity!

The Ringer · 11-05-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by express705

in the picture, it looks like the area in question is in the rear on the passenger wheel well. why would OC lines be there?

No, it's in the front. And the car is under a CPO warranty...

J02 335i · 11-05-2011, 08:33 AM

Like somebody already mentioned the bushings are filled with hydraulic oil to dampened vibrations from the road. You need new bushings.

JamesM3M5 · 11-05-2011, 08:39 AM

This may be covered under a CPO / extended warranty. Good luck. If you have to pay out of pocket, about $400-500 is about as much a you should consider paying.

The Ringer · 11-05-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesM3M5

This may be covered under a CPO / extended warranty. Good luck. If you have to pay out of pocket, about $400-500 is about as much a you should consider paying.

Thanks...I'll call my dealer today to see if it's covered.

And thanks again to everyone for the swift responses. This is such a great, and knowledgeable, resource, especially for people like me who really only know the very basics.

-The Ringer

swin500 · 11-05-2011, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J02 335i

Like somebody already mentioned the bushings are filled with hydraulic oil to dampened vibrations from the road. You need new bushings.

Bushings filled with hydraulic oil? Seriously, where do you people come up with this shit?

The Ringer · 11-05-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swin500

Bushings filled with hydraulic oil? Seriously, where do you people come up with this shit?

Well, you can't just say "where do you people come up with this shit" and then offer none of your own suggestions. That makes you seem sort of, well, arrogant and full of shit?

-The Ringer

JamesM3M5 · 11-05-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swin500

Bushings filled with hydraulic oil? Seriously, where do you people come up with this shit?

As in, "how do you know all this stuff" or, "you guys are full of shit, quit making it up."

Manufacturers have been doing this for about 15-20 years now. Thrust arm / tension strut bushings on 1990s and later 5/6/7/X series cars and E46 non-M3 front control arm bushings are the most common 2 piece fluid filled bushings. Engine mounts have had fluid in them since the 80s.

JamesM3M5 · 11-05-2011, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ringer

Oh, and also....how long do I have? Can I drive it like this for a day? Two days? Two weeks? How urgent would you deem this problem?

Thanks again--the expertise is always appreciated.

-The Ringer

Weeks/months. Since your fluid is still wet on the bushings, we can assume that this is very fresh. You will notice a shimmy in the front suspension/steering that gets worse over time. Nothing will fail catastrophically, but the shimmy can get bad at highway speeds or under light to moderate braking.

tibra1 · 11-05-2011, 09:09 PM

First determine what type of oil it is rub it on your fingers..smell it..get dirty..then once u determine whether it is engine oil or hydraulic oil look for leaks...a leak is entirely possible on the oil housing or an oil line/fitting.

JamesM3M5 · 11-05-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tibra1

First determine what type of oil it is rub it on your fingers..smell it..get dirty..then once u determine whether it is engine oil or hydraulic oil look for leaks...a leak is entirely possible on the oil housing or an oil line/fitting.

That would be true on a RWD 3 series, but the X has thrust arm bushings at the back of the wheel well, not the front. That dark oil from the bushings is very thin and will actually drip off and "dry" up over the next few weeks. This failure is very common.

tibra1 · 11-05-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tibra1

First determine what type of oil it is rub it on your fingers..smell it..get dirty..then once u determine whether it is engine oil or hydraulic oil ..look for leaks...a leak is entirely possible on the oil housing or an oil line/fitting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesM3M5

That would be true on a RWD 3 series, but the X has thrust arm bushings at the back of the wheel well, not the front. That dark oil from the bushings is very thin and will actually drip off and "dry" up over the next few weeks. This failure is very common.

As I said determine what type of oil it is and go from there.

JamesM3M5 · 11-06-2011, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tibra1

As I said determine what type of oil it is and go from there.

Not trying to be a dick, but I can read. On the Xi, there are no oil lines of any kind near the right front thrust arm bushing, which only leads to one conclusion: the bushing has lost its fluid. It's easy to see in the photos that the fluid is only on the suspension part, and the fluid has that watery thin consistency unlike engine oil. This is a common failure and an easy diagnosis. If the OP had a RWD car, then it could be 3 things: power steering, engine oil, or bushing fluid, since both P/S and engine oil lines run right above the bushings.

J02 335i · 11-06-2011, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swin500

Bushings filled with hydraulic oil? Seriously, where do you people come up with this shit?

Ummmm where to start. 3 years of college, 10 years as a tech and shop owner um 15 years in the field, I have changed hundreds of suspension bushing after they have leaked all their oil out. If that's not enough let me know, I'm sure there's more I can add, unlike your useless statement.

The Ringer · 11-06-2011, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J02 335i

Ummmm where to start. 3 years of college, 10 years as a tech and shop owner um 15 years in the field, I have changed hundreds of suspension bushing after they have leaked all their oil out. If that's not enough let me know, I'm sure there's more I can add, unlike your useless statement.

And people like you, sir, are the reasons I turn to this forum first. Even before my dealer. Thanks again for the help.

-The Ringer

11-04-2011, 06:46 PM	#1
The Ringer Enlisted Member 4 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2007 335xi Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Esko, MN iTrader: (0)	Leaking Suspension Fluid!? I know, I know. There's no suspension fluid, per se, but there certainly is something dripping out of a suspension component. I've attached pictures of the problem--they are from the front, passenger side of the car. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks. -The Ringer Attached Images
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11-04-2011, 09:07 PM	#2
JamesM3M5 Some dude 92 Rep 1,780 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	Can you take another 4-5 photos? I can't quite make it out. :-P Yes there is an oily fluid inside that particular suspension bushing. The bushing has cracked and is letting the fluid out. Happens at about 40-60k miles. Dealer will rape you on them, try an independent shop. Must always replace those bushings in pairs. __________________ RRT E92 335i/6MT with stuff and things
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11-04-2011, 11:15 PM	#3
cn555ic 441 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	If I could guess its leaking oil from your oil cooler in the passenger wheel liner. Look inside and you will see a grill. Behind that grill is the oil cooler. Possibly one of the lines is not tight or developed a leak
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11-05-2011, 08:33 AM	#10
J02 335i Lieutenant Colonel 39 Rep 1,558 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ontario iTrader: (1)	Like somebody already mentioned the bushings are filled with hydraulic oil to dampened vibrations from the road. You need new bushings. __________________ Sport pack, JB3, Dci, factory oil cooler, 18" M3 reps, Michelin PSS, painted trim, black grills, smoked side markers, LED plate lights, H&R coils, Borla catback
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11-05-2011, 08:39 AM	#11
JamesM3M5 Some dude 92 Rep 1,780 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	This may be covered under a CPO / extended warranty. Good luck. If you have to pay out of pocket, about $400-500 is about as much a you should consider paying. __________________ RRT E92 335i/6MT with stuff and things
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11-05-2011, 09:09 PM	#17
tibra1 Banned 127 Rep 6,773 Posts Drives: 2011 ZCP M3 - 2007 335i crashd Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (4)	First determine what type of oil it is rub it on your fingers..smell it..get dirty..then once u determine whether it is engine oil or hydraulic oil look for leaks...a leak is entirely possible on the oil housing or an oil line/fitting.
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