Hi Folks.

I've an '04 R53 with 96k miles. Please help me identify this leak I discovered today. I can see where it's leaking but don't know what the part is. It's located to the left of the supercharger on a bracket connected to the wheel well. First pick shows the general area while the second is a closeup. You can see the seepage of black fluid at the bottom (it doesn't really feel like oil).




What the heck is it. I can't see anything connected to it other than the cable that runs from the top bracket to the bottom.

Thanks

 

Your hydraulic dampened motor mount took a dump. Pretty common, and to be expected at this age / mileage. Fortunately it's an extremely easy fix. You will need a small trolley jack (to raise engine), and a star socket (internal torx), I forget the size. Then a couple of normal 6 point hex sockets. I think 15mm for the top of the mount, and 13mm for the ground cable and locating arm spot welded to the top of the mount. I cant remember if you need to disconnect the top mount or not, but that's dead easy. I did mine in place in about 15 minutes, although mine is not a hydraulic mount, they are a bit different.

 

New hydrolic mounts are about $100...about 15 minutes to replace..
Think of the mount like an oil filled water balloon with a mounting bolt in a holder...the bolt eventually tears the baloon from the vibrations (its job), and it leaks....
The oem one has a pretty limited life...maybe 5 years, 50,000 miles or so.
waymotor works sells a urethane one (solid) that repaces it for life...
Some like it, some don't like the little bit of nvh...but as it breaks on, this is said to lessen by most molks over a few months.
If i recall correctly, rubbing alcohol will clean up the mess from the leaking oil...

 

Excellent. Thanks so much guys!!

 

That is def the oil from the motor mount.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/oem-upp...unt-04-06.html

 

Success! Ol' Tommy Tenthumbs managed to replace that motor mount. Took more than 15 minutes. More like 3 hours including running all over town to find an E12 Torx socket. And I didn't break anything.

Thanks again all.