Going to look at at car but it has oil leak advisory on MOT

[Lordbenny]

After having our lovely Cooper S nicked off our drive last Tuesday Ive seen a great Sidewalk Cooper for sale. Unfortunately it’s at 2.5 hour drive away so I need to be very confident that I want it before viewing. It seems perfect and we have already agreed a provisional price but...I’ve looked on its MOT history and it has an oil leak advisory for the past two tests.

If the seller (private, nice guy but no mechanic) can’t tell me where the leak is coming from do I walk away or take a punt that it might just be the valve cover gasket?

[MrC986]

Unless it's obvious where the leak is, I'd walk away. If the seller has a driveway, I'd have a good look under the car to see how badly stained the drive surface is. Rocker cover leaks are obvious when looking at the engine &( relatively simple to fix), though why you'd have a car for over 2 yrs with a noted oil leak makes me question how well it's been maintained generally?

I'd also have a look at the oil level once warm.

You don't mention whether it's an R53 or R56. To travel 2.5 hrs to look at a car with a known oil leak is a brave decision as I wouldn't. I'd be looking, if it were me, at a decent discount on similar age cars given the known leak & lets be serious (try Autotrader as a would-be seller & pump the car details in to see what they value it at for private sale etc.), the market starts to slow down at this time of year so it's very much in your favour. If the seller knows you've travelled 2.5 hrs though, they could prove more difficult to negotiate with.

[E-bmw]

Another few likely candidates are the power steering (stay clear) or oil filter housing (30 min job)

[miniwill58]

Agree with previous post, need to know if it's R53 or R56.

Having owned one before, I would imagine you're aware that R53 engines are known to leak oil from all sorts of places and it actually seems to be fairly "normal". If it were me, I'd be asking for pictures of underneath the car to try and understand how bad the leak is before the 2.5 hour drive. I take it there aren't any cars closer to you of a similar spec?

I've seen your other thread about having yours stolen, stty deal that, hope you get something decent sorted for a replacement. I wouldn't be surprised to find most R53s you look at will have an oil leak of some sort though...

[CarsOrBikes]

if it's an R53 power steering leaks are usually very minor that have been left for ages to congeal at the leak source, cleaning and monitoring can mean it's a while before you need to change the pipes which are no big deal

the most likely is the rear main seal and could explain why it's been advised on the last couple of tests, as pas would have failed, and the rear main is costly and would reflect an owner that doesn't care on the basis they think the oil level always looks ok.

still not a reason not to own it, just pay for a new clutch and rear main, it's you that'll get the long term benefit from it isn't it.

[steve-5snwi]

Pretty sure the Sidewalk is the R53, where in the country is it ?

[Lordbenny]

Ok, so, I’ve spoken to the seller, he’s a nice guy and it’s his Mrs’ car. He said there was an oil leak from the oil pressure sensor but he had it recently replaced with an oil and filter change. He said it no longer leaks!

Here’s the car.....



08 plate, 56,000, £4500

It’s SILVER not white by the way!

What do you reckon?

[GiveItSomeWellie]

Very nice, do like the Sidewalk.

Does it have Xenons, they were an option on the Sidewalk, you might be in for a shock going back to regular halogens!

ETA - Sorry, just realised it's a Cooper not an S.

[Lordbenny]

Our cooper S had them, don’t this this sidewalk does though.

[mark seeker]

Funnily enough on my last MOT I got an advisory on my R53 that there was an oil leak, the car isn't using / dripping oil although the power steering pump was replaced just before the MOT.

I do wonder if the MOT tester entered the code in error?