I have a 2004 auto 330ci which since buying a few months back has been smelling of burning oil after anything more than a 10 minute run.

At first I thought it was engine oil as the bottom of the lump and the steering rack was covered. I put the car into a so-called bmw specialist and paid to have a seal replaced on the engine that is common to give up (on the joint where the oil filter housing meets the engine) as they said tomeafter takign a look over it that it was almost certainly the point of the leak. I also asked them to check the box and dif oil levels just in case. A few hundred pounds spent and the problem is no better, though they did say they also had to top up both the dif and box oil.

I have since cleaned and de-greased the underneath of the engine and steering but shortly after I continued to get the burning smell. I took it to my local garage that I used to use for my old car and we got under it and had a good look around. There was a fair amount of oil over the box and between it and the engine, but nothing on the engine or steering where I had cleaned it. The mechanic seems to think either the input to the box is leaking or possibly the torque converter. He suggests taking both out and while they're out, replacing all seals to be on the safe side, while also giving the box a going over with new fluids and filter. Considering the amount of oil on the tranny, I really can't beleive the 'specialist' who topped up the oil failed to notice or mention this - if indeed he even bothered looking at the box?

Has anyone ever had this done and what sort of money am I looking at - as it doesn't sound cheap to me?

There is also the debate about changing the box oil or not as it can supposedly do more damage than good. Current mileage is around 73k, does that matter?

Any suggestions or advice on garages to use in north east london. hertfordshire or essex, would be appreciated.

Cheers

Jamie

If this was me... I'd clean the whole engine and box again, lift the car, run the engine (and thru the gears) and watch where the initial leak appears and work back/up from that...

Try to determine which oil is leaking... If it is the tranny then pop it off the car...