Is this leak from the oil filter housing ?

[Old-Duckman]

I've owned this car for 7 months and put 5000 miles on it. The oil level has hardly gone done since I bought it (never had to add oil) but today I saw a 2" dia. spot of oil when I backed out of the garage.

Looked around with a light and spotted this area. Is this what a leaking oil filter housing looks like or is it from somewhere else?

2004, 3.0, 57K miles.

 

[colb]

Looks like a classic case of the gasket between the oil filter housing and the engine block has failed, time to take it off and replace the gasket. Whilst your at it think about renewing the cam cover gasket as well, over time and with repeated heat cycles these go hard and brittle then start leaking. Usually a sign is not all well is oil leaking onto exhaust causing it to burn and produce smoke in the engine bay. If the centre plug well gaskets fail then that causes oil to get into the plug wells and fill them up around the spark plugs.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT53-USA-06-2004-E85-BMW-Z4_30i&diagId=11_2172
Oil Filter housing gasket here N0 6
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT53-USA-06-2004-E85-BMW-Z4_30i&diagId=11_2201

If you replace the cam cover gaskets be sure to get a kit that includes the round rubber seals that sit under the cover retaining bolts, they go hard with age and affect the tightness of the cover against the new gasket.

 

[Old-Duckman]

Looks like a classic case of the gasket between the oil filter housing and the engine block has failed, time to take it off and replace the gasket. Whilst your at it think about renewing the cam cover gasket as well, over time and with repeated heat cycles these go hard and brittle then start leaking. Usually a sign is not all well is oil leaking onto exhaust causing it to burn and produce smoke in the engine bay. If the centre plug well gaskets fail then that causes oil to get into the plug wells and fill them up around the spark plugs.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT53-USA-06-2004-E85-BMW-Z4_30i&diagId=11_2172
Oil Filter housing gasket here N0 6
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT53-USA-06-2004-E85-BMW-Z4_30i&diagId=11_2201

If you replace the cam cover gaskets be sure to get a kit that includes the round rubber seals that sit under the cover retaining bolts, they go hard with age and affect the tightness of the cover against the new gasket.

Colb thank you for the info, suggestions and links.

I assumed the leak was coming from the housing, thank you for the confirmation. Watched a couple videos, only one Z4 specific. Another time where the lack of a power steering pump and reservoir is to our advantage. I plan on replacing the serpentine belt and the VANOS supply hose while I’m there.

I looked at the valve cover when checking for evidence of the leak and the front left corner did show signs of leaking. Appreciate your suggestions.