1996 850 AWD oil leak

[Randomnamegenerator]

Hello internet people,

I recently looked at a 1996 850 AWD and I am looking to buy it if the ADAC pre-purchase Check doesn't reveal any unexpected surprises.

The car is low KMs (114), drives really nice and I believe the body work will scrub up with some love and tender care.

However, when I was under the car poking around blindly with the phone camera I found a leak from somewhere. The car passed the PCV glove and dipstick test without issue so I am hoping it's not the dreaded RMS leak.

I have attached a video of said blind poking in the hope that it might give someone a clue. The bolts around the oil pan are very dirty but have read this is rarely the souce.

Based on the video does anyone have an idea where the leak might be coming from?

Thanks in advance

[Roger_850T]

Not the rear main seal, that would come out of the weep hole between the oil pan/block and the transmission. I can’t tell if it’s turbo or not; if it is a turbo I would suspect the turbo oil return line, likely where the line drains into the oil pan.

Roger

[scot850]

+1 with Roger on this. Does not look like RMS. It is a turbo if it is an AWD, although as it is in Europe not sure if they got a non-turbo version.

Neil.

[Randomnamegenerator]

Thank you for the quick reply. The car is turbo LPT model.

If it is the turbo return line it looks like a simple fix?

[scot850]

It is not easy on a FWD, but a devil to access on an AWD without a hoist as the angle gear makes access really challenging. I gave in and had a dealer do it for me.

Neil.

[abscate]

On any turbo the tool needed for the M5 bolts on the drain tube is a ball headed hex driver bit to allow off axis torque

Light hand on these , like 15Nm or 10 ft lb

[454cid]

To my untrained eye, that doesn't look like much oil, to me. I'd probably clean it up with the pressure washer, and then not worry about it.