[seningen]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

As my name has been mentioned, I guess it is time to chime in on the subject.

M96/97 engines never blow head gaskets, it just does not happen. So when someone leads off by telling you that yours need replacing, my first inclination would be to take the car somewhere else.

That said, these engines do sometimes have oil leaks from the cam cover areas, but these leaks can easily be fixed by someone with the correct knowledge and experience. On your car, I would first suspect spark plug tubes, then the cam cover itself. Neither of these are the end of the world, resealing the plug tubes is only slightly more complicated than changing the spark plugs. The cam covers are a bit more involved because they require a fixture to retain the cams in place while removing the cover to clear and reseal it. But it is still not a monster project.

One thing to consider is unless you can clearly see the source of the leak(s),cleaning the engine off and then waiting a bit to see where the leak (s) develop would be a safe pathway. Then you would know exactly what you are into.

+1

Mike