Oil leak - bmw newb

[mharper76]

My new to me x5 is losing/using about a quart every 3k miles.
I checked the valve cover - looks dry.

There is oil on the drivers side, some coming out of the joint on the intake tube, and the area under the air filter box is wet. I’m still learning my way around bmw so I’m not entirely sure, but I’m thinking the vvt is wet? (Photos attached)


There is oil on the rear or the engine but it looks like it’s coming down from the intake tube. The front of the trans cover is soaked in oil. I have no idea how long this has been an issue; car is a 15 with 73k on it.

Any advice based on the photos?

[Tomcat_F15_STL]

You may do better to drop the splash shield and look at things from the underside.

[yupetc]

OFHG is the only suspect I can name on that side of the valley. Oil gets dripped back down below the intake and with high heat from engine cycling, oil evaporates a bit and doust the general area with oil.