So I've had my FF a few months now, I've noticed a slight drip that seems to form near the front of the car so engine area along a steel bar that seems to run in parallel with the front axle.

I've opened the bonnet and can't see anything obvious so may end up taking it in to an independent but I'm just wondering what if any things are likely to leak on these BMW 4.4 v8 engines?

Having never owned a FF or even a RR before, I am unsure if this is typical or not.

I can well imagine the labour involved in changing seals is going to be high

The engine has covered 103,955 miles.

Is it coolant or oil ???? I remember that the water pumps on the BMW V8 engine had some reliability issues. If it is oil, crankseal behind the pulley or oil cooler connection/hose ?????? MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Alternators like to become incontinent on the BMW 4.4's if i remember correctly too

I think it's oil, it's light in colour possibly due to it having a major service in December. When I took it in for a full service I asked them to check underneath for leaks and they said it was all fine, they said it had had new breather pipes fitted 18 months or so ago and it could possibly be excess from the old pipes that was not cleaned down.

I know nothing of these engines and I assumed if something needed doing they would have said so but I do think I have a leak somewhere.

Maybe they misheard you sir?

"When I took it in for a full service I asked them to check underneath for leaks"

Maybe they thought you required one? Well, it has got a green oval

Apart from this, the only thing that has leaked badly is my wallet.

In this highly detailed technical drawing, taken from underneath the car looking towards the front, the red arrows indicate where a drip sometimes forms on the bar(s) and the red circle is where I think might be wet, but difficult to tell.

Took this into BLR today who were excellent as per usual. I am in need of 2 new rocker cover gaskets so this is booked in for a few weeks time. It is nothing to do with the gearbox, it's running down from above.

Ask them to change your VC solenoid seals as well. They are probably leaking worse than the cam covers if they haven't been replaced recently.

What are those?

Seals that attach to the upper timing covers and go around the variable camshaft control solenoids. They should be relatively cheap.