CHF leak on driver's side

[r4dr]

I think I already know the answer, but I thought I would confirm... had what I thought was an oil leak on the left side, but that didn't quite add up since I'd expect oil leaks on the right side. The dried oil was also sticky, which Google told me was CHF. It looks like it's coming from the SMG pump(?), and I just wanted to confirm as I've never familiarized myself with the SMG system. Pic is attached.

I also checked the SMG reservoir for the first time ever, and there was barely any fluid in there. Topped it up, but I think it's manual swap time.

Does my train of thought make sense to everyone? Any suggestions for what else it could be?

[oceansize]

Could be and seems logical with respect to the leak but as always hard to be precise without getting a good look. Did you check the reservoir with the engine cold? There is a seal around the plastic reservoir that is directly attached to the pump (not the fill reservoir), solenoid O-rings, two O-rings in the hole where the fill reservoir hose attaches to the pump, temp sensor O-rings, pressure sensor O-rings, and accumulator O-rings.

If you don't want to refresh the O-rings then the swap might be your answer.

[eacmen]

Often times the smg fluid reservoir is removed for other service but not reinstalled correctly.

If its is leaking from the reservoir. I think manual swap is an extreme reaction to needing an o ring.

If its leaking from the pump itself and a new pump is required then manual swap might be prudent if that is the path you have wanted to take with the car.

[r4dr]

Could be and seems logical with respect to the leak but as always hard to be precise without getting a good look. Did you check the reservoir with the engine cold? There is a seal around the plastic reservoir that is directly attached to the pump (not the fill reservoir), solenoid O-rings, two O-rings in the hole where the fill reservoir hose attaches to the pump, temp sensor O-rings, pressure sensor O-rings, and accumulator O-rings.

If you don't want to refresh the O-rings then the swap might be your answer.

I checked the reservoir while the engine was off, but I had been driving it for a while. Since I topped it off with fresh CHF, I feel like the transmission has been a bit more consistent with shifts. But that could all be in my head.

It's been slowly leaking for a while as far as I can tell. Makes it hard to pinpoint a leak, but I can clean it up and try to pinpoint it.

Often times the smg fluid reservoir is removed for other service but not reinstalled correctly.

If its is leaking from the reservoir. I think manual swap is an extreme reaction to needing an o ring.

If its leaking from the pump itself and a new pump is required then manual swap might be prudent if that is the path you have wanted to take with the car.

I was always going to swap the car, I was just waiting for the SMG to give me a reason. The reservoir hasn't been removed, possibly ever. I'll try narrowing down where it's leaking from, but I wouldn't be upset about swapping it.

[Arith2]

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/111701-smg-pump-rebuild-diy

This will save you $1500 for the swap. You CSL converted or tuned?