E12 1.4 vvti - oil leak

[kaliope]

My brother's 1.4 2003, 150,000 on the clock has developed an oil leak at the timing side. A garage told him the vvti solenoid valve was leaky and suggested replacing it. But what for if it is sound. Is there any gasket down the solenoid that could be replaced? 

[oldcodger]

If it was the  vvti solenoid oil control valve, seems there is an O ring that can be replaced, though at 150k it might be worth replacing the whole assembly?

Reason, as detailed in other posts here, they can fail electrically or simply break up internally/ difficult to remove

There is also the VVti oil filter bolted next to it, so that could be / also leaking.

If you do not believe your garage, then take a look yourselves, it could just be a leak from the rocker cover gasket just above, a more common problem.