E46 Oil leak

Alright so...long story shortened...

My E46 (318i) has an oil leak....a big one. 

Took it in for a service today, told it is leaking very badly (ive not had the car long, and okay i literally got it for peanuts, so it wasnt like i quibble about this or that and im not much down whatever the end scenario).

The fella has given me a list of potential causes, and advises i get it steam cleaned to find out where the leak is originating. 

Just after a bit of advice for my next step really.  I am not interested in breaking the car up or getting shot of it.  I know i guess they are ten a penny cars, but im notoriously stupid and anything that comes into my possession I hate getting rid of unless it is absolutely the last case scenario. 

So basically, is steam cleaning advisable?   The bloke reckons the issue is, if it is steam cleaned and driven to a garage basically its going to be a mess again by the time it arrives, so it might not be any easier to see...i cant see how that is because it wont have whats probably an accumulation of years of crap there at least? 

The list of things he thinks it could be are below;

Timing chain cover or gasket
Front crackshaft oil seal
Headgasket
Crankcase compression



If there are any E46 gurus out there i'd really be very interested to hear!  And appreciative too. 


Further issues are minor compared to that, but i dont really wanna go ahead and get new brake pads and etc if theres more expensive work to do first. 


Cheers in advance, any other info needed please mention and i'll do my best to say!  I think part of the issue is im not hugely mechanically savvy. 

Thanks!

Thanks for the reply.  I think ive set about a plan with it at least.  I'll have it cleaned and take it to my sister in laws uncle to get a look at it, the distance between the two isnt far anyway, lets see what he suggests!

Thanks - am yet to get a chance to have a look, but i'll bear it in mind!  Appreciate it