Dirty Dinan?

wildwestm3 · 07-13-2014, 07:21 PM

I apparently have a Dinan air CAI on this car. I just took the airbox apart to take a look at the filter and it says Dinan on it. It's pretty dirty, so I want to clean it up. Anyone have this system on their car? I have had K&N on all my Mustangs, so I have the cleaner and oil for them. Does the Dinan air filter need oiled? Special cleaner? Soap and water?? Here is pic of what I have:

Sorry to sound stupid, I'm still learning about BMW and the aftermarket stuff associated with it. Thanks...

m3ray · 07-13-2014, 07:30 PM

Looks perfecty normal, but needs a cleaning. A bucket with soap and water, rinse the filter from inside out, allow to dry.

I am not sure if Dinan element requires oiling, if it does, you can just use the K&N oil.

Amirsm3 · 07-13-2014, 07:33 PM

Dinan recommends replacing the filter, but the way I've cleaned my cotton dry filters is as follows:

Fill two buckets with water and one of the buckets with a moderate amount of dish soap.
Take the dirty filter and tap it a few times to remove any loose debris
Soak and spin the filter without letting the dirty water up and over the opening to the inside
Do this until you feel the filter is clean enough
Now dunk the filter into the clean water bucket to rinse the soap off

Please allow a couple days to let it dry. I usually buy two filters to rotate whenever one needs a cleaning. I store the spare filter in a giant ziploc bag (make sure it's dry before you do this)

ghost4blind · 07-13-2014, 07:34 PM

Dinan sells replacement filters for their intake systems if you are interested in just replacing it. Btw if you consider selling it I might be interested

wildwestm3 · 07-13-2014, 07:42 PM

Selling what? I have the K&N cleaning solution, think that will work? Also, I'm hearing nothing about oiling it once dry. I guess none of you are using the oil?

M3 Esq · 07-13-2014, 07:46 PM

I have this intake and asked Dinan how to clean the filter. They told me to just clean it like you would a K&N and oil. You can call them and they'll tell you what to do.

ghost4blind · 07-13-2014, 08:31 PM

sell the whole intake lol

wildwestm3 · 07-13-2014, 09:25 PM

Wow, I just looked it up and it is $1000 from Dinan! Uh, no...I'm keeping it

wildwestm3 · 07-13-2014, 09:35 PM

Had to clean it twice with the K&N cleaner. Cleaned, oiled and re-installed. Much better!

FogCityM3 · 07-13-2014, 09:37 PM

The filter is actually made by K&N especially for Dinan. It is reusable, though they recommend to change it for optimum power (translation make more money) but made of exact same oiled cotton gauze material as K&N (albeit different color). Mine gets pretty dirty after 7-10k miles and I just buy a new one given they're local and don't have to pay shipping.

Ludey · 07-14-2014, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FogCityM3

The filter is actually made by K&N especially for Dinan. It is reusable, though they recommend to change it for optimum power (translation make more money) but made of exact same oiled cotton gauze material as K&N (albeit different color). Mine gets pretty dirty after 7-10k miles and I just buy a new one given they're local and don't have to pay shipping.

Interesting - that's good info!

And it also makes it more suspect from a Dinan perspective... IE why would they recommend buying a new one when it's actually a K&N, which as we all know, really big on their "lasts a lifetime" claim to fame.

W/// · 07-14-2014, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildwestm3

Had to clean it twice with the K&N cleaner. Cleaned, oiled and re-installed. Much better!

Nice job, that filter was filthy.

FogCityM3 · 07-14-2014, 11:38 AM

Personally think it's to sell more filters. When I asked them about this they said, sure you can absolutely clean the filter like any other K&N filter, but oftentimes cleaning doesn't get everything out, so getting a new one would optimize performance.

Now from my own experience I used to clean my aftermarket filters and do think not everything comes out, you can over oil, etc, but these days, cost/benefit wise its just easier for me to buy a new one for $70 every time I need one just for ease.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ludey

Interesting - that's good info!

And it also makes it more suspect from a Dinan perspective... IE why would they recommend buying a new one when it's actually a K&N, which as we all know, really big on their "lasts a lifetime" claim to fame.

M3 Esq · 07-14-2014, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FogCityM3

Personally think it's to sell more filters. When I asked them about this they said, sure you can absolutely clean the filter like any other K&N filter, but oftentimes cleaning doesn't get everything out, so getting a new one would optimize performance.

Now from my own experience I used to clean my aftermarket filters and do think not everything comes out, you can over oil, etc, but these days, cost/benefit wise its just easier for me to buy a new one for $70 every time I need one just for ease.

Interesting. They told me they recommend a new filter because most people won't know how to clean the used one.

Sedan_Clan · 07-14-2014, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W///

Nice job, that filter was filthy.

+2

W/// · 07-14-2014, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3 Esq

Interesting. They told me they recommend a new filter because most people won't know how to clean the used one.

It's possible, because some people are complete idiots (saw a video of a shop draining the engine oil of a car. It was full of a water because a woman said she added some because her car was overheating).

At $40 a pop (at least for E36 M3 anyway), I can understand why some people wouldn't bother. But at the same time it's not rocket science either.

I will say, I like K&N kit a lot. Their oil is a light spray on type. I had the AFE kit and theirs you had to pour from a little bottle, and it came out as a liquid.

wildwestm3 · 07-16-2014, 05:04 PM

Yea, it was nasty. It actually had a hand full of leaf debris on it that I took off before I took that picture. Cleaning and oiling the filter is not rocket science. Definitely not worth it to buy a new one all the time. Serious waste of money IMHO...

HP Man · 07-16-2014, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildwestm3

Yea, it was nasty. It actually had a hand full of leaf debris on it that I took off before I took that picture. Cleaning and oiling the filter is not rocket science. Definitely not worth it to buy a new one all the time. Serious waste of money IMHO...

That all depends on how you value your time. For me, it is a waste of my time/money to clean/re-oil air filters. I'll gladly pay for a new one.

lsmkr01 · 07-16-2014, 07:01 PM

I have this too and will pick up one more filter. I can switch them and the dirty one can get cleaned, oiled and ready for next time. Funny thing was 70 to me was ok but 20 shipping to SC actually made me no do it at first. I know it makes no sense coming from a guy who paid 800 for the whole thing new but for some reason it did.

0_to_60 · 07-16-2014, 10:40 PM

What would happen if you dont oil it?, just clean it with soap/water and reinstall it?

dpgfunk · 07-16-2014, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0_to_60

What would happen if you dont oil it?, just clean it with soap/water and reinstall it?

Decrease filtration and increase breathability

timothy2001 · 01-16-2021, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3 Esq

I have this intake and asked Dinan how to clean the filter. They told me to just clean it like you would a K&N and oil. You can call them and they'll tell you what to do.

Won't be able to call until Tuesday likely, can anyone confirm these should be oiled? I have two dirty ones and will clean with soap and water but as I recall they did not come oiled?

Anyone know definitively if the Dinan air filters need to be/should be oiled?

07-13-2014, 07:21 PM	#1
wildwestm3 Captain 247 Rep 693 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Convertible Join Date: May 2014 Location: Springboro OH iTrader: (2)	Dirty Dinan? I apparently have a Dinan air CAI on this car. I just took the airbox apart to take a look at the filter and it says Dinan on it. It's pretty dirty, so I want to clean it up. Anyone have this system on their car? I have had K&N on all my Mustangs, so I have the cleaner and oil for them. Does the Dinan air filter need oiled? Special cleaner? Soap and water?? Here is pic of what I have: Sorry to sound stupid, I'm still learning about BMW and the aftermarket stuff associated with it. Thanks... __________________ Thanks, Dave [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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07-13-2014, 07:30 PM	#2
m3ray Banned 106 Rep 701 Posts Drives: '09 e92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	Looks perfecty normal, but needs a cleaning. A bucket with soap and water, rinse the filter from inside out, allow to dry. I am not sure if Dinan element requires oiling, if it does, you can just use the K&N oil.
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07-13-2014, 07:33 PM	#3
Amirsm3 Brigadier General 540 Rep 3,482 Posts Drives: 2011 Space Grey e90 M3 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Williams/Flagstaff, AZ iTrader: (3)	Dinan recommends replacing the filter, but the way I've cleaned my cotton dry filters is as follows: Fill two buckets with water and one of the buckets with a moderate amount of dish soap. Take the dirty filter and tap it a few times to remove any loose debris Soak and spin the filter without letting the dirty water up and over the opening to the inside Do this until you feel the filter is clean enough Now dunk the filter into the clean water bucket to rinse the soap off Please allow a couple days to let it dry. I usually buy two filters to rotate whenever one needs a cleaning. I store the spare filter in a giant ziploc bag (make sure it's dry before you do this) __________________ 2011 e90 M3 Space Grey DCT ZCP- eAs, BMW Performance, Agency Power, Macht Schnell, iND, Milltek, Volk, Challenge, Stoptech, Ohlins BMWCCA:518970
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07-13-2014, 07:34 PM	#4
ghost4blind Lieutenant 39 Rep 411 Posts Drives: 2011 AW e92 m3 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	Dinan sells replacement filters for their intake systems if you are interested in just replacing it. Btw if you consider selling it I might be interested __________________ 11 e92 AW M3 ZCP l Dinan Front Strut Braces l Dinan Midpipe l Dinan Exhaust l Dinan Intake l BPM Stage II Tune l Euro DCT l Euro MDM 05 m3 Gray/Black 6MT l Dinan Intake l Dinan Exhaust l Dinan Front Strut Tower Brace SOLD 05 330xi SOLD
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07-13-2014, 07:42 PM	#5
wildwestm3 Captain 247 Rep 693 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Convertible Join Date: May 2014 Location: Springboro OH iTrader: (2)	Selling what? I have the K&N cleaning solution, think that will work? Also, I'm hearing nothing about oiling it once dry. I guess none of you are using the oil? __________________ Thanks, Dave [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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07-13-2014, 07:46 PM	#6
M3 Esq Automobilist 418 Rep 2,631 Posts Drives: E70 X5, 911 GT3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (12)	I have this intake and asked Dinan how to clean the filter. They told me to just clean it like you would a K&N and oil. You can call them and they'll tell you what to do.
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07-13-2014, 08:31 PM	#7
ghost4blind Lieutenant 39 Rep 411 Posts Drives: 2011 AW e92 m3 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	sell the whole intake lol __________________ 11 e92 AW M3 ZCP l Dinan Front Strut Braces l Dinan Midpipe l Dinan Exhaust l Dinan Intake l BPM Stage II Tune l Euro DCT l Euro MDM 05 m3 Gray/Black 6MT l Dinan Intake l Dinan Exhaust l Dinan Front Strut Tower Brace SOLD 05 330xi SOLD
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07-13-2014, 09:25 PM	#8
wildwestm3 Captain 247 Rep 693 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Convertible Join Date: May 2014 Location: Springboro OH iTrader: (2)	Wow, I just looked it up and it is $1000 from Dinan! Uh, no...I'm keeping it __________________ Thanks, Dave [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Last edited by wildwestm3; 07-13-2014 at 09:30 PM..
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07-13-2014, 09:35 PM	#9
wildwestm3 Captain 247 Rep 693 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Convertible Join Date: May 2014 Location: Springboro OH iTrader: (2)	Had to clean it twice with the K&N cleaner. Cleaned, oiled and re-installed. Much better! __________________ Thanks, Dave [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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07-13-2014, 09:37 PM	#10
FogCityM3 Colonel 519 Rep 2,395 Posts Drives: M3 (E90) & Porsche GT3 RS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	The filter is actually made by K&N especially for Dinan. It is reusable, though they recommend to change it for optimum power (translation make more money) but made of exact same oiled cotton gauze material as K&N (albeit different color). Mine gets pretty dirty after 7-10k miles and I just buy a new one given they're local and don't have to pay shipping.
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07-16-2014, 05:04 PM	#17
wildwestm3 Captain 247 Rep 693 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Convertible Join Date: May 2014 Location: Springboro OH iTrader: (2)	Yea, it was nasty. It actually had a hand full of leaf debris on it that I took off before I took that picture. Cleaning and oiling the filter is not rocket science. Definitely not worth it to buy a new one all the time. Serious waste of money IMHO... __________________ Thanks, Dave [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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07-16-2014, 07:01 PM	#19
lsmkr01 Lieutenant Colonel 50 Rep 1,627 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SC iTrader: (0)	I have this too and will pick up one more filter. I can switch them and the dirty one can get cleaned, oiled and ready for next time. Funny thing was 70 to me was ok but 20 shipping to SC actually made me no do it at first. I know it makes no sense coming from a guy who paid 800 for the whole thing new but for some reason it did.
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07-16-2014, 10:40 PM	#20
0_to_60 Captain 122 Rep 649 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: LA, CA iTrader: (0)	What would happen if you dont oil it?, just clean it with soap/water and reinstall it?
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