Dinan Carbon Fiber Intake *Versions and Findings*

[GORDON.M3]

Alright, so I thought I’d do the community a favor and compile some of the findings I have discovered over the years of owning this generation M3. I’d like to start by showing you guys something I have found interesting with the Dinan Carbon Fiber intake.

The Dinan carbon fiber intake has been around for nearly all of the E9x M3’s life. I’m sure this was one of the most sold/sought after intake option for many years. A lot of you, like me, might have been the first modification to the engine in your car.

I am making this thread because of the many recent carbon fiber plenum options in the market. People were concerned about the weaving direction in the engine bay of the carbon fiber options out there. I can tell you now, Dinan has at least 2 versions out there which are quite different from one another.



Having a look here, the top one is a Dinan carbon fiber intake sold in recent years of production. I am not sure exactly the year but it is considered a v2 in my books. The one on the bottom is from the original batch of Dinan carbon fiber intakes, I’m going to call this one the v1. Both are 2x2 twill weaved carbon fiber elbows, however, you can see how the direction of the carbon weaving is completely different.



The weaving on the V1 is much sharper and the clarity of each weave is easily distinguished in comparison to the V2. You would easily call this a twill 2x2 carbon weave. As you can see there is a slight yellowing going on with the V1, it is probably from all the heat that has built up in the engine bay over the years that has given it a slight yellow tint.



The weaving in the V2 is a bit boxy, its not nearly as sharp. You can easily see how the carbon is also darker in comparison, I suspect this is not related to the age of the carbon in comparison to the V1 but the color of the carbon fabric itself is darker pigment. The Dinan logo is also slightly more embossed and protrudes further out, being more pronounced than the older v1.



I decided to weigh the elbows, to see what were the differences in the kind of carbon fiber fabric used. As you can see, the V1 weighs in about 150g. On the inside, the carbon fiber is nicely defined and there is no mistaking it is a 2x2 weaved carbon fabric.



Now weighing the V2 elbow, it weighs in at 146g. It is slightly lighter than the original v1. On the inside, it is less defined and it doesn’t show the weaving very well. It also looks a lot smoother on the inside, possibly clear coated.

I spent some time to lightly tap both intake elbows with my fingers, the sound the v1 makes is a much more hollow sound to it. The v2 surprisingly has a more solid sound to it, a completely different tone. Now I’m not sure which one is more solid in rigidity but both are roughly the same in thickness.

I hope you guys got a bit of information and insight out of this post when planning on pairing your carbon fiber plenum with your Dinan CF intake elbow. I personally like the V1 more than the V2, even though the Dinan logo is more pronounced in the V2, the carbon fiber from the V1 looks to be a more accurate representation of what pre-preg carbon fiber is. The V2 In my eyes looks a bit slightly cheap in comparison but don’t let my opinion persuade you on picking the one you want. Either part you have or get is still a great carbon fiber intake in my opinion.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by GORDON.M3

I hope you guys got a bit of information and insight out of this post when planning on pairing your carbon fiber plenum with your Dinan CF intake elbow. I personally like the V1 more than the V2, even though the Dinan logo is more pronounced in the V2, the carbon fiber from the V1 looks to be a more accurate representation of what pre-preg carbon fiber is. The V2 In my eyes looks a bit slightly cheap in comparison but don't let my opinion persuade you on picking the one you want. Either part you have or get is still a great carbon fiber intake in my opinion.

but which one is louder?

[GORDON.M3]

Originally Posted by akkando

but which one is louder?

Not quite sure, might depend on what you like...
V1 has a much more hollowing sound to it, where as the v2 had a more solid sound. Volume wise they are about the same. Unfortunately I didn’t do a video of both in comparison to the sound.

[wyatth]

Very interesting. I have what I imagine is a V2 because the weave goes top left to bottom right (and it’s maybe 2-3yo), but the weave is somewhere between those 2. Not as crisp as V1, but doesn’t look as “fake” as your V2.
I love the intake: some nice sound and response, looks good, fits perfectly and well made. But I don’t think it goes well with any of the carbon plenums because the weave is so unique. I can’t imagine there’s much audible difference between the versions.
Thanks for the info!

[rks68rt]

I have the v1 from early 2017 before Dinan moved the manufacturing and engineering to Alabama after the buy out. I'm wondering if this is an artifact of lesser quality????.....

[EMKOOP]

Is that even a conventional weave on the V2 (Or maybe we are all accustomed to the rectangular weave on 2x2?)?

Visually it "looks" like a faux CF product

[//steve\\]

I agree. That V2 doesn't even look like it's real CF.

[wyatth]

Originally Posted by rks68rt

I have the v1 from early 2017 before Dinan moved the manufacturing and engineering to Alabama after the buy out. I'm wondering if this is an artifact of lesser quality????.....

It's not lesser quality. If anything, maybe better (in that it looks like more traditional CF). But they are equal quality, just a different carbon weave fabric.

[GORDON.M3]

I don't think its cheaper in quality as Dinan does have a reputation to live up to. It's just a change in supplier for the Carbon fabric. But I still prefer the V1 over the V2 only because the V2 fabric is quite different from other traditional 2x2 Twill carbon.

[acarr6]

Originally Posted by GORDON.M3

I don't think its cheaper in quality as Dinan does have a reputation to live up to. It's just a change in supplier for the Carbon fabric. But I still prefer the V1 over the V2 only because the V2 fabric is quite different from other traditional 2x2 Twill carbon.

Pretty interesting. My old dinan car had the "V1" and the car was from 08. So make sense.

[SilverSlug]

Thanks for posting this. This is great info.

I’ve posted a photo of mine as well to help compare. Although mine looks more like the V1 in your photos, the weave is perpendicular to yours.

I also took some closer style shots to get a better view of the weave (flash and no flash), as well as one showing the embossing, and one showing how smooth/rough the interior is.

Anyone with a Dinan intake should post a photo of their’s as well.

[EMKOOP]

Literally what's stopping me from adding one to the cart is the inability to know whether I will be shipped a "V1" 🥴

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by EMKOOP

Literally what's stopping me from adding one to the cart is the inability to know whether I will be shipped a "V1" 🥴

From reading this thread the V1 is no longer in production.

[SilverSlug]

Originally Posted by EMKOOP

Literally what's stopping me from adding one to the cart is the inability to know whether I will be shipped a "V1" 🥴

You should order one and post photos when it arrives!

It’s well worth it either way, so worth it. You’ll be glad you did.

Get the Dinan software and underdrive pulley while you’re at it... Thank me later.

[EMKOOP]

Originally Posted by BigBoosting

From reading this thread the V1 is no longer in production.

Yes I understand the V1 is no longer are "in production" but what I meant was that I would not have the ability to click buy for a "V1" even if a vendor out there happened to have old stock in their inventory. Both versions share the same PN.

[GORDON.M3]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

You should order one and post photos when it arrives!

It’s well worth it either way, so worth it. You’ll be glad you did.

Get the Dinan software and underdrive pulley while you’re at it... Thank me later.

The dinan pulley is a PITA to install with the supplied belt.
Run a slightly oversized belt and you won't have issues.

Software wise, you can go with any other tuner. But Dinan for sure is one of the safest tunes on the market for the money.

[GORDON.M3]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

Thanks for posting this. This is great info.

I’ve posted a photo of mine as well to help compare. Although mine looks more like the V1 in your photos, the weave is perpendicular to yours.

I also took some closer style shots to get a better view of the weave (flash and no flash), as well as one showing the embossing, and one showing how smooth/rough the interior is.

Anyone with a Dinan intake should post a photo of their’s as well.

Based on the photos you have provided, yours is the last of the V1. It already has a newer/darker tint to it which suggests the pigment of the clear/resin is darker.

This makes me pretty certain the one I have is a V1 from 08/09.
Here's a closer-up photo. As you can see there is a slight yellow tint to it.

[SilverSlug]

One would think that the newer ones would be better, no?

Is the V2 you have real carbon fiber?

[GORDON.M3]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

One would think that the newer ones would be better, no?

Is the V2 you have real carbon fiber?

It seems like it's real carbon fiber, but it's a strange kind of carbon fabric it doesn't have as much of a hollowing sound to it.
Possibly heavier in GSM units.

[SilverSlug]

And ya the underdrive pulley can be a pita, but if you do it with two people, it slips right on with the provided belt!

I like the Dinan tune a lot, there is a reason why Dinan parts don’t breach BMW warranty, it’s because they maintain longevity of the engine. I rather run smoother longer, than sacrifice the engine for a couple extra ponies.

[GORDON.M3]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

And ya the underdrive pulley can be a pita, but if you do it with two people, it slips right on with the provided belt!

I like the Dinan tune a lot, there is a reason why Dinan parts don’t breach BMW warranty, it’s because they maintain longevity of the engine. I rather run smoother longer, than sacrifice the engine for a couple extra ponies.

I wished they still did the stage 2 tunes which got rid of the CEL. But I think Dinan got into some legal disputes with emissions and CARB so they no longer offer it to the general public.

[M4_GTS]

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

And ya the underdrive pulley can be a pita, but if you do it with two people, it slips right on with the provided belt!

I like the Dinan tune a lot, there is a reason why Dinan parts don’t breach BMW warranty, it’s because they maintain longevity of the engine. I rather run smoother longer, than sacrifice the engine for a couple extra ponies.

Dinan parts will void the bmw warranty just like any other brand. Dinan offers their own warranty in place of the bmw warranty. If you do a search, Dinan stroker engines been known to have issues and Dinan did not honor their warranty.