Well I just got done replacing the Dinan air filter in the M3. I am glad that I decided to take it out and see if it needed to be replaced. The car has 61K miles on it and I don’t think the previous owner ever replaced the air filter

Here is what they look like new
http://bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/hdtechnik2_files/Intake_12.JPG

Here is the old filter
http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/1294/3230/49275.jpg

Notice the grease and pea gravel filling in between the ribs of the old filter
http://www.mustangmods.com/ims/u/1294/3230/49274.jpg

My 199 E36 ///M3 was a Dinan ///M3. The filter you show can be cleaned, re-oiled and re-used. But, it needs to be cleaned and re-oiled periodically and not wait that long! :nono:

My 199 E36 ///M3 was a Dinan ///M3. The filter you show can be cleaned, re-oiled and re-used. But, it needs to be cleaned and re-oiled periodically and not wait that long! :nono:
From everything I haver read and even from talkin with they guys at Dinan it shouldn't be cleaned. It is a K&N filter but its made from papper unlike the reuseable K&N filters.

From everything I haver read and even from talkin with they guys at Dinan it shouldn't be cleaned. It is a K&N filter but its made from papper unlike the reuseable K&N filters.

Mine was NOT a paper K&N filter. That is strange, mine was the type of K&N filter that you would clean and replace. I wonder if they have changed what they sell? Mine was installed on my old 1999 ///M3. Mine was a full Dinan badged ///M3.

Mine was NOT a paper K&N filter. That is strange, mine was the type of K&N filter that you would clean and replace. I wonder if they have changed what they sell? Mine was installed on my old 1999 ///M3. Mine was a full Dinan badged ///M3.
Mine is aslo a 99 M3 and is just 3 points from being badged, I have no strut or shock tower braces. The blue Dinan filter from what I understand is made by K&N but is not the typical K&N filter. It is made of papper with a wire overlay similar to the K&N reuseable filters that use cotton gauze.