Dinan Intake vs. BMW Performance: Functionality

I want imput based on knowledge and understaning about each's functionality. Not just what I have and love, or no intakes will not yield anything, or not worth the $$)

With all the new hype about the BMW intake being a steal for an OEM part at $275 I was giving some thought on maybe purchasing it. I currently have a Dinan airbox and very much like it. Sounds great and uses an oem design with a tube running down to the brake duct. I am a BMW Perf. wh0re so the new price caught my attention. Not only is the price great, but Daniel_ZHP produced a before and after dyno of the intake with NO other modifications and had suprising results.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...ke+review+%233

He gained an average of 6.5 whp and 1.3 wtq over the stock airbox.

Here is the shot of the filter:


I haven't seen this type of gain with dyno shown on a Dinan Airbox or even an AFE. So, is it the design of the BMW that yeilds these gains? Or the filter? The only difference in my case, my Dinan has a different filter. I have those RPI scoops which act similar to the BMW Intake inlet scoop.

Should I swap my Dinan for the BMW? One would figure that BMW is better engineered, but then again they have been known to be conservative with stuff they make.

Opinions welcome, just stirring up a discussion
Again, $$$ is not an issue on this topic.

Good Find If your going with BMW Performance Setup with the C/F Look I would go for it. As for power, only a limited amount of power can be obtain from these CAI Systems. This is off topic but where did you get the C/F snorkel piece for the Non-M?

Should have mentioned that is not my car! Sorry about that.

Originally Posted by secono330ci

Should have mentioned that is not my car! Sorry about that.

Looks sick with all the C/F But to help out not Worth it IMO (2-3 HP < $300 dollars) Very Clean ZHP in your Sig BTW

Thanks man, yeah $$ is not an issue.

$275? Where are you getting that price from? Faulkner has it for$ 310. Cheapest i've seen.

Sent from my DROIDX using BimmerApp

Oh, well I guess my dealership is cheaper

BMW Performance

I ordered one Friday so hopefully when it comes in I'll have a better idea of the differences, but I doubt the filter is the difference. I noticed when I changed the filter on my stock airbox that there was room for improvement so I'm guessing the design promotes smoother flowing air or something of the sort.

Yup it is a nice peice! The reason I mentioned the filter is because the design and shape of a filter can have an effect. For example AFE's cone shape filter is suppose to be the main source of power whereas Dinan's is using the colder air from the brake duct.

I'm dyno testing my intake this week, well see what type of gains can be had.

I will keep posted!

A dinan tube style intake will net the most power, here is my car when I had the CSL bumper:







My car now with an M-Tech II Coupe front bumper:





This style of intake is the only true CAI, the rest are short ram but say they are cai's

When it comes to intakes, cold air isn't the only factor. Air velocity is also key, with this kind of intake the air actually has time to build much higher velocity then a standard oem intake or the other ram air's

One of the techs at work has the tube he's trying to sell. I have xenons though...so I'm not sure what needs to be done with relocating?

Originally Posted by secono330ci

One of the techs at work has the tube he's trying to sell. I have xenons though...so I'm not sure what needs to be done with relocating?

dinan sells a relocation kit, or you could just put it on the strut tower with some mounting tape like you do with the aftermarket hid kits.

Originally Posted by lllSupra

dinan sells a relocation kit, or you could just put it on the strut tower with some mounting tape like you do with the aftermarket hid kits.

Ok cool. 3 convos all different places