The idea is that you see it here first and then fix it before it leaks
. At least it saved a bit of time diagnosing. It seems that the dealers are not checking these filters for condition, let alone replacing them. They are supposed to be replaced every 15,000 miles according to the M3W service schedule but there is no calendar backstop, 3 or 4 years would be reasonable I would say. Make sure there is some insulation between the clamp and the filter body when it's replaced and write the date on the filter so you know when it was last changed.
