The filter on my AEM looks like its being crushed. almost like how a soda can would start to crush if you steped on it. I have looked numerous times to check if it was hitting anything when its installed but found that theres nothing that it hits. Im wondering if this is happening due to the car needing more air than can pass through it? causing it to sorta "implode". I wish I had a digi cam to show you what im talking about but does this happen to anyone elese?

 

This is common with K&N filters. I have sold\installed hundreds of AEM and K&N intakes and have seen probably 20-30 'sucked in' ones. The filters that seem most prone to this are the flat oval shaped ones, males sense cuse a circle is much stronger than an oval across it's narrowest dimention. round cone filters do this too though (as you already know). might be from dents making part of the cone weaker so it starts to fold in. I think that making sure you do not put slight dents in the ribs in the cone it will be less likely to colapse, just a theory but it makes sense so i do it.
What about water temporalily filling some of the holes in the filter and creating enough suction momentaraly to suck in the fliter uintil it clears. You can ingest some water without noticing too much of a change in how your motor is running so you woulden't even know when it happens, if it does, which i don't know. just some ideas, might help you.

 

so can i keep driving with it? Its not terribly bad or anything.

My thought was that maybe it got too dirty and didnt allow enough air to pass through causing it to suck in a little..

 

Ya i guess dirt could clog it enough. Most people clean them when they are not that dirty. As long as it is clean i would run it. especialy on a CAI where you can't see it. Just pull out the colapsed parts then try and straighten out the kinked ribs witht your fingers. Youll be fine. oh ya and your motor will be fine too.

 

anyone elese have this problem happen to them?