My AEM CAI was rubbing against the "hole" (I don't know what it is called either

). But luckily I caught it before it went all the way through. So I just got a piece of rubber hose and cut it from top to bottom on one side making a kind of sleeve. I just wedged that piece of rubber between the intake and the metal, haven't had a problem since and you can't even see the rubber. Just something you may want to try when you get your new intake. Either way, sorry to hear about your first intake.....that sux. But good luck in the future.