fe7565 wrote

Bottom line first: AI can help solve problems for the average person that even a year ago lead to a dead-stop/dead end in finding a solution. And this apples to BMW diagnostics/repair too.


I have prided myself to be able to diagnose and fix my own BMW issues that came up (luckily not many) during the last 13 years of my current aging F30. Without the help of this Forum I would have not been able to accomplish 90% of the retrofitting that I have done. I learned so much from these threads and so many people helped along the way. This is the part that I may be missing the most, if AI takes over as the "authoritative authority" on diagnosis and repair guides.

A warning with AI! You have to know some basics about the subject you are searching about, as based on the complexity of the topic, AI will make mistakes. And if you are clueless about your topic, you will go down some time-wasting and expensive rabbit holes. Guess how I know it...

However, let me illustrate what AI can do for you: I am an electronics hobbyist with no formal background other then some basics. For about 6 years 2018-2024 I was working in my spare time on some basic electrical/mechanical stuff that were closely related gadgets. I spent a lot of time on Google searching for answers, in various forums asking for assistance, etc I was never able to complete what I wanted, because of my lacking knowledge (regardless how much I learned online and from my mistakes...and I am not dumb). And it was not worth to pay someone to help, because that is no fun and defeats the purpose of the hobby.

About a month ago I dusted off my old projects and used Claude AI, Gemini AI, Grok AI, and couple of other more restrictive ones. In a couple of weeks of intense "work" I was able to get near the finishing line with projects that took me 6 years to get to 70%. A warning: you need to know enough to recognize when the AI makes a mistake, but you do not need to know as much a real professional engineer. However, the final work can be professional quality/level work with AI help.

How does this tie in with BMW and this Forum? I have increasingly used AI to help diagnose and validate error codes and potential solutions. Some of these with problems that I was able to solve previously in the old-fashioned way: first-hand experience, online research, with forum members help. And since I already knew the answer/solution to the problem at hand...I was able to evaluate the AI's response. Astonishingly accurate and comprehensive.

If you use AI, do not forget that often "garbage in...is...garbage out". Although AI can detect and re-interpret most misspellings, grammatical or syntax errors, you have to able to get your request into the ballpark. The more specific and comprehensive you are, the more accurate and focused answer you will receive from the AI.

I do not know if the AI will replace the awesome members of this Forum who give regular good advice (I hope not), but it certainly does provide a very useful option for DIY work.

Redd wrote

This forum is the best E9x M3 resource there is. Anyone know how we can get all the info in all these forum pages into NotebookLM and make it query-able? Unfortunately NotebookLM does not have a web scraper...

Janjohn wrote

Agree with everything said. A couple nit pics about the BMW AI available through the BMW App. I can’t highlight and copy the text in the answer. I have had to take multiple screenshots to view AI’s answer. That’s pretty lame.

There’s not a definitive list of English commands that the BMW Assistant understands. Really??? That’s inconvenient.

I most often use Google Gemini for searches, compar-os, and shopping. I use Grok for statistics that might have a political angle and ChatGPT for more image creation.

I’m certainly not afraid of AI, I’m hoping for significant technical advances to make my life easier. Right now, I’m left with the feeling “is that all there is”?

BMWGirlFL wrote

ChatGPT mod preview:

fe7565 wrote

I wonder what it would look like, if you change the chrome kidney-grill trims to "red satin chrome", like this, but a bit darker : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJ807X6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1


or this "red lava pearlizer" color : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J16X0Z0?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

I have black grills with chrome trims around, however used this same "red satin chrome" for the two crossbars inside, in front of the radiator and used the "red lava pearlizer" DIP spray for my brake calipers.

BMWGirlFL wrote

Bottom is before and too black for me. Think I'll be happy with just frame swapped to cerium. ChatGPT will add red accent stripes if you want to play with yours.

smokinjoe64 wrote

thas an ole school approach...precisely one reason for generative AI to vastly improve search, access, data compilation, analysis etc

Redd wrote

Any suggestions then how to get an LLM into this site without needing the admins to do anything?

PurpleZ wrote

While AI is fun to play with in terms of pictures, I’d not trust anything in terms of advice or research. It gets just so much wrong. Here’s a recent vid on AI and one of my other hobbies guitar……

BMWGirlFL wrote

ChatGPT mod preview:

Brandoch wrote

I still have not (knowingly and willingly) used AI.

I learned in elementary and high school how to search the internet in the 90's and early 2000's. I was also taught to "never believe in things you see on the internet unless you can verify it your self". I was also taught about privacy and personal information.

I just have no practical use for it in day to day living. And I am not willing to use it for fun because of my own privacy concerns. This is my only form of social media.

I'm definitely feeling like the old guy shaking his cane at new things. But I'm OK with that.

fe7565 wrote

Bottom line first: AI can help solve problems for the average person that even a year ago lead to a dead-stop/dead end in finding a solution. And this apples to BMW diagnostics/repair too.

zubobawud49 wrote

....people who benefit most are the ones already doing what you described—DIYers with enough knowledge to filter signal from noise.