Taycan headlights stolen in worst possible way 🤢

[WasserGKuehlt]

Are Taycan lights the equivalent of catalytic converters on ICE cars?

No, they're much quieter.

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[rs38]

Do we know what country? I'm guessing Germany from the EU style front number plate and the Germany emissions sticker on the window of the last photo.

According to the reports on Reddit it was in my home town Düsseldorf.
Went viral, got it from 3-4 sides yesterday.
I'd assume it's more than 20k to repair.

 

[Donar]

Just wondering why they would pick these Porsche headlights. There are so many cars with (matrix) LED headlights.

It’s not new. In the past his also happened a lot with xenon lights here, to grow the cannabis.

So my first thought they stole the more expensive matrix lights so it can be sold for retrofitting.

 

[Stewartt997]

Someone tried to do this to my Taycan before Xmas. They obviously gave up when the driver side headlight didn't pop out easily but still cost £9K to repair!

 

[Vercingetorix]

Just wondering why they would pick these Porsche headlights. There are so many cars with (matrix) LED headlights.

It’s not new. In the past his also happened a lot with xenon lights here, to grow the cannabis.

So my first thought they stole the more expensive matrix lights so it can be sold for retrofitting.

I’m guessing aluminum fenders are easier to cut?

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

Perhaps Porsche should design the headlights with crypto secured digital communications, making them very hard to use outside the car or in other cars. For the right-to-repair crowd a Porsche dealer service to unlock the headlight for pairing with a new car - this should be cheap enough, but require check against stolen headlight database, and of course identification of whoever is bringing in the headlight to be unlocked.

Or, at least require online pairing for each new car via Taycan PCM. Only allow it to be paired with a Taycan after a check against stolen parts. Light does not work outside of Taycan.

(scene opens: it's a dark alley in a quiet suburb of Duesseldorf, a bit after 1am.)
The moon peers through a thin layer of clouds, unveiling a string of parked cars - and an approaching silhouette. The operator walks determinedly towards the sleek wagon, a large duffel bag slung across his back. He circles the car cautiously, looking for any active dashcams. None are spotted - hardly surprising for what is a notoriously difficult car to retrofit with useful cameras. He sets down the bag near the front driver's side, turns on a redlight headlamp and feels with his gloved hand the smooth panel with the dexterity of a paint QC inspector down in Zuffenhausen.

The Mamba green paint takes on strange hues from the combination of dim moonlight and the operator's lamp. He reaches out through the wheel opening, pries open the fender liner and exposes an opening wide enough to reach inside. He stops briefly, senses heightened - nothing. Without looking, he grabs an instrument from the bag; the knurling on the punch made from super-hardened boron steel sharpened with CO2 laser feels assuring, but he hesitates - it might be too loud. He lets go of the tool, and instead picks up the CO2 laser. He proceeds to slice open the fender, working methodically. He makes a long, smooth cut, with relief transversal cuts every 30cm.

Barely 15 min passed, and the fender is fully open. He bends the panels carefully, stops for a brief moment, and, with a wry smile, decides to make a few flare cuts - in this job, panache is as important as anonymity. At last, the light assembly is revealed. He expertly uncouples the connector, pries the assembly from its support, and lifts it out of the car. A bright yellow sticker draws his attention, and he adjusts the headlamp to read it:

“Attention fender cutters/illegal horticulturalists: this light module is cryptographically locked to this vehicle; if removed, it won't work without proprietary equipment, operated directly by our specialist technicians flown from Stuttgart to your local dealer (or a PIWIS 3)."

"Shit." He thinks for a second, shrugs his shoulders, slips the light assembly into the foam pouch he had made to fit, and places it in the bag. "Might as well take 'em."

(scene ends)

 

[whitex]

(scene opens: it's a dark alley in a quiet suburb of Duesseldorf, a bit after 1am.)
The moon peers through a thin layer of clouds, unveiling a string of parked cars - and an approaching silhouette. The operator walks determinedly towards the sleek wagon, a large duffel bag slung across his back. He circles the car cautiously, looking for any active dashcams. None are spotted - hardly surprising for what is a notoriously difficult car to retrofit with useful cameras. He sets down the bag near the front driver's side, turns on a redlight headlamp and feels with his gloved hand the smooth panel with the dexterity of a paint QC inspector down in Zuffenhausen.

The Mamba green paint takes on strange hues from the combination of dim moonlight and the operator's lamp. He reaches out through the wheel opening, pries open the fender liner and exposes an opening wide enough to reach inside. He stops briefly, senses heightened - nothing. Without looking, he grabs an instrument from the bag; the knurling on the punch made from super-hardened boron steel sharpened with CO2 laser feels assuring, but he hesitates - it might be too loud. He lets go of the tool, and instead picks up the CO2 laser. He proceeds to slice open the fender, working methodically. He makes a long, smooth cut, with relief transversal cuts every 30cm.

Barely 15 min passed, and the fender is fully open. He bends the panels carefully, stops for a brief moment, and, with a wry smile, decides to make a few flare cuts - in this job, panache is as important as anonymity. At last, the light assembly is revealed. He expertly uncouples the connector, pries the assembly from its support, and lifts it out of the car. A bright yellow sticker draws his attention, and he adjusts the headlamp to read it:

“Attention fender cutters/illegal horticulturalists: this light module is cryptographically locked to this vehicle; if removed, it won't work without proprietary equipment, operated directly by our specialist technicians flown from Stuttgart to your local dealer (or a PIWIS 3)."

"Shit." He thinks for a second, shrugs his shoulders, slips the light assembly into the foam pouch he had made to fit, and places it in the bag. "Might as well take 'em."

(scene ends)

(scene opens)The operator brings his Taycan headlights to his fence. The fence asks "how much are you going to give me to make those disappear?". The operator's face changes to a state of complete confusion, "Me pay YOU?" The fence replies "they have no value to me, nobody wants to buy traceable stolen paperweights". The operator grumbles and takes the headlights back.
(scene ends)
(scene opens)
The operator is sitting on a boat in the middle of Rhine River, placing rocks in the bag with the Taycan headlights and throwing them overboard. "F*$!@# Porsche!" he mutters under his breath as the bag disappears under the waves.
(scene ends)
(scene opens)
The operator is walking stealthily in the middle of the night. He walks past a row Taycans at a Porsche dealer, he mutters something under his breath and continues on to the used car lot where he starts sawing off the catalytic converter from an old Macan.
(scene ends)

 

[Tsingtao]

Forgive me but for a host of reasons, this looks fake. The cut pieces on driver side are jagged, yet the quarter panel is smooth. The passenger quarter is cut in a strange pattern that does not make any sense. The smooth cuts in the sheet metal had to be done by more than one tool. There are no cut metal pieces anywhere to be seen in or around the vehicle. The connecting sheet metal ribs are not deformed at all. There are no paint deformities that certainly would show with this amount of cutting.

AI-generated images pose several significant challenges and have raised concerns in various domains:

1. Misinformation and Deception: The ability of AI to create highly realistic fake images, videos, and content has the potential to spread misinformation and deceive individuals. These fabricated images can be used to create convincing hoaxes, fake news, or propaganda, making it difficult for people to discern what is real and what is fake.
2. Erosion of Trust: The widespread use of AI-generated images can erode trust in digital media. When people cannot trust the authenticity of visual content, it becomes more challenging to rely on any information presented in digital formats, leading to a general skepticism that can be exploited by malicious actors.
3. Privacy Concerns: AI can be used to generate fake images of individuals, which raises significant privacy concerns. Deepfake technology, for example, can create realistic videos and images of people engaging in activities they never did, potentially damaging reputations or personal relationships.
4. Implications for Journalism and Photography: The rise of AI-generated images challenges the credibility of journalism and photography. Journalists and photographers must be diligent in verifying the authenticity of images to maintain their integrity.
5. Psychological Impact: Exposure to fake images can have psychological effects. People may become more cynical, anxious, or unsure about the information they encounter online, leading to increased stress and anxiety.
6. Manipulation and Social Engineering: Fake images can be used for social engineering purposes, such as creating fraudulent identities, scamming individuals, or influencing public opinion. This can lead to real-world consequences in various domains, from politics to finance.

To mitigate these issues, there is a growing need for research and development in AI-driven image forensics and verification techniques. Additionally, media literacy and critical thinking skills are crucial for individuals to better evaluate the authenticity of visual content they encounter online. It's important for society to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the challenges posed by AI-generated images to maintain trust, privacy, and the integrity of digital information.

BTW, ChatGPT, not me, authored the above post. Welcome to the faux world!

 

[f1eng]

AI-generated images pose several significant challenges and have raised concerns in various domains:

1. Misinformation and Deception: The ability of AI to create highly realistic fake images, videos, and content has the potential to spread misinformation and deceive individuals. These fabricated images can be used to create convincing hoaxes, fake news, or propaganda, making it difficult for people to discern what is real and what is fake.
2. Erosion of Trust: The widespread use of AI-generated images can erode trust in digital media. When people cannot trust the authenticity of visual content, it becomes more challenging to rely on any information presented in digital formats, leading to a general skepticism that can be exploited by malicious actors.
3. Privacy Concerns: AI can be used to generate fake images of individuals, which raises significant privacy concerns. Deepfake technology, for example, can create realistic videos and images of people engaging in activities they never did, potentially damaging reputations or personal relationships.
4. Implications for Journalism and Photography: The rise of AI-generated images challenges the credibility of journalism and photography. Journalists and photographers must be diligent in verifying the authenticity of images to maintain their integrity.
5. Psychological Impact: Exposure to fake images can have psychological effects. People may become more cynical, anxious, or unsure about the information they encounter online, leading to increased stress and anxiety.
6. Manipulation and Social Engineering: Fake images can be used for social engineering purposes, such as creating fraudulent identities, scamming individuals, or influencing public opinion. This can lead to real-world consequences in various domains, from politics to finance.

To mitigate these issues, there is a growing need for research and development in AI-driven image forensics and verification techniques. Additionally, media literacy and critical thinking skills are crucial for individuals to better evaluate the authenticity of visual content they encounter online. It's important for society to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the challenges posed by AI-generated images to maintain trust, privacy, and the integrity of digital information.

BTW, ChatGPT, not me, authored the above post. Welcome to the faux world!

I think all these problems have existed since Photoshop had expert exponents.

I already would not trust any images on the internet from which I would need to draw any important conclusion.

I have experienced so much misinformation, both deliberate and misguided, about my own subject that I take everything on the internet with a pinch of salt. I don’t trust anything about subjects I am not knowledgeable about without thoroughly checking the source/publisher, then probably best to go to the library...

 

[whitex]

I think all these problems have existed since Photoshop had expert exponents.

I already would not trust any images on the internet from which I would need to draw any important conclusion.

I have experienced so much misinformation, both deliberate and misguided, about my own subject that I take everything on the internet with a pinch of salt. I don’t trust anything about subjects I am not knowledgeable about without thoroughly checking the source/publisher, then probably best to go to the library...

I see such healthy skepticism in my kids, who grew up around internet. My parents on the other hand are surprisingly easy to fool, especially given the fact that they are both trained engineers. "I saw this on the internet" is often proof enough to them. They further get fooled by misinformation, for example they tell me "BBC said 50,000 demonstrators showed up", but if we dig-in we find out that the truth is "BBC interviewed one of the demonstration organizers who said they expected up to 50,000 demonstrators", what the news didn't show was the report from the local police department stating that less than 2,000 were expected and less than 1,000 actually showed up. Sometimes they even use the fact that news can be faked to justify in believing the internet news they prefer to believe, so in the above example, they could for example claim "the police report can be faked". The best one I heard to date was "if US president (Trump) can be blocked from the internet (referring to the twitter ban) that means anyone can be silenced and if you cannot find any confirmation of the conspiracy theory I believe in, that just proves the theory is correct, because the government is suppressing information about it".

I always thought this just comes with age and perhaps retirement providing plenty of idle time to spend on the internet, as some of my friends share the same experiences with their parents. I'm glad to see there are exceptions.

 

[Tsingtao]

(scene opens)The operator brings his Taycan headlights to his fence. The fence asks "how much are you going to give me to make those disappear?". The operator's face changes to a state of complete confusion, "Me pay YOU?" The fence replies "they have no value to me, nobody wants to buy traceable stolen paperweights". The operator grumbles and takes the headlights back.
(scene ends)
(scene opens)
The operator is sitting on a boat in the middle of Rhine River, placing rocks in the bag with the Taycan headlights and throwing them overboard. "F*$!@# Porsche!" he mutters under his breath as the bag disappears under the waves.
(scene ends)
(scene opens)
The operator is walking stealthily in the middle of the night. He walks past a row Taycans at a Porsche dealer, he mutters something under his breath and continues on to the used car lot where he starts sawing off the catalytic converter from an old Macan.
(scene ends)

How about this scene:

NIGHT, SOMEWHERE IN MIDWEST USA, DARK SUBURBAN STREET

Idiot with duffle bag approaches a Taycan. Begins cutting fender to extract headlights.
While cutting fender, idiot glances at the side window and notices a sticker reading: "Vehicle protected by Smith & Wesson."

Shots fired.

(Fade out)

 

[Marmolata]

[/QUOTE]

How about this scene:

NIGHT, SOMEWHERE IN MIDWEST USA, DARK SUBURBAN STREET

Idiot with duffle bag approaches a Taycan. Begins cutting fender to extract headlights.
While cutting fender, idiot glances at the side window and notices a sticker reading: "Vehicle protected by Smith & Wesson."

Shots fired.

(Fade out)

How is that remotely funny? I get that America is a violent country, but American children are slaughtered in schools time after time after time after time, and you can make a joke about killing someone over a plastic light?

 

[f1eng]

I see such healthy skepticism in my kids, who grew up around internet. My parents on the other hand are surprisingly easy to fool, especially given the fact that they are both trained engineers. "I saw this on the internet" is often proof enough to them. They further get fooled by misinformation, for example they tell me "BBC said 50,000 demonstrators showed up", but if we dig-in we find out that the truth is "BBC interviewed one of the demonstration organizers who said they expected up to 50,000 demonstrators", what the news didn't show was the report from the local police department stating that less than 2,000 were expected and less than 1,000 actually showed up. Sometimes they even use the fact that news can be faked to justify in believing the internet news they prefer to believe, so in the above example, they could for example claim "the police report can be faked". The best one I heard to date was "if US president (Trump) can be blocked from the internet (referring to the twitter ban) that means anyone can be silenced and if you cannot find any confirmation of the conspiracy theory I believe in, that just proves the theory is correct, because the government is suppressing information about it".

I always thought this just comes with age and perhaps retirement providing plenty of idle time to spend on the internet, as some of my friends share the same experiences with their parents. I'm glad to see there are exceptions.

I am a bit surprised your parents haven’t noticed the absence of peer review in internet discourse.
I actually assume most of it is ill-informed, biased or plain wrong until I have checked the credibility of the source.
One of the problems of modern politics, not to discuss the specifics, is the ease of spreading complete bollox and having gullible/ignorant people believe it.

Mind you IMO all social media sources publishing anything, including what I write here, should ideally be governed by the same laws publishers are - since that is effectively what they are doing.
This is unpopular amongst those believing the internet should be “free” failing to realise what a high price they are actually paying for their apparent freedom, and the fact laws are very different worldwide.

 

[Donlam]

As I wrote before, there are lot of false internet images. We need to see and exam those images very carefully (ie lines, angles and light / shadows matching). They make those images easily in few clicks with AI tech.

 

[Tsingtao]

How is that remotely funny? I get that America is a violent country, but American children are slaughtered in schools time after time after time after time, and you can make a gun joke? what the hell is wrong with you? you need help.

Sorry, didn't want to offend. And for sure did not mean to either condone or joke about gun violence. I wrote the post/scene as an intentionally sardonic metaphor to highlight the cultural differences between America and other countries regarding the defense of personal property. As a buddhist living in America, I am always fascinated/amused/perplexed/disappointed that so many Americans believe that guns can solve society's problems. On the other hand, I love America and Americans, and understand their desire to protect themselves from nefarious actors (e.g. King George III) by any means necessary. But to answer your question: "What the hell is wrong with you?" I think the easy answer is that I am a buddhist, and part of our philosophy is that of detachment from material things; yet here I am completely attached to my Taycan! Hopefully, with help from my bodhisattva, I may one day find a thief prying the headlights from my Taycan, and rather than calling the police, just hand the thief my key fob.

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