i went from a fanatec dd1 to alpha u.. and its freakin amazing.. the mini and regular alpha are fantastic. totally worth it and the best part.. no more fanatec tax.. use whatever wheel you want, and you dont have to pay 200 bucks for a fanatec podium huib..
I fixed the knocking by placing tape in the ¿"dent"? in the base side of the QR, a couple of tape cuts on top of each other was enough for me. I also would suggest buying the power source for 8nm in any chinese app, I bought mine for 40€ and works great, I also bought a full QR2 (not the lite one), for 100€ in the same app. It hasn't arrived yet but is a piece of metal, I doubt it will give any problems. It works great and I'm having a blast but still... I wish I bought something else, like a moza r9 o r12, I feel moza's ecosystem is better and their quick release is miles ahead also You don't have to pay extra for it!!
Back in 2021 I went Fanatec because the market was waaaayyyy smaller back then and there weren't as many options especially in the price range of the CSL DD. Nowadays the only reason to go with Fanatec might only be console compatibility. Even with that there are some options now for example the Logitech G Pro.
Really comparing a 1k wheel with a 300 wheel? One thing most people have it wrong is that there are now options in the same price range. No there aren't. You can't get a DD 8nm wheel for 300 anywhere but from Fanatec. Especially with such a big ecosystem and Upgradebility. You don't even have to go for 8nm you can go even cheaper with 5nm and LATER (very important) upgrade for 8. Moza R5 is 5.5 fixed, you want more later? You have to put it down and get a complete new wheel. So no, there still isn't enough competition for the CSL DD Yall forget what the CSL DD is for. It's for people getting into Sim racing with a straight path to direct drive for cheap. Not everyone has thousands layin around for a first set sim cube. And remember CSL DD is now AS CHEAP as other belt driven sets.
@@jonycreed You are undershooting that 300 price by a good margin. Maybe during black frinday it was like that but I was taking the price I bought it back in 2021 for. I did not exactly choose the cheapest option, because I wanted it to be able to swap the rim to a bigger one later which meant that I had to go with the Universal Hub (I wanted to keep buttons too) plus get a rim with it. I'm not taking the three pedal set and the shifter into acocount as this is also separate with Logitech. Going from todays prices I can buy a QR2 8 Nm base for 450 no extras and I'd have to add another 430 up to that becasue I would not want that cheap thing they added later on with it's poor quality. Oh and don't forget the table clamp if you don't have a rig already. Yes it's still cheaper than the Logitech G Pro but only 300 bucks not 700 like you said. Initially I wanns't even comparing them price wise, I just don't really know any other alternatives there might be for Playstation.
@@driftingmajix I'm using current prices, you get full set for 500. With option to upgrade to 8nm instead of completely getting rid of the base. We are talking about current competition. So it's only fair you talk current Prices. About the table clamp: it's there as an option for convinence. If you don't have a rig you shouldn't even go for direct drive in the first place. That's what belt drive are for. To me its simple, for 500 currently still no better deal for a entry DD full set.
@@jonycreed No one is denying that Fanatech has one of the cheapest options for the DD market (although here in Germany I do not get it for 500 even as a 5 Nm version, maybe the US Dollar is weak right now or something). The only reason I mentioned the Logitech DD wheel was because it's the only option I know of for console gamers. I have a CSL DD 8 Nm with a table clamp. I don't have a rig yet but even back then I knew that I would go for a rig and I think this year I'll do it finally. And to this day my CSL DD hols up with no real problems. However that would not be the case if I would have gone for the cheapest possible option (QR1 lite wasn't a thing back then fortunately). If you go for the plastic quick release you set yourself up to buy twice.
Hi casey I had a fanatec cls elite from the start the upgrade to a cl dd 8nm I have two rims f1 v2 with magnetic paddles than then a bmw v2 rim plus fanatec v3 pedals but with the news of fanatce when the wheel dies it will be sim magic or mozar or just maybe someone buys fanatec 😉 I have to say it been a privileged to be a member fof road2racer and driving with a great community keep up the good work ak GO FUND ME 😂
Selling point for some (many?) simracers was that the Fanatec CSL/DD Pro wheels were PC and PS compatible. I have both, and have used them both. I 'upgraded' my DD Pro to a Logitech G Pro which also allows cross-platform use. To my knowledge these two wheels are the only two that can do this. I also have a VR2 headset, which can be used on PC. When are manufacturers gonna wake up?
@@Road2Racer You can try add a little bit lube on the shaft too. I chose Vaseline as it is compatible with plastic qr1 lite and metal shaft. That makes a little small moves feel quieter and smoother to the point I didn't bother. Also used tape mode on the groove. But I switch between wheels sometimes so need to retape a few wheel changes again. But before lubing wipe the shaft and inside of the qr1 from the little plastic dust that probably get collected due to friction between them.
went for the Fanatec GT DD pro back in 2021, just in case someday I would buy a PS5 for Gran Turismo. Bought third party mod for the CSL pedals, since the default was unbearable. But the H-shifter was the one that does it for me. The miss-shifting keep happening even though I tried many solution from the forums. As I like to drive road cars with manual gears, it was a big let down. Right now I'm saving money to move to simagic ecosystem. the GT Neo feels fantastic, and I can't wait to get the alpha ultimate 🙈
I went Simagic and couldn't be happier. IMO not much pricier than Fanatec, better service, better quality than Moza (again my opinion), the GT Neo wheel is one of the nicest wheels you'll find under $500-600, and the ecosystem is growing so nicely.
Got this bundle myself. 5NM, upgraded with pedal tuning kit, QR1+podium hub and Cube controls F-Core wheel for the extra buttons and encoders. Been having a blast in LMU with my friends. Personaly, next update will be 8NM booster. And then i will stop spending money on hardware, promise... 😂
@@Road2Racer it's takes getting used to, the braking. But with some practice you will manage to avoid locking up and do multiple stints on a set of tyres. Great videos dude, respect. The comedy is excellent, and the delivery is top notch.
@Road2Racer it's expensive, but it was because of the issues with fanatec that I ultimately decided to skip them all together. I'm so glad I did because all of the recent crap about them came after I bought into simucube. Yes, I don't have console compatibility, but given I also love cars and track car is expensive...
I bought the csl dd with the cr2 without the bundle. When i went to cart to check if i have everything i got -150euro discount so it costs like a bundle
Fanatec has become such a joke of a company. It seems they are doing evrything they can to piss on their customers, and it would be a big surprice if they didn´t go bankrupt in the near future. Investing in any of Fanatecs products at this point would be a very bad idea!
@@Road2Racer so as i know ,you can just unmonted the qr1 from wheel to another , but that takes some time ,if you want to switch fast mutible qr1 but i thinkt that you don t need that
@@Road2Racer your youtube connections always help you out :) hope you have a lot of fun with it ,locking on your youtube progress its very cool how you developed . Saw you first video had like 100 subs ;). I trying my best englisch her
I got R12 for 6 months now and have yet to find a massive drawback. The oscillation when you let go is pretty bad and the hands off protection can get activated when trying to vigorously heat the tyres. But no game breakers for me yet.
@@Road2Racer French here, came across this video by chance 😅 . Your base is 5 nm and you have no money... personally, I would have gone with a base having almost double the torque, in order to feel a fairly significant change, without burning the bank card. Moza r9 ?? or something similar, having a good price ratio in your location... this is just an idea... 😉
@@snippidippi I agree that Asetek is the best bang for your buck. Originally I wanted the Simucube but couldn't justify it against the Forte bundle I went for. No regrets as it's an awesome wheelbase. The QR system is also really good an interchangeable with 3rd party wheels.
I got myself a 8NM boost kit from Ali for the fraction of the cost and it works flawlessly and does make a huuuge difference! Maybe give it a try? Also for the quick release not sure what your issue is exactly but what I've done to remove some of the play and knocking is to put in a couple layers of Aluminum Tape inside of the groove on top of the shaft. I think I've done 3 or 4 layers, basically until I removed the play entirely, even under hard load. That removed the knocking for me completely. It's a bit harder to change wheels now but I don't have any other wheels anyways, so no issue from my side. Cheers mate! Your original reviews convinced me to buy the damn thing and I don't regret it a single bit. Especially considering it was one of the cheapest options for me by far compared to the competition.
Nice video I think many of us feel similar. I also am pretty annoyed with all the expensive quick release things way over priced. I think the knock you are talking about can be fixed/helped by putting a piece of electrical or even scotch tape over that groove in the shaft may have to do a couple layers with scotch tape- it really snugs the quick release up that is how I have been using mine for 2 years now on the CSL DD 8nm the knock completely went away and I have not had it happen unless I take the tape off. The scotch tape sticks the best....the first time I heard/felt this Knock I thought the wheel was going to brake for sure it is a very concerning noise its the wheel slipping on the shaft and the little metal bearings slam into the metal shaft making a very loud clank that feels horrible and like something is going to break apart like the pins connecting everything. Honestly to need to put tape on your brand new 500$ wheel base so it fits snug is a kick in the ****s in a way lol Im still using the QR lite (plastic twist on) honestly I have not had a problem other then needing to put tape on the shaft to make it fit tighter but recently my CSL BMW wheel rim cracked around the screw on the right side plastic housing under the paddle shifter so its just taped together a bit worried I really cant afford even a new wheel rim....I did reach out to fanatec no response at all and not even a record of me reaching out or confirmation email or anything. Probably around 1500 hours on mine though with the cheap csl bmw rim only so Idk personally for the price I expect at least 4-5 years of use not only 2 I think the csl rims are pretty bad honestly.....and the plastic seems to get brittle or something after a couple years I never had this with my cheap thrustmaster tmx and t-300. Ive always been slightly disappointed with the csl dd 8nm there was 1 thing my thrustmaster t-300 did much better and that was hold a solid force through a turn instead of being able to push past the grip really easy and overturn the front wheels I find this spot really hard to notice on the csl dd or easy to go past like you have to saw the wheel back and forth to find it.
Great reasonable comment! People keep telling me to do the tape, and you're right.... what in the trailer park is going on with that. I'm all good for a fix, but it does suck that you would even need to resort to this.
So I have the GT DD pro which is basically a CSL DD with PS compatibility. I have the boost kit. I upgraded to QR1 and then QR2. I gotta say that all creaking has gone away with that upgrade and I’m pretty happen with it. I think the main reason I want Fanatec to survive is console compatibility. It’s a little less clear, but there’s not really a maker that sits nicely between the consoles and PC
@@Road2Racerfanatec have long history with sony, just like thrustmasters and logitech.. its something like that not that easy anymore to get console like sony working together without paying extra $$$ than old partners
mate - i recently jumped off the DD Pro and GT wheel across to the Simagic Alpha Mini 10nm with GT Neo wheel - OH MY LIFE - the thing is crazzzyy good!!! for pc im raving about this thing right now and im still using my v3 pedals - direct to pc they seem to be 'better' ( could just be me )........ but ive gone LFM and PC fully now...
An 8nh wheelbase, steering wheel and csl pedals bundle for 380 pounds/500 dollars is pretty good I think. Dont think Moza can compete with that. Problem is they are now insolvent so a bit risky.
knocking!... that does not sound good. I used to to get a single knock on the 8nm with McLaren GT wheel once or so in 10 races say..... until I changed the plastic QR for the metal one... and now no knock. Have you tried different FFB settings? I only race in ACC and the wheel stays on the base and is secured using the supplied locking bolt that came with the metal QR.... cheapest solution maybe in short term? At least if you do swap it out you can sell it all with the metal QR But after 3 years I am changing and only because I want too as since the metal QR my CSL DD working perfectly fine. Probably going to SIM magic only because I love the look of the GT wheel otherwise I would go to Asetek... I know I can mix and match base and wheel but I want a single eco system just struggling to justify the expense when I have a perfectly good working base and wheel
its a this plastic quick release issue. metal one not have this problem, also fanatec new stuff come with qr2 instead, what is even better than qr1, moza is-int cheap either if look all they prices,also usually people look that first. the price. later they find out that expensive ones could be better
I went with the QR2, and its a night and day difference over the QR1 and QR1 Lite. I used the QR1 Lite and regular QR1, and the QR2 Lite is better than the even the best fitting metal QR1. If anyone goes to the QR2, they won't be dissappointed. BUT I completely understand not wanting to pay $60 or $100 more on every steering wheel. Look into knockoff QR2s like Simube. They are priced closer to what Fanate ought to be charging IMO, and my next steering wheel will be sporting a Simube QR2 if Fanatec doesn't pull their heads out.
There's no competition in the price range. Fanatec is the only one making affordable DD wheels. I paid ~600€ for the base, wheel and csl elite pedals. No one else can offer that for such price. Even logitech is more than 1500€ while simagic cheapest wheelbase alone is almost 600. I looked into moza and at least back then they were adding taxes on top of the price so base + wheel alone was more than that and pedals were super expensive. And i found as many negative feedback regarding moza as i found about fanatec. There's simply no competition and fanatec knew that so they became lazy. Now it starts biting them in the ass. All those companies want to compete and they putting a lot of money and effort into marketing by paying youtubers to promote their products. You just choose whichever you can afford and like the most. All of them could break.
Right! Like I said, I'm aware my situation is not super common. Hardware breaks, it's just the truth. However, for me, it's about logically looking at what company makes the most since for future purchases. You have to admit, quick releases and boost kits is not an appealing way to enter Sim Racing.
I started my DD journey with MOZA and I’m never looking back. Excellent quality and the price is right. Plus, their ecosystem has been growing exponentially with so many great rims, pedals, shifters, etc!
CSL DD with qr1 and aliexpress 8nm kit (sub 30 eur/usd) still going very strong. Even just bought the mc laren gt3 wheel before whatever happens at fanatec makes it unavailable. Definitevely staying with the wheel as long as it lasts.
Wish I could jump to Simagic, but its all out of reach, stuck with Fanatec, its not bad, just the company is crashing, no new drivers, crappy warranty. etc
I think imo moza should be it. I have a moza r9 with a formula wheel and it works pretty well for me. I heard about simagic and its awesome too but is a lil bit more expensive but the quality is a little bit more premium. So if ur not concerned about the money u can go with simagic i think for pc its a very good brand.
Coming from a csl dd with boost kit ready to race bundle with the bmw wheel, after almost 11 months of use the wheel disconnected very often from the base and did'nt like the csl pedal with the added clutch . Gone for the simagic alpha mini with gts and gt neo wheel with p1000 pedal and it's game changing, not only you understand better what is going on the road but the braking is way more accurate. Best choice I made!
I don't have experience with any other racing wheels, but the Logitech Pro wheelbase and pedals were an amazing upgrade. Every review I have read or watch says great things.
Hello! If you're looking to upgrade and not spend a fortune, go with Moza R12 and any wheel you might want! Excellent ecosystem and the driving experience is top notch!
You have a cost-free risk-free solution. remove the QR lite then disassemble it by unscrewing the small screws, which will allow you to detach the larger collar. After that, you can use a hose clamp to firmly attach the inner collar to the shaft. This method provides a much sturdier connection compared to the plastic ring.
I have a CSL DD 5NM, that while I don't race for hours a day, I do a couple races each night and have for almost 8 months and have had no issues. I did change to the Mclaren GT wheel. But I won't lie, the biggest drawback is the pedals, the CSL pedals are not my favorite, and that is what has me looking to make a change at some point. I am not a streamer, or even post any of my racing to YT...I just love racing.
The knocking I had with my CSL DD went away with the qr2 upgrade. I am pretty sure it has to do with uneven clamping force on the collar holding the motor shaft in, you could try tightening the collar, or there are replacement collars on alliexpress I have seen that are supposed to even out the clamping force on the shaft so it is like a .5 upgrade if you do not want to go full qr2.
Great vid I have the Simagic alpha mini and have no complaints except I blew my elbows out a few months back. Was I driving too much? Starting to dip back in the sim waters
Hey the wheel costet me 466 euros and it came perfectly i would say to you that you should thighten the shaft i would still be in the fanatec eco system
I get you! Mine was perfect too, until about 3 months ago. Collar and shaft have been seated and tightened. But I am looking to go higher than 8nm in my future.
I used the plastic quick release on my 8nm base for quite a while and it worked fine, but going to the metal QR1 was definitely a big improvement. You can pick those up on Ebay now pretty cheap. I'm now using a Simagic GT Neo wheel on my Fanatec DD Pro and it works great. Used a tiny emulator from SRM and still using the metal QR1. Will probably upgrade to a Simagic Alpha at some point but I'm not in any hurry.
Logitech pro ftw !!! Have not once in the last year thought to myself “I need to upgrade” But I am sitting here waiting for a pro shifter Since I am extremely limited on usb ports to use Since I can connect everything to the base instead
@Road2Racer yes, fanatec actually has great quality, that's not the problem. Problem is that they created to big ecosystem that raised the cost of manufacturing and then they went wild with the sponsorship. RnD also got plenty money. They was to happy at the office and forgott to be adults
My CSL DD lasted 7 months :) 5nm Dec 23. 8nm upgrade kit Mar 24. Got the shits with the shaft slipping out more regularly than it should, the flex in the wheel (Mclaren one) and the general low-ish build quality. Just ordered an Alpha Mini and GT Neo, looking forward to the next chapter!
@@Road2Racer Agreed! Based on the reviews I've seen people saying Asetek and Simagic best mid range bang for buck. Moza R12 and their GT wheel was about the same price but reviews saying the 10nm alpha mini still has better / stronger FFB and Moza can occasionally have Fanatec-like build quality. 1 more week and I'll be able to see for myself if Simagic hype is justified :) You decided which way you're going to go yet?
@@Road2Racer ...and can now confirm the Alpha Mini / GT neo combo is leaps and bounds ahead of the csl dd! like many have reported, feels stronger than 10nm, but biggest thing - no flex, no creaks, no weird sounds and no having to constantly re-tighten the shaft ring. highly recommend if you havent decided yet!
I got the qr2 and formula v2.5 after using the McLaren rim with the qr1 lite and it fixed all of my flex, creaking and notchyness even with the boost kit.
I don't like how limited the ecosystem is to this day. Generally just one wheel and pedals, the base is massive. They need to work on expanding the lineup for it to be truly viable
That's unfortunate you get such a noticeable knock. I also experience the clacking from the qr1. Just like you I have absolutely loved the hell out of this thing since I've gotten it. I wish you well on your next wheel journey!
Base side mate over the metal groove . It's not the perfect solution because u will need to change the tape evey now and again, but it did stop my knocking . Let me know how u get on if u try.
I had a fanatec dd1 and it started missing shifts with all my fanatec wheels. I switched to Asetek La Prima and I loooove that thing. Also u can get an Asetek button box and the wheel rims are all 100 bucks. Everything they sell is upgradable and top notch
Another simracing youtuber jumping on the 'bashing fanatec bandwagon.' Hmm really not helping the company that pushed our great hobby forwards the most!
Bro, you didn't watch the whole video. The wheels are great! I'm looking at this from a consumer standpoint. I even said I could care less about politics. Matters none to me.
I had mine for a year, using it on 8 nm . the qr 1 light thing was really bad also the steering wheel you have is not great when it comes to flexing. i uppgraded wheel to a much better one and qr1 . and there was some knocking sounds so it was so much better. i Have now qr2 lite on both my wheels and that is super great no flex or knocking with the qr2 lite. I dont think i had bougth fanatec now but maybye simagic . But changing out 2 wheels,base,pedals,gear and handbreake is expensive :/.
@@Road2Racer I like this guy and his some of his videos , but there is a trend here and it isn't helping Fanatec get back on track in any way shape or form .
@madhaz3359 This "trend" is truth from an actual Fanatec user. I couldn't have been any more honest about my experience. Unfortunately, it's not our job to get them back on their feet!
