@@trackracingenjoyeryeah but you can map any of those buttons to be the blinkers including the ones behind the wheel . But his point was sarcastic , none of the bmw wheels have blinkers buttons
Managed to test this bad boy a month early and I must say its not a replica. The firmware adapter is kind of a quirk but the feel and the size fits perfectly for gt style racing. Would like bigger flappy paddles but i'm sure the aftermarket support would make up for it :)
Fact is you can't simply put this wheel as is on a GT3 car, Fanatec got burned in comments when they attempted to mislead in one of their reel/tiktok video. What it does though is exposed how over-priced racing car hardware is IRL, the M4 GT4 wheel is now 5 to 6 times more expensive than the M4 GT3 wheel. So this is probably a once in a life-time collaboration. 🤪
Fanatec should have made a much cheaper version of this wheel alongside this one, with the build quality and pricing of say the: Clubsport Formula v2.5 - For most people who will never own the real thing.
Was very disappointed with this wheel tbh. Felt like a toy for the price and being from a real car. Universal hub v2 with aftermarket rims and apm while having less functionality has a much more premium feel at half the cost.
11:37 It's true that you can not put stickers on the buttons or replace the caps, however, you can replace the entire button and there is a separate bag with additional buttons with different labeling (and even completely blank ones) included in the packaging so you can still customize what buttons you want to have placed on which position ;)
I have this wheel, it came to around £1000 + £200 import fees. And I have to say as expensive as it is, I have no regrets. I will never need to upgrade this wheel again being cross compatible, and it’s built like a tank. Although it’s technically not the highest quality wheel you can get for the money, is still absolutely solid. Additionally, people always bang on about functionality and want 100 different buttons on their wheel, I personally feel the M4 wheel has the perfect amount of buttons, paddles and encoders. It’s all I’ll ever need. Another factor that obviously helps is being a big BMW fan to begin with, so it’s a bit of a novelty to see the wheel in game and also have the real thing in my hands. But as Will said, the viability of this wheel depends on who you are and what you want.
I’m guessing the plastic on the rotary knobs is purely a weight-savings thing for the irl car. Why use heavier aluminum when you can use lighter plastic and save some weight? Means less of a high-end feeling for us sim racers but, I guess that’s one of the costs of buying a real-life wheel :)
I have the wheel and it took me a year to convince myself to buy it. since I received it and started using zero regret. Especially in VR this is mindblowing to feel the exact physical wheel you see virtually.
The ability to shift up and down with just one paddle is a massive help and should be included on other Sim wheels, especially helpful for long endurance races when you may need to use another hand to grab a drink or adjust a button box, etc. The size is perfect and really made me realize how the 270-280mm size rims feel quite toy like for GT3/ 4 race cars. Thumb encoders are the best I certainly have ever tried. They only spin one click at a time with the flick of a finger unlike that of say Cube Controls, etc. Is it worth the money? Yes I believe so. I grew up playing basketball and the pinnacle for any kid or adult for that matter was when you could go and purchase and run with the same exact sneaker as your favorite NBA player. I look at this wheel as no different. Is it necessary, no, but it is absolutely the jam for anyone obsessed with motorsports and wants the most authentic experience!
the encoder caps if you pull one of them are extremely light, so my guess this being a real wheel is it was a double win for them of saving weight and keeping costs down
Using metal just makes it more heavy and this is a no go in racing and even in simracing is extra weight a negative. Demanding the use of metal just to make it more bling bling is questionalble. The wheel has won the 24H of Spa so build quality should be sufficient for a simracer.
Definitely not the ultiiimate wheel....but in a time where alot of us have 20,000 rigs (myself included) I wouldnt say its a pointless flex. Id say its an expensive hobby that we enjoy. No more pointlless than buying a 1200.00 pistol when the a 250 pistol does the same thing! Buy what you like!
woohoo first comment haha... i dont see a reason to get this wheel personally, the size and look is no where near appealing for me to justify the price.
It is the actual wheel. If you have the real car you can literally connect it to the real car and go race irl. So I don’t know what you mean by “real” because it is the real thing.
Yep. I've trimmed that part of the video and added a pinned comment while YT processes the edit. Looks like either we lost them or they weren't in our box. Have already discussed with Tom and from now on we will be writing down everything thats in a box when we open it so we don't miss anything.
Well, glad to hear QR2 is still actually planning to release. So far after a few years I've had no issues with QR1 but I can't say I love it so I'm willing to upgrade if it's at least a somewhat reasonable price.
@bigmeanyvids I'm with you. I don't really feel the issue with the movement while I'm driving all that much. Certainly not when actually racing. I'm kinda focused on other things. Ha ha. It often feels like complaining to have something to complain about for a lot of people. That being said, it could be better for sure, and if the QR2 comes in at the right price point I'll likely buy it for all my Fanatec wheels.
Same. I don't change wheels enough for it to be a deal breaker, but every time I do it's way more hassle than it should be. (Mainly due to trying to work out how much force to use without it flying into my face or pushing/pulling the rig around.) I'd certainly buy a few QR2s if they're better and not too expensive. At the same time, I do like Fanatec's ecosystem (on the whole; has some issues) and stuff like the wheel being wireless with no rotation limit (beyond what software programs in). Not tempted to switch brands due to the QR, but would welcome improvements.
Qr2 is fanatecs biggest mystery. It's at a point with me where I'll believe it when I see it, till then it's all a load of crap. And get ready for a price gouge Fanatec enjoys sticking to its customers. 180 boost kit amongst others.. How can a company take so long to put out a product that fixes what it started in the first place.. IMO fanatec is starting to become dust collectors as other companies are going to start leaving fanatec behind.. moza is looking pretty good. Simicube is solid too.. fanatec is no longer the one and done.. finally!
Fanatec is just completely out of touch with their customers now days. Spending all their resources on a "real wheel" that maybe a handful of people would be crazy enough to buy... where is the new quick release system Fanatec? Where is a new formula 1 wheel with a display and backlight buttons? FFS !
I don’t think this wheel was ever intended to be something they’d expected a lot of people to buy. It’s more of a “marketing flex” in my opinion to make the brand more desirable. I agree they need the QR2 and a wheel with a screen desperately though!
I think its really cool we are seeing FIA homologated wheels for sim racing. I'm personally really looking forward to finding out more info on the Cube Controls Merc GT3 wheels.
Hi Will, I've been eyeing the Podium Steering Wheel BMW M4 GT3, and noticed it was available on Fanatec's Australian website as of April 20th. However, by April 22nd, it seems to have sold out. Do you know if it will be restocked soon? Any tips on how to stay updated about restock times would be greatly appreciated. I'm quite disappointed as I really love this steering wheel. Could you please shed some light on whether this is just a temporary shortage or if they've stopped producing it altogether? Thanks a lot for your help!
Nice video, love the wheel. Also btw, which sim cockpit would you guys choose TR trx or NLR fgt elite 160. Looking for a hybrid system. Can you do a review on those too btw please? Cheers!
The most important thing and point to buy is your last point about connection with other wheelbases because I like the wheel for my DD2 but I’m also thinking to move to SC2 PRO at one point and then this wheel would be useless but with this solution I can buy it now and when I move to SC2 PRO I can still use this wheel which is just perfect. Very thanks that you mentioned it because didn’t know it was possible. 🏁👍
Fanatec is losing so much people over the quick release... For me, my whole ecosystem was fanatec and I was just waiting for QR2 to upgrade to a direct drive. I'm happy that at the beginning of this year I got tired and moved on to the superior SC2 and the amazing GSI wheel.
You are 100% right. Im so close to move the ecosystem to Simucube or Asetek although i have the M4 GT3 since the beginning of the year. I think even if Fanatec comes with a new Lineup, the trust is gone
Same here, been in the Fanatec ecosystem for so many years, but they have dropped the ball hard the last couple years in both communication and setting expectation. We are a few months away from the next sim expo and Fanatec will have provided zero info regarding all of the products shown at last year’s conf. Including the QR2! I very likely will be selling it all off for an SC2 before end of year, already been shopping around for rims and thinking of grabbing an Active Pedal.
Nice review, it was not some random simracing wheel, you missed it, you reviewed it like a simracing wheel, but it's not, it's not a toy, this is the real deal, a real GT3 wheel. They don't try to replicate reality, this is reality. There is nothing like this on the market even the best replica, even the grid Porsche RSR wheel is still a toy, when this wheel is a real one. Treating this wheel like others is a choice, but I don't think that you buy this wheel for his utility, you buy it for what it is, a real GT3 Wheel, not a toy, even if it is to play with it like if it was a toy. I can imagine displaying this wheel, not a McLaren replica ...
The push and pull on both side of the shifter is actually a really nice feature. In a real life pilot need this feature especially when they are out of pit a need to adjust the seatbelt, they can stil change gear with one hand. I use it quite a few time.
😂 Will!! Where was this review 6 weeks ago! I was going back and forth between this wheel and the GSI Hyper.( Im running a dd1.) I ended up with this wheel and a Simcore UD2-J ddu ( lovely dashboard) im so happy with this set-up! I already had a button box so there was a lot to consider.
I'm now waiting for over a year to buy a DD wheel, I wanted this wheel but with the QR2, not only because I think there are plenty of better options, also just knowing an update was coming. But now 3y later it's still not there, THREE YEARS! Just hate companies making promises they don't keep, so I'm going to buy VRS or simucube now...
Well the reason why button caps and rotary encoders arent aluminium, because its a racing wheel! Fact is that plastic is lightter than aluminium! That is also the reason why paddles are thin as possible. The wheel itself cant be light to pass FIA rules, so it is heavy, but everything else must be lightweight because of the race car! Every gram they can get out of the car, is bonus! If you can get car under regulation weight, you can put more weight where you need it! Welcome to the real racing world!
Sure. But how many people are buying this to use in a real life race car? As I said in the video if you’re after the real thing and the cool factor that comes with that, sure. But for everyone else it’s fair to compare against other options.
@@andylee2174 Also what is the point of buying the real deal if you don't like what real racecar wheels are like. Some people will appreciate the fact that the wheel is completely authentic and some people want a product that is more catered towards sim racing and satisfies their aluminum knob fetish. People have different priorities and preferences.
I've had this for 1,5 years, and it's the best wheel i have ever touched and i have 21 of them, for my Racingrig. Phenomenal. Way better to drive with than the Grid or Asher Racing-wheels i would say.
Interesting. What is your opinion on Esportsim Formula wheel? It seems to be in the price range of Fanatec BMW wheel, but offers a lot more buttons, screen and console compatibility when paired with Fanatec or Thrustmaster wheelbase. I wonder why no one seems to have heard about it?
Hey will! I’d love to see a review of the Simagic ecosystem (pedal’s specifically) if at all possible. I feel like they haven’t been visited in a while and could be worth a look!
I really don't know why Fanatec needs so much time to bring us the QR2. Thanks for the time you invested to bring us this detailed review of the wheel ❤ I have the Fanatec DD1 and I like it but they need to bring more high end wheels. Most of them feel and look like toys. Best wheels I've seen are from precision sim engeneering but they cost double the amount 😅 Greetings from Cologne, Germany.
This is a beautiful product, and the QR2 is way overdue. At this point, I can't see myself upgrading my base to support it. I was keen 18 months ago, not so much now. The QR1 just doesn't annoy me enough.
When you get to the point of the wheel being the actual size of the real car as a negative you may need to reconsider your priorities. The closer to being real the better whether it’s pedals, steering or motion seats
Hey Will! Great walk through! I have had this wheel for a little over a year now and it is my primary wheel for all GT3 and GT4 racing so it gets used quite often. Absolutely no noticeable wear and tear whatsoever. The only issue I have had is on the fanalab side, since the latest version came out the wheel no longer displays button colors properly for the “in pit lane” variable. Fanalab is picking up that data properly but isn’t transmitting it to the wheel for some reason. It is the only telemetry issue and only overall issue I have had in over a year of use. It’s a fantastic piece of gear and worth every penny in my opinion.
Great video as always Will, I think you will find that the all the buttons and thumb encoders and multi position switches are all plastic to save as much weight as possible hence the reason for the forged carbon as well because weight in a real race car weight is so important whereas the other sim wheels don't really need to worry about the overall weight as much
@@boostedmedia Definitely I agree with you fully but this is more of a niche product, I would want more features and buttons in wheel especially at that price
Fanatec seem so out of touch with it’s user base. Everyone has wanted QR2 for years, fix the major issue with your system before releasing all these other addons. I like their rally addon that they’ve shown, but again it will only work with Fanatec systems, open up some of these addons for everyone and make some money.
Sorry but that wheel is a "Joke" it is may a Quality product but the price and what you get is a joke...1500euro...i get a cube control or a GSI wheel with simhub Support 4 that price
Good to finally see this wheel reviewed by you, I'm really hoping for the Bentley wheel to come out soon as well since it's the first Fanatec wheel with a proper integrated screen that hopefully will trickle down to more affordable Formula and GT wheels.
Complete pointless flex honestly... functionality is sub par comparison to competitors basically your buying the wheel for ..... Aesthetics only seems pointless at the price point, nice release Fanatec instead of pushing forward like Moza you release this instead of QR2 or new bases updated pedals or anything really
Fanatec just needs to bite the bullet and go to the same QR apmsot everyone else is running (SC QR). remember when apple wanted to us a proprietary charge port? Yeah, that didnt work well and now they are using the universal usb c like everyone else.
I have this wheel and it is too big and heavy for my liking, the shifter paddles are also too far, I think they were made for a very tall driver with octopus fingers. First time I used it, put it back in a box and posted to sell.
I guess the reason for the harder buttons is to avoid accidentally bumping it while driving in a race and triggering or activating something you were not meant to be doing.
I have one which I got recently and I have zero regrets. Absolutely love it. I also had the M Performance wheel on my M4 CS. That’s also an awesome wheel.
I'll be honest I thought this wheel was purely a gimmick at first, and I'm glad you addressed the reality of moving it from a real car to a sim rig. But yeah it seems like it might actually suit me pretty well as I've been looking for a high quality fanatec wheel that's somewhere between the tiny 270mm V2.5X wheel and the overly large 330mm GT wheel that they do (the mclaren wheel is actually a great size, but I just hate the paddles on that thing so much)
Lol. Dead skin cells... Places hands in gloves that haven't been in the wash for a few weeks. hahaha. Good review overall and nice wheel coming from Fanatec. However, with that being said, there are too many wheels cheaper than this wheel, that give Sim racers more functionality. The allure of a real wheel sounds cool, but I am a sim racer and a real wheel with no funky switch makes no sense at all. I love those type of grips b/c I hate wearing gloves myself, but honestly, save the additional money and get the MPX, GSI X-29, or any other GT style wheel for much less.
At this time BMW will design a moon vehicle which will also be buyable in Start Citizen with a physical QR2 as bonus to attach a joystick like steering wheel.
Thamk you very mush . I think You Right On Cost After Cost To Canada there a Add of $1.35 x cost plus Shipping plus a Canada Sur charge of $ 108.00 that is told us After it Get To My Door Of My home . So I order The Fanatec dd Ps 5 Dase it cost me Total Of $after said done Is $3595.95 with i send Back and Got Back $2795.95 I did not the just in That .
$1500 is absolutely ridiculous for what it is, this thing should be $1k tops. I just bought an O-Rouge Cold Fusion actively cooled seat for $900 shipped new (Sim Race City is the US distributor) the one you recently reviewed and I also bought a PS5, PSVR2 for $1K, to keep things in perspective. A Simucube 2 Pro can be found on the used market for $1k and be purchased brand new for less than this wheel! Fanatec are out of touch! This thing should be $1k absolutelu tops, actuall closer to $700.
will, great review again but that's out of my price range but wow! 1question thou are you still doing a fantastic boosted media Gran Turismo 7 fanatec 8nm dd pro review,i am interested in your options for this,also LOVE your race video's nobody does them as good as you! keep up the good work,also im in the UK just for your info.also do you have aan affiliate link with fanatec please, cheers👍👍👍
I just wish Fanatec would be more transparent about the QR2 delays and estimated timing. I'm totally fine with delays if they're properly communicated...but they've had a LOT of their stuff "coming soon" for 2 years now. Its one of the only factors that makes me have regrets about going Fanatec vs someone else like Moza. It feels like Fanatec is dangling their progressive features like a carrot, then simply never delivering them.
"My" GT3 car is the M4 GT3. I hate that this exists because I will forever want one but never be able to afford it (it costs about as much as I'll ever have to spend on sim gear).
Hi Will. I plan to buy a bmw m4 gt3 steering wheel this week. Fanatec's website shows that the steering wheel is with qr2 pro, but I saw an unboxing video last week that the steering wheel came with qr1, and that person was angry because it should have been with qr2 pro. I tried to contact fanatec support before buying but no one answered me! Maybe you can help with information? If I buy a BMW M4 GT3 steering wheel and if it comes with the qr1, do I have to buy the qr2 pro separately? I hope you can help me with some information, thank you!
I’m not sure how it currently ships, but I do know that if you buy one you’re entitled to a free QR2 Pro. This has been the case “when available” since the product first launched. So you should theoretically be safe.
I think I’ll have to order the gt3 fanatec wheel it’s more in my budget and is also a replica of the gt3 650 real life wheel. Is this qr2 ever coming at all. We’re all holding out on buying qr1 for this reason it’s frustrating.
I just got my wheel today and just drive some laps, I did used to have the paddle modules before they updgraded them before with the 3/5mm comment on the thickness of the paddles, only thing I took from it is that it must be full motorsport carbons they used, like you could imagine mass producing the paddle modules the carbon quality and materials used be completely different structure, these feel like metal almost its that strong considering the thickness
Quick release is kind of a weird place for sim racing. The need for it is VERY limited yet everyone wants it. I feel I would much rather have a standard mounting system among manufacturers than all of them having their own version of something I rarely use or need.
I do have to ask why the delay on the QR2? It really doesn’t make any sense at all unless there’s something else going on, that Fanatec don’t want to discuss.
QR2 planning to release? Are they on the same time table as the Cybertruck or Tesla Big Rig? Or perhaps Thomas is too busy racing to give a flying F about releasing product that don't end up becoming vaporware...Bentley wheel anyone? LOL
I switched from Fanatec to Simagic and couldn't be happier, the software needs some love from simagic but they are working hard on their software to be more stable and user friendly so I would say it's worth the switch right now. Their wheel selection is perfect from simagic and quick release system is amazing! Their FX PRO wheel has to be the best F1 wheel on the market IMHO, blows Fanatec out of the water. Fanatec is just out of touch and a dinosaur at this point.
A lot of wheels in the $1k-$1.5k range don't have screens. The simagic fxpro is an OK wheel, but make no mistake, quality isn't as good as other wheels.
Doesn't need one because the car has a dashboard right behind it. Most, if not all GT3 cars from my knowledge don't have screens on their wheels (except some of the older ones I think, but those are just older style LCD displays). This is a niche product for a very particular group of people (and I hate the fact I'm in it).
Nice to see the rotary encoders are useful (of course not surprising since this is a real wheel). The rotary's on my Fanatec F1 style rim are worthless, they rotate too easily and unpredictably.
Great looking wheel. Thanks for the review. In future wheel reviews, please comment on button placement (how accessible are buttons without moving your hand). Some wheels have buttons which seem accessible easily with thumb but in practice aren't quite in the ideal spot. I really hope QR2 comes out soon and that Fanatec offers some sort of trade-in and recycling program (offering a discount) for users upgrading from QR1.
