Fanatec CSL DD Now Comes With QR2, New Products & Software In The Works

Fanatec-CSL-DD-QR2.jpg
Images: Fanatec
Despite Endor AG filing for insolvency, the company promised that Fanatec would continue operating without restrictions. A new housekeeping update highlights the CSL DD wheel base now featuring the QR2 out of the box, among other things.

It was the news bombshell of the previous week: Endor AG with its sim racing hardware brand Fanatec has filed for insolvency, the plan to stabilize the company via the StaRUG proceeding having been unsuccessful. Despite this, the company assured sim racers that it would continue operating "without restrictions" - effectively, nothing should change for sim racers.

If you want to catch up on the entire Fanatec saga thus far, check out our summary, starting with Black Friday 2023.

After the announcement of the insolvency filing, Endor's Chief Marketing Officer Belma Nadarevic took to the Fanatec blog to deliver another housekeeping update. The post mentions a new service partner that is supposed to have "a positive impact on our response time and we're expecting an even bigger impact every week."

Additionally, Nadarevic also mentions that Fanatec also intends to keep trying to move forward, as "R&D continues to develop new products, and we are excited to talk about some new releases soon." Could the Bentley wheel finally be around the corner? Time will tell - meanwhile, MOZA Racing has already released the Vision GS Steering Wheel that features a similar central screen. An "all-new Fanatec software package" is supposedly also being worked on.

Fanatec-CSL-DD-QR2-2.jpg


CSL DD Now With Base-side QR2 (Lite?)​

Meanwhile, both versions of the Fanatec CSL DD now come with a base-side QR2 pre-installed for customers in the EU and US regions - but it is not the one that you can order to manually upgrade your wheel base. Instead, it appears to be a "Lite" version of the base-side QR2 Type-C.

The standalone version of this QR2 is made from "diecast aluminium with CNC-machined finish" according to Fanatec, whereas the pre-installed version of the CSL DD is listed as being made from "carbon fibre-reinforced polyamide" - so the same material used for the wheel-side QR2 Lite.


While it is good to see that sim racers do not need to buy an upgrade kit for the CSL DD anymore to convert it to the QR2 system, the steering wheels themselves that are available still only come with a free wheel-side QR1. The wheel-side QR2 is only available at additional cost.

Fanatec-CSL-DD-QR2-BMW-Wheel.jpg


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What are your thoughts on the latest update from Fanatec and the QR2 on the CSL DD? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

Premium
Real question..

Should I avoid Fanatec and just go with the Moza R9? I've been saving for the McLaren DD from Fanatec but everything I keep seeing is pushing me away from them. Coming from someone with a G29 my DD buy is going to be a huge purchase for me and I don't to waste it if Fanatec is basically a dumpster fire.
 
I bet we start seeing complaints of that material breaking and cracking within a year.

Why not just use metal? How much are they really saving?
The real question is where those savings are going? They spend all that marketing budget to paste their Fanatec logo everywhere in Motorsports but that hardly ever translates into better experience for buyers and now the buyers are facing terrible support and uncertainty.
 
I believe Fanatec’s primary challenge is to restore customer trust and confidence.
About 10 yrs ago there were fewer options, and now competition is wide open.

I’ve decided to go to Simagic, but many others are undecided. A price restructuring could likely persuade a lot more people to return to the brand.
 
Real question..

Should I avoid Fanatec and just go with the Moza R9? I've been saving for the McLaren DD from Fanatec but everything I keep seeing is pushing me away from them. Coming from someone with a G29 my DD buy is going to be a huge purchase for me and I don't to waste it if Fanatec is basically a dumpster fire.
We replied this on the other thread :p
 
Premium
We replied this on the other thread :p
1722867558238.png


I know and I saw it. I am looking for Multiple opinions/thoughts though. The ones people mentioned (Simmagic,Asetek La Prima) are way out of my saving budget. Hence why I said the Moza R9, no one has commented though with thoughts of the R9.
 
Premium
Real question..

Should I avoid Fanatec and just go with the Moza R9? I've been saving for the McLaren DD from Fanatec but everything I keep seeing is pushing me away from them. Coming from someone with a G29 my DD buy is going to be a huge purchase for me and I don't to waste it if Fanatec is basically a dumpster fire.
I've had a 920 and you're probably going to love whatever you end up buying :) The Logitech wheels are a fun starter, but going to belt* or DD base and load cell pedals you should be faster, after a bit of a learning curve.

*The best value wheel available now is a used CSW2.5, which is as good / better than a CSL DD with boost kit (the kit is just the PSU from a CSW!) at a fraction of the cost. Buying used has possible perils, but you could get 4 or 5 CSW2.5s for the price of a new DD base, and while they have design flaws it would be a huge step up from a G29 for very little money.

If you're only on PC then ecosystem isn't that important - you can mix and match your pedals / shifters / handbrakes, only if you race on a console it helps if everything matches, but even then a DriveHub can get most stuff working.

What I would consider are the range of wheels - Fanatec do have wheels in three price ranges (dear, dearer, and very dear) but they do cover most styles of rim you'll ever need, and you can build your own using the hubs / shifters / button boxes - I don't think the Moza's let you do that?

What cars do you drive the most, and does Moza have a wheel that you like for those cars?

If you choose Fanatec then most people don't need support (though talk of new software has me worried!), so if your gear works out of the box you should be good for a few years, by which time Fanatec the company will be resolved - one way or the other.

Not sure that helps much - it's a very personal decision!
 
View attachment 774208

I know and I saw it. I am looking for Multiple opinions/thoughts though. The ones people mentioned (Simmagic,Asetek La Prima) are way out of my saving budget. Hence why I said the Moza R9, no one has commented though with thoughts of the R9.
I have the Moza R9 v2, I bought it two years ago and still works perfectly. I have read some people with issues (noise and heat) in the base, but for me no such issues. I did have an issue with my load cell pedal; I accidentally broke it while cleaning (the cable is a bit short) and they send me two new load cell units (I don't know why but I am not complaining) so for me nothing but positive experiences (n=1), and yes: I have read other more negative experiences, so for you to decide.
 
Premium
I have this qr2 lite on my csl dd with Mac laren v2 wheel.
Perfect. Nice improvment comparing to the old qr.
 
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i would love to stay with fanatec because of the fanalab alone. Made no experience with other DD wheels so far, so my question is do all others offer those detailed adjustment possibilities or not?
I mean I have individual wheel settings for each game additionally for some vehicles only that’s great.
I didn’t know it before and I don’t want muss it in future
 
Premium
I bet we start seeing complaints of that material breaking and cracking within a year.

Why not just use metal? How much are they really saving?
It should be able to withstand 8Nm.

And guessing if the CSL DD had a metal shaft... It would cost about $200 more. It would also be able to punch harder, going from 8Nm to possibly 13Nm without changing the design. But it would get hot fast and, it would also keep the 5.0 Nm/ms slew rate it currently has. In other words, no real uplift unless you need a high torque heater sitting about 10-1/2" in front of you at chest level.
 
Last edited:
i would love to stay with fanatec because of the fanalab alone. Made no experience with other DD wheels so far, so my question is do all others offer those detailed adjustment possibilities or not?
I mean I have individual wheel settings for each game additionally for some vehicles only that’s great.
I didn’t know it before and I don’t want muss it in future
Ability to automatically modify base and wheel settings when starting game exists for the Simagic software. It will not change per car after that but if you have another custom wheel preset for your car, you can alt-tab and change the loaded preset to the one you want.
 
i would love to stay with fanatec because of the fanalab alone. Made no experience with other DD wheels so far, so my question is do all others offer those detailed adjustment possibilities or not?
I mean I have individual wheel settings for each game additionally for some vehicles only that’s great.
I didn’t know it before and I don’t want muss it in future
Yes, they all offer adjustments, though the number of adjustment options varies between manufacturers.
 
Premium
Trying to stay under a grand wheel/dd base and accessories (desk mount), I've got modified pedals currently (ricmotech pedals Loadcell V3 w/ leo cable)
Topping out at a grand without needing pedals, you can do a Moza R12 and the CS V2P as your starter wheel for 840.

I am sure there are Simagic options too (I have an easier time cross checking Moza's prices). But, yeah. Either Moza or Simagic are solid choices. For what you'll pay, you can get damn good gear.
 
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Premium
Topping out at a grand without needi g pedals, you can do a Moza R12 and the CS V2P as your starter wheel for 840.

I am sure there are Simagic options too (I have an easier time cross checking Moza's prices). But, yeah. Either Moza or Simagic are solid choices. For what you'll pay, you can get damn good gear.

I had looked at it but was worried it'd be "overkill" if that makes sense. Am I wrong? I honestly have never even used a DD system before
 

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