A broken Fanatec GT3RS arrived...

[juniordee]

So my long awaited GT3RS finally arrived today, 6 days before GT5 comes out, and guess what...

Yep, I'll have to return it.

A couple of the buttons don't even click, and some won't even move.

A screw came out of the hub.

And finally, there's something loose inside the wheel. By turning the wheel, I can hear something inside (another screw?) moving around.

This is just great. I just finished building my racing cockpit, seat, console, inverted pedals, needless to say a lot of effort went into that and I was really excited because GT5 is coming out in only 6 days from now, and the wheel was the last piece to add to it. My G25 broke, and that is the reason I had to order a new wheel....but now the Fanatec broke before I even turned it on!

This wouldn't be too much of a problem for me if it took less than a week to ship, but it took nearly 20 days. By the time they get it and send me another one, it'll be another month before I can play GT5 properly in my new cockpit...


Yes, this is a rant, but I felt like I needed to share this to make myself feel better.





Update 1

Ok so I installed the driver to make sure the buttons were faulty, and they are. One button sticks (stays pressed), and some are really hard to press (before the driver detects it).

Sent an email.

 

[barryl85]

Thats just typical, sounds like you have the same luck as me !

 

[Christhedude]

ah man, sorry to hear that! That actually made me think, cause im about 90% of buying a new 32'' FULL HD Tv and a new wheel ... GT3 RS V2 with clubsport pedals (only if everything is compatible with GT5)

Let me know what was the problem and how Fanatec are dealing with your situation.
Then i will decide if i will get the wheel

Actually, since its a German product, i thought its 110% reliable

Chris

 

[Ibonibo]

Sorry to hear that.

 

[barryl85]

Actually, since its a German product, i thought its 110% reliable

That'd be Japanese

 

[juniordee]

I will let you guys know how everything goes, but so far I am not impressed...

 

[Beliall]

Bad luck chap.

 

[ibuycheap]

Yah thats bad luck, but while you are waiting have you posted the cockpit?

 

[juniordee]

Yah thats bad luck, but while you are waiting have you posted the cockpit?

I was planning on posting it once it was done. Still have some finishing touches to do, and a wheel to put on it

 

[versapak]

German Engineering = 👍

Cheap Chinese Labor =

 

[robd1990]

Unlucky mate, hope everything gets sorted out for launch day.

 

[Christhedude]

That'd be Japanese

what you mean? Fanatec is a German company.... isnt it?

http://www.fanatec.de/

They are actually just 3 and half hours from my place ...

Chris

 

[Moolers]

Sorry to here about your dodgy wheel, I've just ordered the GT3RS and CSP myself today and it's worrying to read about so many faulty wheels ending up in the hands of customers.

It begs the question about how does a wheel in such bad condition get through the manufacturing process and final quality checks and then shipped to a customer who has paid a nice chunk of cash for the privilege of getting a non working wheel?

 

[juniordee]

Ok so I installed the driver to make sure the buttons were faulty, and they are. One button sticks (stays pressed), and some are really hard push (before the driver detects it).
Sent an email.

 

[jato4x4]

By any chance could you give me the number you have for them. I ordered a wheel and on their site it says delivered ( which it hasnt yet) and I emailed them for the tracking number, and no one has gotten back in touch with me yet and I can't find a phone number anywhere. Thanks

If it is : (866) 292-6226. then nevermind becuase that is a straight to voice mail number.

 

[juniordee]

By any chance could you give me the number you have for them. I ordered a wheel and on their site it says delivered ( which it hasnt yet) and I emailed them for the tracking number, and no one has gotten back in touch with me yet and I can't find a phone number anywhere. Thanks

If it is : (866) 292-6226. then nevermind becuase that is a straight to voice mail number.

I couldn't find one either, so I sent an email instead...let's hope that goes well.

When it says delivered on their site, it means delivered to the shipping company. It took 2 days after that before I got my tracking number.

 

[Brunol]

Sorry to hear that, mate. Best luck on the next shipping!

 

[Fanatec...]

German engineering
Chinese manufacturing

But the problem seems to be american forwarding.

We already have several reports of broken wheels in the US / Canada while we have almost no problems in EU. It seems that we need to make our packaging even stronger for this market.

But if you apply for an RMA you could still have the new wheel next week.

 

[juniordee]

German engineering
Chinese manufacturing

But the problem seems to be american forwarding.

We already have several reports of broken wheels in the US / Canada while we have almost no problems in EU. It seems that we need to make our packaging even stronger for this market.

But if you apply for an RMA you could still have the new wheel next week.

Thanks for the reply, I did apply for an RMA. It took the wheel ~20 days to get here, so I doubt I'll have the new wheel by then. Currently waiting for a reply.

 

[andrez004]

OK I had the very same problem with the rattle and it ended up being a broken tab inside the wheel. I have to say I'm so pissed right now. The reason I just got on this forum is because I just. I mean just 5 mins ago got my H shifter installed. And guess what it's not working correctly. The gears are all messed up. I can't find 1st. sometimes when I go into R it shows 1st for a half second. and 1st is 3rd. 3rd is 5th. and 5th is 5th. I'm really getting fed up because this is now the second problem and all I wanted was a correctly working wheel and shifter by gt5! Now I'm going to have to wait until later today to take a video and send it to customer support. Last time customer support to over a week to get back to me. GT5 will be out by then!

 

[andrez004]

Hey fanatec can you help me out so I don't have to wait a week for customer support. I have Armin Habermann email and that is what I was using. The few emails I sent to him were replied back very fast but the last took 4 days.

 

[sonac]

You probably just need to calibrate your shifter. See the wheel's pdf manual for exact instructions. It's a piece of cake and you'll have it working properly in no time.

 

[andrez004]

I don't see where to calibrate my shifter. Im playing gt5p and ahvaent hooked up to my pc because of driver install issues. But isn't it suppose to be fully ps3 compatible? how do you calibrate it for gt5p?

 

[sonac]

It is compatible. And you calibrate you shifter with the LCD and buttons on the wheels. You don't need a PC to do it. You will only have to do it once (or again if you upgrade your firmware in future) and after that it is calibrated for all games/platforms.

I pasted the important parts from the manual in one image, just for you Hope it works!

 

[bedoig]

Shifters are still on back order in the US, unfortunately. Got everything else I ordered within a week though (GT3 RS V2, clubsport pedals, wheel stand, misc adapters). Everything was in perfect, working condition. I also had a very quick response from Claudia at Fanatec when I had an inquiry about the delay on the shifters. And I mean VERY quick - she responded to my email within 15 minutes! She also answered each of my multiple questions, as opposed to typical customer service responses that provide one vague answer to a question you may or may not have even asked.

I just wanted to share a positive experience since people typically only get online to complain. Now if I could just get that shifter...

 

[andrez004]

hey thanks that worked.. I can't believe I didn't see that in the manual. Now just to get my clutch pedal to work. I got it to work once and now pressing triangle doesn't seem to do anything. Is there a specific point I need to press it?

 

[andrez004]

Shifters are still on back order in the US, unfortunately. Got everything else I ordered within a week though (GT3 RS V2, clubsport pedals, wheel stand, misc adapters). Everything was in perfect, working condition. I also had a very quick response from Claudia at Fanatec when I had an inquiry about the delay on the shifters. And I mean VERY quick - she responded to my email within 15 minutes! She also answered each of my multiple questions, as opposed to typical customer service responses that provide one vague answer to a question you may or may not have even asked.

I just wanted to share a positive experience since people typically only get online to complain. Now if I could just get that shifter...

I live in the us and just got mine yesterday. Im waiting for the csp tuning kit.

 

[bedoig]

I live in the us and just got mine yesterday. Im waiting for the csp tuning kit.

That's strange. I ordered 2 or 3 weeks ago and was told that they were out of stock. The US website also lists them as being unavailable, with new units shipping in December.

When did you place your order?

 

[Chadwicksracing]

G27 + Amazon.com + 1 day shipping =

I wouldn't put up with that sort of crap. Sorry to hear anyways.

 

[versapak]

G27 + Amazon.com + 1 day shipping =

I wouldn't put up with that sort of crap. Sorry to hear anyways.

You wouldn't put up with getting a single defective product?

It happens regardless of what wheel we are talking about.


Fanatec can certainly be slow with support, but their support is always top notch otherwise. They are a company that definitely does right by their customers.