So I just got the CSW Mod package from Eric, these were rebuilt Buehlers, not the new ones (and I tested in iRacing as that is what I run the most). The mod package is awesome, definitely increases the feeling you get for what the wheels and steering rack are doing. Also since the torque is so much greater there is much less notching as the motors do not have to use 100% of their torque to give you the feeling of bumps and curbs. I have my force set pretty high, and there is no fade at all, WOW is all I can say. The build quality is amazing, to the point that it actually exposed some problems with the build quality of the Fanatec (as the accuracy of Fanatec's mount holes is not 100%, this was not Eric's fault as even my stock motor mount did not fit correctly either). Another hiccup I had was that I had the first version of the CSW base, which means the first time I turned on my wheel it did not work correctly (and a major rise in blood pressure and heart rate). Eric and his great documentation talk about this though (my wheel calibrated the wrong direction at first so failed calibration) and I realized I needed to change my motor polarity which was an easy five minute fix and everything worked great.
I really appreciated Eric's documentation and visuals along with the detailed step by step instructions. While I do not have the base 100% assembled again (as it really does not matter as my cockpit does not expose the wheel base too much and I wanted to be able try it before I make permanent changes to the case) I have enjoyed running lap after lap with it. While it has not made me faster (nothing will, but I do this for the experience, not the gaming), I have to say that it is dramatic the experience I get in the apex of a corner as I can feel even more the wheels falling off in their grip and can catch the back end sliding out (and in the whole process loosing even more momentum speed, thanks Eric!). The advantage of this is a much better learning experience as I can now run a more consistent laps at the limit, or feel where I am pushing an apex by coming in too hot.
I have a Meanwell power supply and the Medo USA pump. The powersupply is great, very quite, the pump is another story, but there are some things to say about it that are not negative. This is a forced pressure ventilation, the pump is kind of loud, not super loud, but enough you do not want to run it when the sim is turned off as it increases the ambient noise. I have mine placed in a closet right next to my sim and the 1/4" vinyl hose running out to my cockpit. This is great for removing the pump noise, but this exposed another source of noise, the air itself!!! The amount of air being forced through the motor housings creates a very noticeable sound of blowing air. One one hand it sounds like a leak, but then it is re-assuring as you KNOW that those big Buehlers are being cooled off. If you are noise sensitive this will be an issue, I have six ButtKickers along with the eight servo's in my GS-4 SimXperience seat plus my 5.1 speakers or Astro headset so I already have a noisy cockpit (and darn it, isn't racing suppose to be loud... unless you are racing a 2014 F1 V6, hehehe).
As I have said the driving is great, this is the best you can do right now compared to a dedicated Servo motor, and as of right now there is only one solution for that and it cost ~$6-7k. I have been lucky enough to try that wheel and while it is in another league, the comparison for force and torque and the ability to pull the wheel violently is MUCH closer. This will still not rip your hands off the wheel so it is not a wrist breaker, but it is an economically viable option until the other anticipated direct servo wheel comes out this fall.
This requires some ability to mod your wheel, and you HAVE to be comfortable taking your wheel apart and hacking it up. I was very confident though as Eric provides some great support and is THE most responsive person I know to emails. You can tell he does this because he loves racing and our hobby/obsession!
One final important note and one I just really noticed why I like high torque wheels (the Bodnar is the perfect example). In many sims, especially iRacing, when you start to lose your steering in a corner two things happen in the sim: 1. the wheels squeal (audio) and 2. the wheel torque falls off dramatically (physical) as the grip of the front tires is lost. In a low torque wheel (CSW is currently the best wheel in the under $1k range) the amount of torque that you loose as your traction falls off is minimal compared to amount of torque you had at the apex or turn in. This results in the feeling that when your front wheels start to lose their grip, you have to REALLY feel it. In higher torque wheels (and I would put Eric's into this category for the upcoming reason), when the front wheels lose their grip in a turn the fall off for the torque is DRAMATIC, which allows you to catch the spin much much sooner than on the lower torque wheels. I know there are aliens out there that by some gift from above can hear a mouse squeak and know that they have gone past the edge of the envelope for their tires, I am not that gifted though. I really appreciate this mod as I can feel the grip of the tires, and more so when I lose that grip and the torque falls off and the wheel I was holding at that perfect angle is now turning even more and I can catch it.
This was a great mod which I have enjoyed very much and think for the price is well worth it!
