T500 Ferrari Wheel Modding Service

[Kai Lohmann]

<mod edit: opening post suspended, until merchant shows up again>

 

[Kai Lohmann]

SPACEHOLDER FOR FUTURE

 

[Anthony Levene]

Looks great. It's good to see some interesting mods appearing for the T500.
I'm still trying to decide which route to go for a formula wheel for my set up...but you may have swayed me back towards the F1 wheel again

 

[Justin Madley]

Very nice

 

[Mat Venn]

Nice . Do you replace the Paddle switches also?

 

[Kai Lohmann]

Hi,

Funny you talk about that. Right now i try to find the best way to get it done. Got some parts here but its not the right deal. I hope to get something done on the next week.

 

[William Geuze]

It would be nice if you include double clutch paddles as well, that would be a real cool addition to this rim

 

[Kai Lohmann]

Hey,

Another great idea, and i really thought about it just was aware of the price it would end up.
But sincerly i got a new company for my stuff to cut so i will have another look into that, would be alot more modding and drilling though, but thats fun.
To keep all reasonable i will look for paddles in acrylic or plexi, that would also lower the weight. Right now its 1.1 kg.

I will also offer a wheelplate for the GT wheel with added sli-m, 2 rotarys and 4 pushbuttons.
The Plate will be added on the front of the wheel.

Greets Modmate

 

[Mark Reynolds]

I am interested in the SLI-Pro version maybe, depending on price

Clutch would be great.......

 

[Kai Lohmann]

I am interested in the SLI-Pro version maybe, depending on price

Clutch would be great.......

Hi,

The sli-pro version is already available just not done to show yet cause i need another wheel though. OYu can also have extra Led`s attached to the wheel then for free.The price would be about 60€ more cause of the sli-Pro price of 120€.
I keep all prices reasonable and wont charge much on my work, the main costs are the Hardware build in.

Greets Modmate

 

[Kai Lohmann]

Hey,

Some wheels are in work right now and i still have some offers left for interested out there, just PM me.

Stay tuned for some reviews in 1-2 weeks!

Greets Modmate

 

[Anthony Levene]

My baby arrived today...

Just over 2 weeks since I first contacted Modmate about the various options available I received my new wheel...all the buttons have been replaced, SLI-m added with 5 working rotary encoders and some extra flashing LEDs

Modmate's service has been first class, answering all my questions and being patient as I repeatedly changed my mind There are more options available than on a new Audi - so tough choices had to be made!

Right I'm going to do some laps...full review and proper pics to follow soon...

 

[Tom]

Received mine today. Just a few shots, will write a bit more soon.







Pictures are linked to my flickr page, high resolution versions are available on flickr.

 

[Anthony Levene]

I’ve had my Modmate modded F1 wheel for a week now so I thought I’d give you my initial impressions...

First of all I would like to say how stress free the whole process has been. One real bonus is that the Thrustmaster wheel is quite a bit cheaper to buy in Germany, and so Modmate arranged to buy that for me too...saving me money on buying one here in the UK and shipping it Germany.

Because Modmate offers a whole range of Mods for the Thrustmaster F1 wheel there are a few tough choices to be made but he was always prompt in answering any questions I had. And in the end, after changing my mind several times, I went for swapping all the buttons and adding SLI-m display with 5 rotary encoders.

I’m still not entirely sure I made the right decision going for the SLI-m. I think the wheel looks better with SimDisplay but I like having the 5 rotaries (with the Simdisplay you can only have 3 switches)...of course if you have slightly bigger budget you can get the best of both with the SLI-Pro display but I was determined to stay within my budget.

So far I haven’t customised the SLI settings too much as most of the sims work well out of the box using the SLImax software which costs a few quid. The Rev light LEDS are great and the brightness is assigned to one of the rotaries so it’s easy to get it just right...although I had blind spots in my eyes for ages when I turned them right up! There are also 3 customisable LED on each side of the gear display. Another advantage the SLI display has is that more LEDs can be added...we like flashing lights so Modmate added 3 more LEDs for me below the gear display.

As well as the various LED colours there is a choice of colours for the Rotary scales.

With the buttons there are 3 choices – colour, button size and shield size. The NKK buttons have a very satisfying solid feel, the click is quite loud - you definitely know when it has been pressed. They are ‘momentary on’ switches which work just as well for quickly opening the DRS or being held pressed down for the KERS. The different sized buttons and shield make it easy to feel the different buttons without having to look down.

One final choice is what to do with the fake Ferrari dial in the middle of the wheel. I guess if you’re one of the Tifosi it would be cool to leave it. I decided to have it removed but it can be covered too (pics on Modmate’s site). I’m hunting for a nice decal to stick there...

So after making all those choices I was bit nervous about what the wheel would actually look like when it arrived. But when I opened the box I was just amazed at the quality of the finish on the wheel. The acrylic plates Modmate uses, covered in carbon fibre coil, are really neat looking. I think the wheel looks completely transformed without the fake dials and with a working display.

The wheel in action is a complete joy. Open wheelers feel completely different. The wheel reacts much faster than either the standard GT wheel or my even bigger Renaulsport steering wheel. So much so that I’ve dialled back the feedback when I’m using the F1 wheel.

I’ve done a lot of laps this week in the various F1 cars in my garage It feels brilliant with the Formula Reiza in GSC, and even the Williams in iRacing was fun, but I’m getting addicted to the F150 in FVA!

The only slight quibble I’ve had with the modded wheel is the length of the curled USB cable from the SLI, which I found a bit short. I put a USB hub right beside the wheel but as I turned the wheel the curls in the cable were catching on the big flappy paddles attached to the base. The solution I have come up with is to Velcro the USB hub to the bottom of the wheel, so now the cable runs between the 2 paddles but is nicely out of the way. A minor issue easily solved.

And that really is the only slight negative I’ve found so far. I love the wheel. I’ve got more buttons, knobs, switches and flashing lights than I can possibly use! But most importantly it has completely transformed the driving experience in the open wheelers

I spent a long time looking at various options for a Formula style wheel and, although not cheap, Modmate’s wheel is at the cheaper end of the scale but you certainly won’t think so when you’re hurtling around the track. It feels like pure quality

 

[Mat Venn]

Looks great you must be well chuffed.

 

[Kai Lohmann]

Thanks for that fantastic review mate!!!!!

Glad you like your wheel that much and have no problems!

I will skip partnership with Simdisplay from now on since its looking well yes, but it got not the quality i look for, to many tiny problems begins on the gamesupport and ends with the led`s itself.BODNAR is the way to go from now on. To replace that offer i will offer VERRY soon a Sli-pro installation with custom made shields wich will be made right today. I `ll post some pics later!

 

[Anthony Levene]

I'm sorry to hear about the problems with the Simdisplay...but that has made me feel better about going with the Bodnar option

 

[Kai Lohmann]

I recently changed my website also to offer JUST bodnar Displays from now on.
Pics from your wheel is added on the main and some Sli-pro installs will follow soon.
I use the near same High quality Led`s for the extra led`s as Leo does on his SLi,,, ok, maybe mine are better in colours. They will stay for ever !

 

[Tom]

I'm sorry to hear about the problems with the Simdisplay...but that has made me feel better about going with the Bodnar option

I have to agree - the SimDisplay might look cool but the problems I had...geez. None of them were caused by modmate, to be clear on that. We worked it out in the end but he got practially no help, not even the slightest, from one of the SD guys. :/

 

[hwangm]

not to be a dick, modmate. but not so long a go you were the one complaining as to why every one just "jump" to ask for SLI PRO and how bad the service was, with the email no reply
but now that you are offering them as primary - thumbsup.