SMZ1 Formula Rim

Marcel Kleene · Apr 20, 2016

Just received my newest baby.... the Sam Maxwell Formula Rim with integrated Z1 Screen.

The SMZ1 wheel is a state of the art current F1 tech inspired wheel and is made from a 1/4" thick solid piece of carbon fiber with cast in place urethane rubber hand grips. It has 10 buttons, 4 Three way momentary toggles and 6 rotary style switches. The commercial duty shifters are from Precision Design Worx and are billet aluminum with magnetic snap action. It also has dual clutch paddles allowing for controlled starts at the drop of the green. That's 33 individual inputs for controlling even the most elaborate racing cars.

The SMZ1 Wheel is fully compatible with the Z1 Dashboard software. It comes with a license for the Z1 software as well as two years of updates.*

LED Features**:

15 LEDs shift light across the top

The 15 shift lights can be programmed for any RPM

Top LEDs can be set to include DRS lights

Top LEDs can be set to flash when pit limiter is engaged or rev limiter is hit

3 left and 3 right LEDs can be customized to indicate DRS Available, DRS Active, DRS On, Yellow Flag, Blue Flag, Pit Limiter, Water Temp, Oil Pressure, Fuel Pressure, Low Fuel

James Robertson · Apr 20, 2016

Nice

Bez · Apr 20, 2016

Beautiful, how long from ordering to recieving? Could be just what my accuforce needs

Marcel Kleene · Apr 21, 2016

@Bez, I pre-ordered when I saw the first pic of an early version nearly a year ago on iRacing. So I was #2 on the pre-order list. But after the real order it took 2 weeks.

Bez · Apr 22, 2016

Does it use the slip ring for any connections or are they all delivered through the external connector, I removed my slip ring for smoother wheel feel after the updated version still had missed shifts.

Marcel Kleene · Apr 22, 2016

Hi Bez. It 's built to work with the slip ring out of the box... but the smallest USB disconnect, will disconnect the screen and it won't come back. It happened to me very often...nearly cannot finish one lap. You know, these fast movements make the slip ring fail. So the slip ring solution is not really reliable and I will remove the connectors on the wheel side and only use the USB Cable.

I have a Fanatac Formula Rim with AF QR and I have misshifts sometimes as well. high demand USB devices such as the screen need a better connection. So only will use external connector.

Cheers
Marcel

Bez · Apr 22, 2016

Thanks Marcel, I think I'll be grabbing one of these rims, look perfect! It'd be great if you could update the thread after using the rim for while.

Moxley6969 · Apr 22, 2016

VERY interesting and Honest opinion of the QR connection Marcel. Thanks for that.

Although owning a CSW i cant say ive ever had a "missed shift" but definitely have had the Pins break on my BMW rim over the past 2+ years. Thankfully im handy enough to fix it myself. But Agree there's got to be a better way (coiled USB seems to be it)

Bez · Apr 22, 2016

Moxley6969 said:
VERY interesting and Honest opinion of the QR connection Marcel. Thanks for that.

Although owning a CSW i cant say ive ever had a "missed shift" but definitely have had the Pins break on my BMW rim over the past 2+ years. Thankfully im handy enough to fix it myself. But Agree there's got to be a better way (coiled USB seems to be it)

I think the problem with the missed shifts is when using his fanatec rim with the accuforce quick release, I've had two slip ring assembly's in my accuforce and neither was fully reliable especially when doing fast corrective movements, I ended up fully removing the slip ring assembly from the hub and using the coiled cable instead, AF feels so much smoother

Marcel Kleene · Apr 25, 2016

Exactly Bez, it was only using Fanatec Rim with AF QR. I removed the connections on the wheel side and used a coiled USB cable... now no disconnect anymore... happy pilot

Brian Himmelman · May 9, 2016

I order SMZ1 last week hope it arrive soon ... Very excited !!

Marcel Kleene · May 10, 2016

Just a little update. The integrated Z1 screen didn't work properly with the slip ring. So I hooked it up to the back of the SimXperience AF Base via USB. Still had very small disconnects, which let the software hang up. The buttons and shifters still worked, but the screen hangs up. The solution is to have a powered USB 3.0 Hub hooked up to your PC USB 3.0. SMZ1 has very high USB requirements and in fact uses 90% of the milliamps of the USB 2.0 spec. The hub inside the AF is not at the minimum of the spec.

Stefan Sparco · May 10, 2016

It looks like Simxperience have ditched the slip ring for the Accuforce:-

NOTE: Orders placed after 05/05/2016 will no longer include a slip ring. The button box connects to the wheel base via a coiled telephone style cable as in real world race cars.

It's not surprising as even with basic rims it was something that needed maintenance after a period of time.

Marcel Kleene · May 10, 2016

@IRobot...yes, have seen it...but the USB on the base is not good as well... if ditching Slip Ring already at least they have to have good Quality USB 3.0 on the Base.

Moxley6969 · May 10, 2016

Marcel Kleene said:
Just a little update. The integrated Z1 screen didn't work properly with the slip ring. So I hooked it up to the back of the SimXperience AF Base via USB. Still had very small disconnects, which let the software hang up. The buttons and shifters still worked, but the screen hangs up. The solution is to have a powered USB 3.0 Hub hooked up to your PC USB 3.0. SMZ1 has very high USB requirements and in fact uses 90% of the milliamps of the USB 2.0 spec. The hub inside the AF is not at the minimum of the spec.

For what you paid for that rim and Base....imo thats is very much unacceptable.

Marcel Kleene · May 11, 2016

@Moxley6969, this is what you get, if you are an early bird and want things when they come out......kind of a beta tester

. But the problem is mainly from AF (especially the slip ring and bad quality USB ports on the Base) and not from the rim from Sam Maxwell.

Nick Gregory · May 11, 2016

Sam Maxwelll makes beautiful rims, and yours is no exception.

Nick Gregory · Jun 25, 2016

Azure Flare said:
Sam Maxwelll makes beautiful rims, and yours is no exception.

Speaking of which, mine came in yesterday. It was a tough pill to swallow, but it was worth it.

2scoops · Oct 18, 2016

That's awesome, i'm looking for a formula rim for my Accuforce, the 310mm is too big for formula's.

On another subject, really having problems setting up the Accuforce with Raceroom, what settings do you use in Raceroom?

Bez · Oct 18, 2016

2scoops said:
That's awesome, i'm looking for a formula rim for my Accuforce, the 310mm is too big for formula's.

On another subject, really having problems setting up the Accuforce with Raceroom, what settings do you use in Raceroom?

I gave up with raceroom and the accuforce, so many odd and unexpected forces coming through the wheel, do you get odd spikes when cornering? also seems to be no progression with tyre grip feel, its all or nothing