Thrustmaster Ferrari 488 GT3 add-on wheel overview & disassembly

Deep into Thrustmaster's latest add-on wheel.
Contents:
00:03 Intro
00:25 Unboxing
03:07 First impressions overview
09:06 QR adapters
12:10 TM 818 QR adapter closeup
14:30 Disassembly - Paddle shifters
20:01 Disassembly - Grips
22:15 Disassembly - Front Plate removal
23:28 Front Plate overview
25:48 Disassembly - Button Box
29:46 Main PCB overview
31:30 Button Switches
35:42 Pros, Cons & Conclusion
For the very VERY few people who watch the full video and read description -- I have included a sneak-peak of my next project, if you notice it put a comment with timestamp :)

[@Bohn101]

This is the second video I've seen of yours. Man do I love the teardowns. I've got some funky things in the works, which is why I am investigating these. It appears that the wheel is compatible with an SPI interface, and a vehicle CAN BUS which I am assuming the newer direct drive Thrustmaster's use as their protocol (guessing). It appears that the quick release is what determines whether you're connected through SPI or CAN BUS, a bit of redundancy, but it's cool they're making it available to work for everyone.

[@dotnetdevni]

I like ur abilities I can take things apart but i usually ruin them and cant put them back together again lol sounds like a nursery rhyme lol

[@mralfredo7643]

Hi Peter, I had a problem when I plugged the thrustmaster 488gt3 into my tx racing wheel base for xbox one. In fact when I plugged in the adator for the old bases, I noticed that the small cable had come out of its housing (which normally should be embedded in the plastic, and you could see the electrical cables) and I think that this is the cause of the crash on the xbox one consoles. Otherwise for the price its rest of the material (ok). In any case. In any case, congratulations for this thorough test. 👍

[@dotnetdevni]

Like people dont think or relise how much r and d goes into these products this reminds me of the ben aflect film paycheck

[@Sokira14]

Thx mate great work here 🙏

[@wolfherold657]

how did you get the LEDs working? I simply connected the wheel with an USB-C cable, but never got the LEDs working

[@rifqyafiyat6881]

I'd be grateful if you mind to make the quick release for this wheel that compatible with Moza wheel base 😁

[@Sokira14]

Do you think we can fit the new adapter for DD in this 488 GT3 and fit it on older steering instead of using the Quick release adapter from Thrustmaster ? From your video the new adapter still have the 3 pin socket so maybe ? ….

[@petermakesthings7342]

Yup, the standard pmt quick release will work without any customisation on this one

[@DAVIZINHOXX]

thanks for this video!!! very usefull information!!

[@johnalkiviades2779]

The review seems very bias and negative I've had this wheel for about 4 months It's incredible Especially for £200 If you want carbon fibre then maybe you need to add another £600 to that You obviously don't like thrustmaster I have to defend them slightly as they have a great customer service and their product range is massive Will always stick with thrustmaster I was about to spend a £1000 on fanatec but they would not reply to any emails regarding the product but we're willing to take my money May I ask What are you comparing this wheel to

[@DAVIZINHOXX]

Hello everyone. Santa gave me one of these and i am upgrade with the peters true quickrelease mod. Aparently it should work BUT not perfect. The first thing you need 3 m4x50 or 52 screws (i must buy 52 to test, because i thing 50 maybe is not enought), the previous m4x45 are not enought. Other thing is the main 3d printed piece. The curve not fit because touch with the magnetic pads. I must sand a little the sides. I will test and told soon

[@shakealeg88]

I just bought this online and waiting for it to arrive. As always I don't expect much from TM :/ But maybe an improvement on the buttons compared to my current P310, the buttons feel horrible on that. Also for Gran Turismo it's a bit too basic, I'm looking to have easier means to adjust fuel mapping, brake bias, etc. Honestly in retrospect I should have gone Fanatec, it's just that when I was ready to pull the trigger, Fanatec gear was really unavailable here in NZ.

[@StefanoV__]

It’s possible to make a mod to improve length of the old hub to increase the distance between the base and the steering wheels? so we can please a dash…

[@petermakesthings7342]

You'd need a 58mm to 70mm pcd adapter (this would need to be cut from aluminium), then use a hub extension from aliexpress of any length you'd need, that being said I'm not sure it's s good idea, to much plastic and with the extension the forces could be too much, send me an email I'll give u a .dxf for adapter and sample link for extender

[@ludo2656]

Hello , great vidéo. Is it diffucult to made a usb adapter . Are you going to made a vidéo for this ??

[@petermakesthings7342]

Watching the video to the end might give u some hints :)

[@ludo2656]

I do , but i am not like you about electronics. 😂😂 I just see the wheel base and e-stop from simucube , the USB câble and nothing other !! It's magical

[@funhobbiesunlimited]

🔴🏁Really great disassembly. What would be ideal to make it an even more beautiful and qualitative steering wheel is the replacement of all plastic buttons with metal buttons. I hope that mods like this will one day be available for this steering wheel. Wouldn't you by chance know the address of a website that makes metal button mods for Sim racing wheels ?🤔

[@petermakesthings7342]

Would need to be a custom job, modeling the original btn wouldn't be difficult but then you'd need to cnc it sonewhere

[@SiskoMilo]

Excellent review man. Unlike other hype fanboy type of reviews you are talking about facts which is huge from my perspective. I mean 250eur wheel Thrustmaster so no surprise here but it's ferrari branded I wish it was a bit higher quality, wtf is 2mm aluminium wheel while they plan to use it on over 10nm DD and whole structure is plastic just disappointing.

[@petermakesthings7342]

Had the same thought, but it's actually holding very well on high torque and no flex, maybe they used higher grade alu, can't explain it otherwise

[@Simlife101]

@Peter Makes Things do you think it would be possible to convert this too USB? and use on the Simucube 2 pro. For the price ypu could get a 3d printed wheel so im super impressed for £200. I would mod the grips even reprint some and add a better QR

[@petermakesthings7342]

If only you watched the video till the end...

[@StickyPlasters]

Question, why would you put something like this on something so high end? At least get the GT Neo

[@Simlife101]

@@StickyPlastersbecause some of us want a replica.

[@Simlife101]

@@petermakesthings7342I did watch the whole video and I do see the cable but where do you talk about using on Simucube?

[@Simlife101]

@@petermakesthings7342are I see you gave us a glimpse at the end showing it attached to a QR for your Simucube but where do I get the adapter?

[@mbardos]

Does it squeak with the T818?

[@mlachance001]

yes it's the the first wheel to include it

[@Lovnetti]

is it connected via usb? i can see a cable going down from the wheel?

[@petermakesthings7342]

Mine is ;)

[@ito243]

i like this wheel. i want it and make it usb to mi fanatec dd. i hope you will xplain how to do it and where to buy the qr. thanks @@petermakesthings7342

[@jaroolejar]

How you connect it without thrustmaster base? Thank you.

[@petermakesthings7342]

That's coming soon :)

[@ricardotorres5131]

Man Id love that video, keep the awesome work

[@mataman1]

​@@petermakesthings7342 any update on this?

[@tedmalmgren3464]

Hello I would like to buy a PMT QR adapter

[@petermakesthings7342]

Great, check the links in the description of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/op2Xqpppn9lrlZI

[@snippidippi]

Looks OK for a wheel but should cost like 150-200€ maximum. Its just molded plastic for like 90% and simple circuit board style

[@petermakesthings7342]

Yup completely agree, it's just OK, was hoping they'll up their quality after sf1000

[@MIKEDRIFT]

No disappointing makes it affordable, its for sim racing .

[@shakealeg88]

If anyone does upgrades for this wheel I'll buy everything, I wouldn't be surprised if someone ends up making a 3 mm carbon fiber face and better grips for this, looks like it would be a good improvement on it. One thing that I hate on the TM wheels is that the whole attachment to the base is made trough that cheap plastic, and then they put a thin metal face on top of that, so the whole thing feels like shit in your hands.

[@dmurphy1578]

When I saw this I put carbon tape on my old open wheel add on and bought some etsy lights for it.

[@arachno000]

i almost needed to laugh couple of times because you sounded so disappointed while takin it apart.. to be fair i agreed to the disappointment lol but damn Thrustmaster tops again with their Overbuild stuff.. you need a masters degree to take that thing apart lol

[@theamateurguitarist6187]

This guy 😂 What is he expecting for £200, an FIA grade wheel. It’s made for some guy in his bedroom to play a game. Best comment is when he looks at the rear cavity and says “that’s the old design, they must have started with that and then changed their mind”. Because that’s how products that are going to have $100k’s spent on taking them to production and market are designed 😂 He has very sensitive hands too. The grips hurt them just by picking the wheel up 🤦‍♂️

[@juliusmaximus753]

400 dollars and carbon sticker really ?

[@petermakesthings7342]

Think it's 250 but yeah, quite disappointing