Zens' Simwheels Simdash-Elite 4.3 Review: Exceptionally Good!

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As an avid sim racer, I am always looking for ways to improve my sim experience and make my simulator even more realistic. For instance, I am looking for more and more ways to create depth so that the virtual screen and sim racing accessories blend seamlessly. One of the absolute must-have sim racing accessories then, of course, is a DDU (Dashboard Display Unit) on which you see all the telemetry and essential information during a race. DDUs come in all shapes and sizes, so it strongly depends on your personal preference.

For years I have been using a 5″ DDU in my sim racing setup, although I have to admit that I don't always like this one. Qualitatively, it is not as good, partly because the case is printed. In addition, I find this 5″ DDU too big and not always integrating nicely into the virtual dashboard of the car I am driving. Thus, in my own experience, bigger is not always better and I personally prefer a slightly smaller model. And so the de Zens' Simwheels Simdash-Elite 4.3 my attention.

Sim Racing Dashboard Review

When Zen came to me asking if I didn't want to test his updated Simdash-Elite 4.3″ and reviewen I obviously couldn't say no! Now that I have put this DDU from Zen's Simwheels through several weeks of intensive use and extensive testing, it is time for me to share with you my unvarnished opinion and experience about this very robust and solid sim racing dashboard. Are you ready for it? Then quickly read on to find out why the Zen's Simwheels Simdash-Elite 4.3 is a surprisingly good choice for in your sim racing setup!

This display promises to show essential information clearly and stylishly, allowing you to focus fully on the race. But how well does it really perform and does it actually add anything to your setup? In this comprehensive review, I share my experiences and insights on the Simdash-Elite 4.3. What can you expect from this display and is it worth it? Let's see what this gadget has to offer.

Who is Zens’ Simwheels?

Before discussing the Simdash-Elite 4.3 in depth, it is worth taking a moment to highlight its creator. Zen's Simwheels is a name you may not have heard before, but one you've been seeing more and more of lately due to the high-quality products it makes. Namely, Zen's Simwheels makes some very cool sim racing steers. Well, who is the man behind this project? Let's find out!

Zen's Simwheels is the project of Zen Metternich, a 21-year-old entrepreneur from the Netherlands with a background in Spacious Design. What started as a personal search for the perfect sim racing wheel has grown into a passion-driven company offering customised sim racing hardware. Besides custom steering wheels, Zen's Simwheels also offers button boxes, DDUs, upgrades and repairs. The still relatively young entrepreneur is working hard to create more brand awareness and he is doing so by making high-quality products. You'll find the answer to whether the Zen's Simwheels Simdash-Elite 4.3 is just that in this comprehensive review.

What's in the box?

The Simdash-Elite 4.3" comes in a beautifully designed box that immediately highlights the high-quality look of the product. The sturdy, beautifully designed packaging makes a professional and positive first impression and shows that every detail has been thought of. All parts are carefully packed in foam rubber which ensures everything stays safely in place. You can immediately see that Zen's Simwheels has put a lot of thought into both presentation and protection.

When unpacking the Simdash-Elite 4.3" from Zen's Simwheels, it is immediately noticeable that all parts have been carefully selected to ensure a hassle-free installation. Besides the display itself, the box contains all the necessary materials for a stable and professional attachment to your simracing rig. In summary, you will find in the box:

• 1x Simdash-Elite 4.3 dashboard - A robust case made of aluminium with a crystal-clear display.
• 1x USB-C cable - The included USB-C cable is of high quality.
• 1x Carbon bracket - This updated robust carbon bracket securely supports the display and is designed to withstand heavy use. With this bracket, you easily attach the dashboard to your wheelbase.
• 4x M4 screws - You use these screws to firmly attach the carbon brackets to the display, keeping everything in place.
• 2x M5, 2x M6 and 2x M8 bolts - These bolts give you mounting flexibility depending on your setup and preference, making it easy to adapt to various rigs.

Zen's Simwheels Simdash-Elite 4.3

The Simdash-Elite 4.3" combines robust quality and stunning technology in a sleek design, which is evident in every detail. From the durable aluminium frame to the razor-sharp Full HD display and flexible montagem options - every aspect has been carefully designed to provide the ultimate sim racing experience. In the following paragraphs, I will take a closer look at the features that make this dashboard so special.

Price of the Simdash-Elite

Priced at €309 (including VAT, excluding shipping) the Simdash-Elite 4.3" is in the higher segment of sim racing accessories. Well, as a marketer, I find this pricing extraordinary and don't really understand the nine euros. Psychologically, a price of €299 would be more justified.

While this dashboard - like any sim racing hardware - is a hefty investment, for this price you get a dashboard of exceptional quality, made from premium materials such as aluminium and carbon fibre. The razor-sharp image quality, stunning LED lighting and versatility thanks to Simhub compatibility make the Simdash-Elite a worthwhile addition for those looking for a more compact sim racing dashboard.

Robust design and exceptional build quality

The Simdash-Elite 4.3" is designed with attention to detail and made of high-quality materials such as 6061 aluminium, which makes both the front and back solid and durable. This combination of materials exudes exceptional quality in all aspects; you immediately notice that this dashboard is made to withstand a beating while looking elegant and professional. This DDU not only feels solid but is clearly designed for sim racers who prize quality and want high-quality products. In terms of design and build quality, I am very impressed and the design is also simplistic and nicely finished.

Stunningly bright and razor-sharp display

One of the most striking features of the Simdash-Elite is its Full HD screen with a resolution of 800x480px and a refresh rate of 60 FPS. The previous model, the V1 still had a 480x272px display. A pleasant upgrade, then! Because it is the screen, combined with the RGB lighting, that makes this dashboard so unique.

During racing, this display is a real eye-catcher; it displays all data razor-sharp and without any delay. To be honest, I have rarely seen such a sharp and vivid display. The colours come out brilliantly! This aspect is without a doubt something in which this display excels!

Adjustable RGB lighting for optimum visibility

For that extra finishing touch and to allow you to fully concentrate on the data, the Simdash-Elite is equipped with 20 individually adjustable RGB LEDs. These LEDs are not only functional but also create a visually impressive experience, enhancing your visibility on the data during races. As a result, the display not only provides essential information but also enhances the atmosphere and experience of every racing session, whether you race at night or during the day.

Simple montage and customisable configuration

Installation of the Simdash-Elite is smooth thanks to the beautifully and functionally designed carbon montage bracket, which ensures a firm and secure attachment. The display fits easily into almost any setup or wheelbase and mounting the dashboard on my Simucube 2 Pro wheelbase was a snap. The two slots make it easy to slide the display in or out. This works super nice! By the way, the bracket is attached to the wheelbase with two screws, so - unfortunately - you can't detach it quickly. Too bad! Later in this review, you'll find why I think that in my user experience.

Smart connections and slim design

The Simdash-Elite is designed with a practical USB-C connector and comes with a 2-metre-long cable fitted with a 90-degree connector, something I find both to be pleasant. This ensures a stable and neat connection, without your cables getting in the way or being distracting while racing. At just 20 mm thick, the design of the Zen's Simwheels Simdash-Elite is compact and slim. Despite its slim design, this sim racing dashboard is enormously sturdy in terms of build quality and no flex is possible in the material.

A personal touch for your dashboard

As standard, the Simdash-Elite comes with a Zen's Simwheels sticker on the front. And yes, this one is quite prominent as the brand name is a bit longer. Personally, I don't find this that distracting, but this is of course subjective. Fortunately, Zen's Simwheels also offers the option to customise the dashboard!

Zen's Simwheels offers the option to add your own text or logo, so that you have a dashboard that is not only functional but also truly reflects your personal style. Super cool! This makes the Simdash-Elite not only a technical marvel, but also a unique part of your sim racing setup.

Simhub integration and freedom in personalisation

Integrating the Simdash-Elite 4.3" with Simhub offers an amazing degree of freedom to customise your DDU to your liking. With just a few clicks, you have added this DDU as a dashboard in Simhub. Simhub allows you to choose from a wide range of dashboards, such as the popular Lovely Dashboard Or my personal favourite, TWF dashboard. This allows you to tailor the display entirely to your personal preference and style, whether you go for a minimalist display or want to see extensive data. This flexibility makes the Simdash-Elite a truly personalised part of your setup, as shown for example below in my setup combined with the GRID MPX V2, where this dashboard fits perfectly.

User experience

Without a doubt, my experience with the Simdash-Elite 4.3" is very positive. From the moment I took the dashboard out of its packaging, I was impressed by its solid quality and compact design. It feels robust and professional, where you notice that every detail has been thought of.

What really catches the eye is the razor-sharp Full HD screen. During races, every detail is displayed so clearly and colourfully that it almost feels like being in a real cockpit sits. Colours are intense and brightness remains excellent. This not only makes tracking your data easier, but also adds a visual flair that makes your setup a lot more functional and attractive.

The LED lighting is stunningly beautiful and truly a distinctive feature of this dashboard. The 20 RGB LEDs are individually adjustable via Simhub, meaning you can adjust the lighting to your liking and choose a (colour) profile that suits you. Thanks to Simhub compatibility, switching between different dash lights is effortless. Each time, this gives the Simdash-Elite a unique look that perfectly suits the type of car I am currently racing. For a classic GT or formula car, I choose an understated dashboard, while for a contemporary GT3 car I prefer a modern and data-intensive dashboard. This gives me a great deal of freedom and ensures that the Simdash-Elite always integrates well with the racing experience I have in mind.

So are there any drawbacks? In terms of design, quality and functionality, not really. Zen's Simwheels scores extremely well on all facets. Except for one aspect. Which, in my period of intensive use, I did find to be disturbing.

Lack of flexibility

The flexibility of the revamped brackets makes dashboard montage suitable for various configurations and is definitely an improvement over the previous montage brackets. Made of carbon fibre, the bracket is light and sturdy and perfect for most configurations. This makes this montage bracket, on the one hand, super flexible, as you can easily slide the display out of the bracket without having to loosen screws and compatible with most wheelbases. On the other hand, this bracket actually brings a lack of flexibility. Let me explain what I mean by this.

For example, when I race with a steering wheel with integrated display, I don't want an extra DDU in my field of vision. I find two displays a reasonable overkill as you can probably understand 😉 Fortunately, the display itself can be easily slid out of the carbon bracket. This works intuitively and easily. The downside of this solution is that you do then see the bracket. Because I also do a lot of POV racing videos make I find this disturbing. Now I realise I might be an exception to this, but I think it is worth mentioning. So I personally would have preferred a mounting system where I can also easily take the bracket on or off. Perhaps a system with (strong) magnets.

Fortunately, Zen's Simwheels offers a solution for everything and are happy to think along with you. After all, in diVerything is a solution and that is exactly what I like about smaller entrepreneurs. No mass production, but tailor-made products that are made with passion.

Apart from these carbon brackets sitting in the field of vision, the Zen's Simwheels Simdash-Elite 4.3″ is a fantastic product on which I have no further comments or criticisms. This makes this dashboard without a doubt a very suitable choice, regardless of your level.

The pros and cons

After weeks of intensive use, it is time to take stock! The Simdash-Elite 4.3" has delivered impressive performance and adds a lot of value. Here I list the main pros and cons so you get a clear picture of what this dashboard has to offer - and what you might need to consider when buying.

Conclusion

With an impressive score of 4,8 the Zen's Simwheels Simdash-Elite 4.3 has proven itself to be one of the best compact dashboards I have had the pleasure of testing and reviewen. The dashboard offers everything you expect from a high-end accessory, from a razor-sharp display and beautiful RGB LED lighting to a robust and stylish design with high-quality materials such as aluminium and carbon.

What also makes the Simdash-Elite unique is the level of personalisation. On the one hand, of course, via Simhub, on the other hand also because you can personalise the dashboard with your own name. So everything is possible in this!

If you are looking for a compact, easy-to-use and customisable dashboard that impresses in terms of both performance and appearance, the Zen's Simwheels Simdash-Elite 4.3 without a doubt a fantastic choice.

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