I clicked ‘buy now’. And waited. For four weeks, I obsessively tracked a parcel from Shenzhen. When it finally landed on my doorstep in the Netherlands, I had a set of load cell pedals for under €300 that went toe-to-toe with gear costing three times as much. Crazy. And a little scary.
AliExpress for sim racing equipment. Everyone whispers about it. Few actually explain it properly. You hear the stories: incredible bargains, customs horror stories, and a ton of unanswered questions.
Is it safe? Which brands can you trust? And what does it actually cost to get that thing to your door in the EU?
I’ve been through it. This isn’t a love letter to Chinese manufacturers. And it’s definitely not a warning to steer clear. It’s a realistic guide, written from my living room, packed with things I wish I’d known before I hit that button.
The AliExpress Gamble: Why You’d Bother (And Why You’d Run)
Let’s be real. You’re here because you don’t want to drop €800 on pedals. Or €600 on a wheel. We get it.
The appeal is simple: value. For the price of a mid-range Fanatec ClubSport V3 or Thrustmaster T-LCM, AliExpress often gets you a high-end load cell design with all the metal parts you could dream of. It’s not magic. It’s just a more direct line from the factory floor, without the brand name tax and Western distributor markups slapped on top.
But.
You’re also buying a heap of uncertainty. Warranty? You’ll deal directly with a seller halfway across the globe via AliExpress chat. A manual? Often a poorly translated PDF. Quality control? It can be… variable. I’ve had a pedal set arrive with a bolt not fully tightened. A small thing. But it tells a story.
You need to be handy. Patient. And willing to accept that ‘customer service’ means broken English in a chat window at 3 AM.
If that doesn’t faze you, it can be one of the smartest moves in your sim racing career. Seriously.
The Brands That (Mostly) Won’t Let You Down
The AliExpress scene is a sea of no-name brands and clones. Most of it? Avoid. But there are a few names that keep showing up in forums with actual positive reviews.
Simjack
The undisputed king of budget load cell pedals.
Simjack started by… let’s say ‘drawing inspiration’ from Heusinkveld Sprint pedal designs. But they’ve found their own way. Their Simjack Mini pedals show up in every budget sim racing thread for a reason. For around €150-€220 (before shipping) you get a full-metal, 3-pedal set with a load cell brake (typically 130kg or 200kg depending on model). The finish is often surprisingly good. The elastomer stack is solid. It doesn’t feel like a toy.
It’s not perfect. The pedal faces can have a bit of play. The included cables are sometimes thin. But for the money? Absurd.
Their newer Simjack Pro and Simjack Ultimate models go even further, with more adjustability and a heftier feel. They compete directly with the Heusinkveld Sprint at €549. Makes you wonder what exactly you’re paying for with the branded stuff.
Simsonn
The other major player. Simsonn often seems to work on the same OEM platform as Simjack, with slight design tweaks. Quality is comparable. It often comes down to which seller has the best price or the specific model you want at the time.
Their GS-5 wheel is also an interesting pick. A full-metal, 320mm round rim for around €100-€150. No buttons, no frills. Just a solid wheel. Perfect for a round rim for rally or drifting on your DD base.
Other Names to Know
Moza – Wait, Moza? Yes. The official Moza store is on AliExpress. Sometimes prices stay lower there longer, or there are discounts you don’t see in the EU. For an R5 bundle or R9 wheelbase, it can be worth checking.
Asetek – Same story. Their official store is there too. It’s just another sales channel.
For everything else: be cautious. There are dozens of brands that seem to be called ‘Simagic’ or ‘Simucube’. Always check the seller rating and reviews. Actually check them.
From Click to Your Doorstep: The Anxious Part
This is where the anxiety lives. It’s not hard. It’s just different.
1. Pick Your Seller. This is the most important step. Don’t go for the absolute cheapest. Look for:
- Seller Rating: Should be 95% or higher. Preferably 97%+.
- Followers/Sales: A store with 10,000+ pedals sold is doing something right more often than a new one.
- Product Reviews: Read them! Click ‘see all reviews’ and sort by ‘most recent’. Look for customer photos.
- ‘Ships From’ Country: Usually China. Sometimes they have EU warehouses (more on that in a sec).
2. Chat With Them. Yes, really. Send a message before you order: “Hi, is this item in stock? What is the estimated shipping time to the Netherlands?” A quick, professional reply is a good sign. No reply? Next store.
3. Shipping Method. This is where EU buyers need to pay attention.
AliExpress Standard Shipping (Cainiao) is the default. Often works fine, but tracking can stop at ‘arrived in destination country’. Then you’re hunting it down with PostNL or DHL yourself.
DHL, FedEx, or UPS cost more. Much more. But they’re fast (5-7 days) with proper tracking. Sometimes avoids customs hassle because the courier handles it (and then sends you a bill).
EU Warehouse or EU Priority Line is what you actually want. More sellers offer this now. Your gear is already sitting in a warehouse in Poland, Czechia, or Germany. No customs. No import VAT. Delivery within a week. Pay the extra few euros. Seriously.
4. Customs & VAT. Since July 1, 2021, it’s simple: you always pay your local VAT (21% in NL, 19% in DE, etc.). Period. AliExpress often collects this at checkout (you’ll see ‘VAT included’). If they don’t, the courier (PostNL, DHL) will hold the package and you’ll pay the VAT + a clearance fee (around €4-13) upon delivery. Import Duty rules are changing. The €150 customs duty exemption threshold will be removed as of 2026, and there may be new customs duties on low-value parcels.
My advice: budget for the price you see at checkout. Is VAT included? Great. If not, mentally add 21% + €10 admin fee to the price. You’ll never be surprised.
The Unboxing: What To Do When It Finally Shows Up
The package arrives. Finally.
Don’t expect a fancy box with glossy graphics. It’ll come in a plain brown cardboard box, components packed in foam. Industrial. Functional. That’s the vibe.
Step 1: Inspect Everything. Unpack all parts. Check for shipping damage. Check every single bolt and nut. I’m serious. Use the right tools (usually hex keys). They’re often ‘hand tight’, but not factory tight.
Step 2: Find the Manual. There’s usually a QR code on the box or product. It links to a Google Drive or website with PDFs. Sometimes the translation is hilariously bad. (‘Please to install the brake pedal with strong feeling.’) Use common sense and YouTube. There are dozens of installation videos for Simjack pedals.
Step 3: Calibrate. This is key. The pedals don’t come pre-calibrated. You need to set the range for each pedal in your sim software (iRacing, AC, etc.). Press the brake pedal fully and set that as 100%. Do the same for throttle and clutch. It takes 5 minutes.
Step 4: Don’t Be Afraid to Tweak. The default Simjack brake elastomer stack is good, but you might want it softer or harder. You can order extra elastomers or even real Heusinkveld elastomers. The community has all sorts of mods.
The Honest Answer
Yes. But only if you go in with your eyes open.
If you’re someone who wants plug-and-play, wants a phone number to call for warranty, and has zero patience, then AliExpress isn’t for you. Grab a Fanatec ClubSport V3 or Thrustmaster T-LCM from a local EU retailer. Pay the premium. It’s worth it for the peace of mind.
Are you a bit handy, do you have patience (4-6 weeks with standard shipping is normal), and do you want the absolute maximum performance for your euro? Then this is one of the best ways to upgrade your rig.
My Simjack pedals sit next to a DD base from a well-known brand. They aren’t embarrassed. In fact, they often steal the show.
It’s an adventure. Sometimes a bit stressful. But when that box finally arrives and you feel that solid, progressive brake for the first time, you’ll get it.
Four weeks of obsessive tracking. Worth it.