What is the general consensus on this feature? It's not something I'd be overly interested in having, and I'm hearing from some folks that they don't use it, and that it is expensive to repair, and to replace shocks when needed.

Just wondering what the thoughts are on it, and if there is a way to bypass it if the car I want to buy ends up having it.

JT

 

I have it on my car and I gotta admit, I rarely switched between settings. I could notice a difference between the settings, but it was pretty subtle............at least for my purposes. When I went to the dragstrip, I put it on the softest setting, figuring I'd get better weight transfer. I'm not sure it made much of a difference though.

When I needed to replace my shocks I couldn't justify the extra cost for the FX3 shocks. The FX3 shocks were almost $250 apiece vs $350 or so for a regular set of Bilsteins. There are a couple outfits that will rebuild them, but its still significantly more expensive than buying a set of standard Bilsteins. So I ended up replacing with a standard set of Bilsteins and throwing the FX3 shocks in a box in case I ever decide to rebuild them. I ziptied the actuators inside the frame and was done with it. I know disabling the system is supposed to set a trouble code, but, for whatever reason, I got no code in my car.

If AutoX is your thing I could see it possibly being worth it to have the FX3 system, especially considering you can have the shocks rebuilt to custom settings. For someone who mostly drives mostly on the street, I don't think its that big of a deal. I don't miss it a bit and because my FX3 shocks were getting pretty old, my car now rides better than it has in ages.

 

I had an FX3 in my 90 and loved the adjustability. I set it to tour for cruising with the wife and then set it to performance for auto-x. When redoing the suspension this winter I tore it all out and replaced with QA1 adjustables. I was afraid I'd put 1000 bucks into getting all four Bilsteins rebuilt only to have one or more of the motors quit or the computer fry. Now I have to crawl around to adjust the rear shocks but at least I know I won't have to deal with any electrical gremlins.

 

Don't use it...set on Tour and left alone.

will be replacing shocks with std QYB's.

 

When the Selective Rice Control option (RPO FX3) was introduced back in 1989, there were only a few high-end European sports cars that had a adjustable suspension like that. In fact, Bilstein modified a system they had originally developed for Ferrari to make it work in Corvettes.

FX3 was an excellent system at the time. Not only were there 3 separate selections on the console switch, but the electronic controller used input from the 4 VSS sensors to make very slight adjustments within each of the 3 settings. I had FX3 in my old '92 'vert and I really liked especially once I understood how the system worked.

At one point, Bilstein developed a series of custom shock valvings for motorsports use and a Forum member helped Bilstein to create them. Doug Rippie Motorsports developed a custom controller that utilized custom PROM chips for even more shock tuning.

But now it costs a fair amount of money to rebuild the FX3 shock and I had read earlier that some parts to rebuild the rear shocks are no longer available.

Are there better shock systems? There are some excellent coil-overs but those require removal of the springs and the adjustable coil-overs can get really pricey!

 

I certainly notice it on my 96 driving into corners, but than I have a road course racing background and can feel things in a car most people never notice! If you're auto crossing, I'd say get it, if not, it's a toss up. My only concern is that the system in general is old now a days, passive shocks probably are just as good.

Also, the 96 system didn't use Blistein, they were Delco's and can't be replaced now a days.

 

I had them on my 96 and thought I could detect a slight difference. That system is much more sophisticated that the earlier FX3 option that was used through 1995.
I now have a 91 with FX3 and cannot tell the difference at all between settings.

 

I've never been able to feel the difference in the settings in my car. Is there a way to tell if it's working or not?

 

If the system is not working, there would be a illuminated message in the DIC that says "Service Ride Control". There are 13 possible codes that are stored in the CCM (not the engine computer).

Of course it could be that the DIC light was burned out or that the controller wiring harness was disconnected.

 

I can notice the difference, mainly taking corners.

 

In the Sport position yes I completely concur. In the late 80s this was the suspension option to have for spirited driving. Coupled with DRM coil overs it's the way it should have came from the factory