4iiii – my experience with the new UK Factory Install Process.

A few weeks ago, 4iii announced that its dual-sided PRECISION 3+ PRO Powermeter factory installations were now possible in the UK and EU. In addition to the company’s best power meter, you get an inbuilt Apple FindMy chip.

I went through the process, and here’s what I found.

A 3-Step Process

Firstly, you order and pay for the installation on the 4iiii website and send some basic information on your bike setup.

I do have the 12-speed FC-R9200 cranks and run them successfully on an 11-speed bike.

Using your own crankset is considerably cheaper than buying a completely new dual-side crankset with the PM installed.

With the factory-install, you save in the region of GBP400/$500, accounting for the chainrings.

The second step is to fill in an electronic form sent to you, which asks for some of the same info you’ve already sent to be re-entered. You must also supply a photo of the clearance between your existing crank and frame. They recommend putting an AAA battery in the gap from which they judge the clearance. The clearance on my Cervelo S5 was satisfactory.

The installation is subcontracted to a company in Cheshire called Pinpoint Consumer Electronics. That company inspects and approves the information you sent.

Finally, you get an approval email with details of where you are to send your cranks to.

You remove your cranks from your frame, clean the cranks, take off the pedals and send them off at your expense. Removing cranks is usually a five-minute job and easy unless something goes wrong, such as the axle seized to the bearing.

Information updates from Pinpoint clearly say they have received the device and when the installation is scheduled. Further emails say when the work is done and when the finished crankset will be booked with a courier. They used DPD couriers, and that part of the return was trackable via their site with options to leave with a neighbour or in a safe place.

The return packaging was an overkill if anything. It’s far better than the box I sent it in. It’s the same box a new power meter would be sent using.

Activating FindMy requires you to remove and replace the CR2032 battery three times. That didn’t work, but I repeatedly replaced it until it worked. Then, you pair it to your iPhone in the usual way.

Note: If you think about it, it’s obvious why there is no FindMy branding on the end product.

How long did it take?

I posted on a Tuesday using my courier. They received it the following day, did the job on Thursday and despatched it on Friday. I was surprised to receive it back on Saturday. So it’s a quick, five-working-day service.

Happy With The Service?

Yes. In my experience, it’s an efficient service.

There are two annoyances and one further point to make

1. Having to re-submit some of the same information for Pinpoint that I’d already given 4iiii. That was about 30 seconds of my life wasted, so it’s no big deal.
2. Supplying photos of the clearance gap is also a bit of a waste of time, but ultimately, two minutes of your time might save you GBP500. If there is insufficient clearance, you won’t get a refund!
3. The overkill return packaging perhaps wasn’t the most eco-friendly option, but I preferred that to a damaged crankset!

Now I have to hope it’s as accurate as the specs! +/-1% is the accuracy of most power meters generally classified as accurate, so I have high hopes. I’ll update on the accuracy later in the spring.