AGH1965 said:

Well, the service interval of the 1.2 has been reduced to 9k miles or 1 year, but as you can see below, the spark plugs, the oil and the oil filter of the 1.2 still need to be replaced every 18k miles or 2 years. The yearly replacement of the pollen filter is no longer mandatory; now it's only recommended.

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Where does it say that the service interval for the 1.2 is 9k miles?

bluejohn125 said:

This is pretty hilarious, basically now nothing has changed from the 1990s service intervals for Unos, Tipos, Pandas and Puntos back in the mineral oil days of OlioFiat VS+ or the first Selenia semi-synthetics.

Presumably it's because now they've gone to tiny sumps with watery-thin oils and hard working engines that are either thrashing about or stopping and starting all the damn time.

Ain't progress a wonderful thing...

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Actually reading what someone posts is even better, Fiat haven't changed the service intervals

I bought a new mito in July with a service plan. There is now a 12 month/9000 mile service schedule. But what is absolutely clear is that this first service is just a check up (as others have said). It's a no-brainer to change oil/filter pollen filter at this time too, even though it is additional cost. Especially with suggestions that multi-air failures could be linked to infrequent oil changes or incorrect oil.

I also wouldn't dream of leaving my wife's 500 1.2 for 18000 without doing the same.

306maxi said:

Where does it say that the service interval for the 1.2 is 9k miles?

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The table is three pages long, but I only showed the last page, since that one mentions the spark plugs, the oil and the oil filter. On this page there is no black dot in the first column (9k miles / 1 year), but on the first two pages there are several. So, the service interval is now 9k miles / 1 year.

Show it to us. I think you're misunderstanding things, that page shows that it's 2 years 18k miles

306maxi said:

Fiat haven't changed the service intervals

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Yes, they did. The owner handbooks of 500s up to 2014 have a maintenance table where the first column is 18k miles / 2 years. Now the first column is 9k miles / 1 year. So FIAT changed the service interval. However, the spark plugs, the oil and the oil filter still need to be changed every 18k miles / 2 years. If changing these parts is your definition of servicing, then the service interval hasn't been changed.

Post it up then.....

Seems all they've done is put in a column to show the recommended cabin air filter change yearly from what's up so far.

I'd be more worried about the service intervals on the TA, timing chains and turbos don't like old oil and long service intervals.

306maxi said:

Show it to us. I think you're misunderstanding things, that page shows that it's 2 years 18k miles

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Yeah it has changed slightly buddy. The 18k/2yr intervals for the various consumables are still the same (and you still have to have an oil/filter change every 12 months if your car does less than 6k miles per year), however there's now this check that has to be done at 9k or year 1.

This thread from the Panda 2012 section is quite useful in this regard too:
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/418439-panda-twinair-cross-short-service-intervals-2.html

Personally I would be very interested to hear what price a Fiat dealer is going to charge for this year 1 check. Really it should be no more than £40, but I bet you people will be asked to pay more than that!

306maxi said:

Post it up then.....

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Why don't you download several owner handbooks yourself? You can download them here: http://aftersales.fiat.com/elum

If you don't use the VIN, but select brand, model, year and month, then you can download the handbook that belongs to the production date that you selected.

doesn't work on mobile, anyway it's pretty clear that the 1 year bit is just a recommendation for checks so not really a service as such, more an inspection.

Here are all three pages:

306maxi said:

anyway it's pretty clear that the 1 year bit is just a recommendation for checks so not really a service as such, more an inspection.

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I don't think that it's just a recommendation. More likely it's mandatory if you don't want to void your warranty.

That seems to suggest that it's some sort of service plan.

Regardless, I very much suspect that it would be impossible for Fiat to enforce such laughably draconian warranty terms.

If anything it appears to be Fiat suggesting that they don't trust any of the components on their vehicles for more than 12 months or 9k miles.

I wouldn't call it laughably draconian it's similar intervals to a Suzuki, or a Mazda for that matter. Although they actually do oil and air filter changes at the yearly services. This on the other hand does slightly seem like it's paying the dealer to glance at the car.

StevenRB45 said:

I wouldn't call it laughably draconian it's similar intervals to a Suzuki, or a Mazda for that matter. Although they actually do oil and air filter changes at the yearly services. This on the other hand does slightly seem like it's paying the dealer to glance at the car.

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Yeah, pretty much this- though in both those cases you're dealing with engines in a (much) higher state of tune than the FIRE 1.2 and timing chains rather than belts.

I can't understand why FIAT haven't slapped an oil and filter change into the 9k whatever-you-want-to-call-it. Doubt the average FIAT dealer will be much cheaper for that inspection than a basic service and the "inconvenience" factor of taking the car to a dealer is much the same either way.

I'd certainly seriously begrudge paying FIAT dealer prices for that inspection just to avoid the inevitable warranty arguments.

As I've banged on about enough, this extended-interval servicing nonsense will consign many good cars to an early grave.

I'm not sure why FIAT would have any legal difficulty in enforcing those inspection terms over any other warranty terms.

Surely the actual maintenance should cover what is actually needed to maintain the car.

Oh sorry, the oil in your car was degraded to the point where it killed the engine. Well yes it was within the actual service intervals, but we have to check it yearly innit.

This isn't a highly strung supercar, it's a chuffing 1.2 FIRE!

What have Fiat changed in the car to necessitate these inspections? Were there loads of failures previously?

StevenRB45 said:

This on the other hand does slightly seem like it's paying the dealer to glance at the car.

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I think you are partly right. Checking the brakes might be useful though.

306maxi said:

Surely the actual maintenance should cover what is actually needed to maintain the car until the warranty runs out.

Oh sorry, the oil in your car was degraded to the point where it killed the engine. Well yes it was within the actual service intervals, but we have to check it yearly innit.

This isn't a highly strung supercar, it's a chuffing 1.2 FIRE!

What have Fiat changed in the car to necessitate these inspections? Were there loads of failures previously?

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Cynic inside me suspects franchised dealers have been bemoaning the lack of servicing income, but FIAT haven't wanted to cut the "headline" servicing intervals so have gone for a sort of halfway house.

zanes said:

Yeah, pretty much this- though in both those cases you're dealing with engines in a (much) higher state of tune than the FIRE 1.2 and timing chains rather than belts.

As I've banged on about enough, this extended-interval servicing nonsense will consign many good cars to an early grave.

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Reading the pieces that have been posted up this doesn't just affect 1.2s but covers all petrol 500s. I'm very surprised they have an 18k oil interval on the TA. It has a turbo, timing chain and a tiny capacity so will be highly stressed. I do wonder how long it may be before premature turbo failure and timing chain stretch threads start popping up here. They may not but when your engine oil lubricates your timing gear and your turbo bearings it would probably be prudent to change it more regularly than the old style fire units.