The Dobbie is due its 1st service soon. It's only done just under 6000 miles. According to Fiat, it can go 12,000 miles between oil changes. I don't believe this. I reckon it's done to attract fleet buyers so they keep their servicing costs down.
How much should I expect to pay for a first service at a dealer?
I was planning on having the oil changed at 6000 miles. If it reaches this mileage before 12 months is up, is it worth having an oil change then going back for a service later?

Why don't you believe them? Mine has 12,000 miles before each oil change, well it did last year and the oil that came out wasn't that bad at all.

If it's only done 6,000 miles then just drive normally until the service. Bear in mind even if you did an oil change, you can't go back when it's done 12,000 miles then, you have to go every 12,000 miles or every 12 months - whichever is sooner.

My 35,000 mile service was £175 roughly at my local Fiat garage, so I would imagine around the £120 mark?

I've spoken to a couple of mechanics (not Fiat) and they said that Diesels normally only go 3000 to 5000 miles between oil changes. They reckoned that 6000 miles would be the upper limit and that 12,000 is one of the highest oil change intervals for a Diesel that they'd heard of.
I came to the conclusion that it's to attract taxi and courier firms, to keep their annual costs down.
I was advised to get just the oil and filter changed at 6000 miles, then go back when the first service is due.

£170 sounds pretty good. I've heard horror stories, like someone paying £400 for their first service on a Punto .

Depending on which engine is fitted, the NEW ducato has gone to 28000 miles between oil changes and sedici you only ever change the oil when the car says so, and not on the service.

The simple facts are that like any other trade the technology moves on, i remember reading a 1936 hand book that suggested the car has its head decoked ever 15000 miles.. , thank heavens we move on

Believe the handbook.

The engine needs to bed in too, and if you keep changing the oil this'll never happen and you'll end up using MORE oil.
Don't forget, it's a modern engine running with modern synthetic oil, not an old thumper running on Castrol something or other, which WOULD have needed frequent changes.

Fiat mechanics don't recommend frequent oil chenges. I know, they want your business when the engine blows up: or perhaps they see no point in a customer wasting money?

Just make sure the level doesn't drop. New engines can use oil till they're bedded in.

When I was a kid petrol engines needed oil changes at 3000 mile intervals, and some Americans still do this...
But OUR technology has moved on.
Oil is a scarce resource; don't waste it.

PS. A service can be anything from C.£180 to £280 - depends on the dealer. Nearer the upper figure usually I think. But, only once a year - and no interim oil changes

Thanks chaps, I'll stick to what Fiat tell me now.
My last car was a Peugeot 505 Diesel (pushrod) and that needed oil changes every 3000 miles, so that's what I've been used to.