renualt kangoo 54plate auto

hi guys my friend has a kangoo and for 12 months it has not been started because it is used for her disabled grandaughter who is in hospital anyway i changed battery for brand new one and it started first time no problems at all, prior to all this she had problems with the airbag light it would go off and on intermitintley and also the petrol flap is supposed to engage the central locking when its openend? aint got a clue what she means by that anyway she needed a new mot and service so took it to local renault dealer and got a£520 bill!!! seems besides the service and mot it needed a new petrol flap loom cost £94 labour+£122=££216, and wiring repair to airbag labour £82 i nearly choked when i saw the bill after doin a bit of googling fornd these are common problems and are simple diy fixes if you know a decent mechanic he could do them alas she being pensioner didnt and took it to renault befor asking me what i thought any thoughts on this other members.seems bit steep to me

Alas, the peril of main dealer prices matey.....in retrospect, the only thing you maybe should have done was to ask the garage to phone you to warn you of impending bankruptcy.
For the record, the airbag light is often the seat belt pretensioners wiring under the drivers seat failing, and the central lock motors for the petrol flaps always go - but who knows in this case.
At least, if there's a bright side, you have another year on the tarmac now.
John

bloody gutted for my neighbour thou she panics as she needed it to go and collect her disabled grandaughter the car is adapted for her its only done 12,000 from new and before this was always serviced by renault they saw her coming with this bill and also the service was £110 not including parts which were only oil screenwash and brakefluid that came to £43 im wanting to go and query this but she wont let me

There are loads of good independant garages around, and on a 54 plate car any main dealer service stamp is worthless. Best to get an opinion from someone you know, and use that garage in future.
John