How to tell if expe...
 

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How to tell if expensive is better? £42.50 each or £2.11 a pair?

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I am looking for a pair of push button bonnet latches in black. A quick google brings many options from £2.11 for a pair  : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bruafsir-Release-Button-Universal-Vehicle/dp/B0CCJ7VGQ4

up to £42.50 each : https://motamec.com/motamec-quick-release-push-button-clip-pin-bonnet-boot-panel-black-60mm.html

 

How do you judge when you are paying for quality and when just for their profit?

The cheap one is 55mm long and the expensive one is 60mm long. They are both stainless steel fittings and alloy buttons so they must be the same, right?

 

This is actually a real world situation I face right now so I will be reading your replies with interest.

 


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 5:20 pm
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This depends on how quickly you need to finish the project... I would go with the cheaper option to start with and see if they fit the bill.  Given they could be identical in terms of quality, apart from the length, then see if you can save the money in the first instance! 


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 5:28 pm
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Buy both and make a comparison video? (not that I'll have time to watch it 😀 )


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 5:31 pm
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The trouble with that approach is the only time I will know if the cheap one fails easily is when the carbon bonnet comes through the windscreen. 

I might get the £2 pair just to see how cap they are, but how much do I spoken on the ones I got?  There are a variety at every price point between £2-40


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 6:08 pm
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If there is a range of prices for very similar items my usual mantra is never the cheapest or most expensive.

In this particular situation personally I would probably go for something in the £10 - 15 range (no idea if they are available for that sort of price).

If you can afford the plastic lid for the engine it must be worth spending a little more than the cheapest?


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 7:05 pm
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Yeah, not the cheapest but something between 10 and 15 quid...


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 7:40 pm
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Funnily enough if had settled on avoid £20-£25 for the pair. That was more than the real bad stuff date charge, enough for reasonable did but not the super performance rally bred...

Just wondered how other people did this


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 7:41 pm
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Many years ago a friend was helping rebuild a car. Could buy grommets for the body shell, which would be in place before primer and painting. Could have dozens for a few pounds or a pair for £40 (this was late 80's. Only difference, cheap ones had ford embossed on them expensive ones Aston Martin Lagonda.


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 8:09 pm
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Just watching this to learn fromt he Americans :

 


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 8:20 pm
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Posted by: WorldClassAccident

There are a variety at every price point between £2-40

Depending how important/risky it is I tend to go for something mid price range.


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 8:39 pm
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look on ebay,aliexpress, see which have the same pics and varying prices, notice some different versions, choose version and find the cheapest

I used to share a house with a girl who  told me that eg Heinz beans were better if you bought  then from harrods instead of asda. So you should ask her, she'll know


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 9:19 pm
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I went for these in the end - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314248678240

 

a girl who  told me that eg Heinz beans were better if you bought  then from harrods instead of asda. So you should ask her, she'll know

My Grandma's neighbour used to ask me to bring her Waitrose carrier bags when I was up north in Chorley. Apparently it made her shopping so much better when getting the bus back from Booths.


 
Posted : 06/10/2025 9:50 pm

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