[Ikki]

I was thinking about getting a pressure washer to clean the car with.

Argos have a 'Challenge' pressure washer for £27.99 and a Karcher for £59.99.

I have not used a pressure washer before, would the challenge washer be up to the job? What's recommended, assuming that this is for nothing more than jetting the car down. It doesn't neet to be industrial strength.

:?

 

[078]

Karcher is the best bet Ikki. Been around for a while, & is a proven quality product. My brother in-law uses a Karcher HPW on his 4WD & family car & it does a smack up job.

 

[anthonyd]

In Melbourne, Australia, the price of pressure cleaners has gone rock bottom. This is due to the State Government making a rule (due to low water storage levels) that you can only wash your car at home if you use buckets to wash and rinse, or have a high-pressure cleaner.

That means a healthy part of the population needed to go out and buy a pressure cleaner.

I've got one, but don't use as it only adds time in setup, and doesn't clean any better (if at all).

 

[Tatt]

Ikki, I bought a B & Q special for £ 28.00, and it seems fine!

 

[AndyB]

I've got my eye out on ebay for a hot water/steam karcher pressure washer.. Mainly because I'm a lazy **** and I don't like washing cars!

 

[Ikki]

I bought the £28 Argos unit in the end as I couldn't see any advantage in paying twice the price for the Kascher, as long as it sprays the muck off. The Argos unit looks like the same one as the B & Q £28 unit. I would have bought the one at B & Q, but the boxes were all damaged quite badly.

I'll give it a run at the weekend

 

[Ikki]

The pile of crap from Argos (same as the one at B & Q) fell apart. The coupling for the pressure hose to the pressure washer body actually disintegrated while it was in the shed. It did'nt clean that well anyway.

Well, back to a standard hose for now.

 

[anthonyd]

Damn!

I barely lasted one month. How it is survive in the store?

But you discovered like me that is doesn't clean off fine dirt, only big stuff. That means it is really only useful under the car or in the wheel arches.

 

[078]

The pile of crap from Argos (same as the one at B & Q) fell apart.

Cheap junk

Ikki, spend the money mate & get the Karcher.

 

[anthonyd]

lumpy, interesting you say that.

Between Xmas and New Year I took my current car in for a service (it was well overdue). I hadn't washed it in about 2 months so it was pretty dirty.

Of course the dealer cleans it. However this time there were fine, sand sized, chip marks all over the paint surface. Bearly noticable, but they weren't there before. As wasn't upset as I'm about to get rid of the car and it was my fault for giving it to them so dirty, but it now means I will have to make sure I specify they are never to wash my new 1 when I get it serviced.

 

[078]

but it now means I will have to make sure I specify they are never to wash my new 1 when I get it serviced.

anthonyd, with BMW washing your 1 at each service I am sure they would be careful & follow the correct procedures for washing with the HPWasher. Imagine the hell to pay if they didn't :gun2:

 

[Ikki]

I just used the hose with a spray gun attachment today. It worked as well as that pressure washer.

 

[078]

Ikki, Karcher..................................................................

 

[lenclache]

Karcher do make some great washers allbeit at a price my local dealer admitts that the cheaper diy range of washers from Karcher are not designed to last much more than a couple of years and cost of repairs means it is cheaper to buy another one.Be carfull where you keep it over the Winter period I know many people who have kept them in a garage only to find in the Spring that the residue water left inside had frozen and cracked the pump housing and rendered the unit useless.So try to protect from frost.

 

[debug77]

A friend of mine was told not to use pressure washers to clean your car as they basically just blast the grit along the car and cause scratches. Anyone know how much truth is in that?