Which Pressure Washer for car cleaning?

[interstellar]

I am going to treat myself to a new pressure washer as I have an F90 M5 coming next week and my old Nilfisk is tired (lasted about 15 years).

I fancy this one partly because it has a detergent tank but I am not sure if snow foam would work in there very well or you still need the bottle on the end of the lance?

I wouldn't use it for anything else other than car washing so don't think I need to throw anymore at it than £150 budget?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/K%C3%A4rcher-Power-Contro...

Any recommendations on whether this one fits the bill or others. If the detergent tank wont act as a snow foam option then I need to buy the lance bottle too but its only £14

https://www.amazon.co.uk/K%C3%A4rcher-26431470-Cap...

Over to the experts.

[Glosphil]

I have a Triton from Screwfix. Decent spec & reliable so far.

[Marumi]

I find the third part snow foam lances to be much better than the included ones anyway, so I'd get one of those and forget about any included detergent tanks etc. It's just one more thing to go wrong.

At the lower price range it doesn't really matter what you get - they're much the same and you almost have to treat them as disposable. If you have one a few years you've done well.

I actually quite like the slightly less powerful ones, as it means you're a bit more protected against damaging something.

Anyway this is all before someone convinces you that you need a Kranzle.

Edited by Marumi on Tuesday 1st March 13:09

[Fusss]

I got the Makita HW101, pretty cheap and has never missed a beat, really good.

[dhutch]

I don't use a pressure washer for car cleaning.

You dont want a high pressure jet, you certainly dont want a whirly end needle jet type, and snow foam appears to be mainly a marketing gymic.

However if you want a nice pressure washer, I have a Nilfisk.

C125 - Smallest that you can get proper spares for
https://www.cleanstore.co.uk/products/Product.asp?... £130

E140 - Most common, used for there hire washers, etc.
https://www.cleanstore.co.uk/products/Product.asp?... £225

[eps]

Karcher K4 here, got it from their outlet store.

https://www.karcheroutlet.co.uk

[andyxxx]

Top end Nilfisk for me.
Way better than the karcher things that lasted me two to three years

[plenty]

I've always used Argos Challenge pressure washers. The 1400W model is currently £45. At that price it doesn't matter if they only last a couple of years, although you can buy a warranty.

The Challenge products have a Lavor fitting for buying third-party lances.

[ovlovlover]

Non basic range Karcher or Nilfisk with an integrated reel and an 8m+ hose.

The hose needs to be 8m+ to get round the car without moving the machine.

The reel makes life easier with the upgraded hoses.

I have a Nilfisk E160 for 200 quid. Probs overkill but it means I use it every wash rather than my old C125 which I couldn't be bothered with due to above issues.

I've also got a 'stubby' gun + foam lance.

All unnecessary really but I'd buy it all again.

[dhutch]

plenty said:

I've always used Argos Challenge pressure washers. The 1400W model is currently £45.
At that price it doesn't matter if they only last a couple of years, although you can buy a warranty.

Unless you have the code, its £60, at which point for £80 you can get the 1400w budget Nilfisk.

Warranty is 3 years and nearly half the cost of the machine, and likely not worth what its written on.

But yeah, if you only want very infrequent usage then the £60-80 machines are also fine.

Weak spot is usually the pressure switch duty, and start-stop in general, so with these machines its important to avoid 'bliping' it on and off all the time, pull the trigger and start washing, hold it down till you are done.

[interstellar]

dhutch said:

plenty said:

I've always used Argos Challenge pressure washers. The 1400W model is currently £45.
At that price it doesn't matter if they only last a couple of years, although you can buy a warranty.

Unless you have the code, its £60, at which point for £80 you can get the 1400w budget Nilfisk.

Warranty is 3 years and nearly half the cost of the machine, and likely not worth what its written on.

But yeah, if you only want very infrequent usage then the £60-80 machines are also fine.

Weak spot is usually the pressure switch duty, and start-stop in general, so with these machines its important to avoid 'bliping' it on and off all the time, pull the trigger and start washing, hold it down till you are done.

The code is in the advert, DIY25 so it is £45, Thats a pretty cheap machine to be fair

[plenty]

dhutch said:

plenty said:

I've always used Argos Challenge pressure washers. The 1400W model is currently £45.
At that price it doesn't matter if they only last a couple of years, although you can buy a warranty.

Unless you have the code, its £60, at which point for £80 you can get the 1400w budget Nilfisk.

Warranty is 3 years and nearly half the cost of the machine, and likely not worth what its written on.

But yeah, if you only want very infrequent usage then the £60-80 machines are also fine.

I've used the Argos warranty before and they replace with no questions asked. So for £70 you get a PW for a minimum of three years. I use mine every week.

[Escort3500]

Avoid Karcher. I had two in succession, and both failed/died just out of warranty. Karcher were bloody rude when I queried it with them.

Replaced with a Nilfisk as I couldn’t afford a Kranzle, and it’s been brilliant for the last 5 years.

[nordboy]

I had a Karcher which lasted me just under two years, then totally failed.

Bought a Nilfisk and have now had that for 9 yrs, apart from replacing a couple of rubber washers when the handle started leaking, it's been brilliant.

[interstellar]

ovlovlover said:

Non basic range Karcher or Nilfisk with an integrated reel and an 8m+ hose.

The hose needs to be 8m+ to get round the car without moving the machine.

The reel makes life easier with the upgraded hoses.

I have a Nilfisk E160 for 200 quid. Probs overkill but it means I use it every wash rather than my old C125 which I couldn't be bothered with due to above issues.

I've also got a 'stubby' gun + foam lance.

All unnecessary really but I'd buy it all again.

like this one? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nilfisk-Core-140-8-Powerc...

[bristolbaron]

I bought the Nilfisk C135, the cheapest in the range with the induction motor. Available for less than £170, it’s the best option at around your budget.

Nilfisk C 135 bar Pressure Washer with Induction Motor – Electric Power Washer for Household, Outdoor, Car Washing and Garden Tasks (Blue) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B087N34F7X/ref=cm_sw_r...

[Skyedriver]

Bought this on Saturday

https://www.aldi.co.uk/ferrex-compact-pressure-was...

Pleased with it so far:


Comes with a lance, spray gun and bottle thing (no idea what to do with it as no instructions).

[UTH]

Marumi said:

Anyway this is all before someone convinces you that you need a Kranzle.

Edited by Marumi on Tuesday 1st March 13:09

I think I was one of those people. Over a year later and I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've used my Kranzle. I'm sure it's a great piece of kit, but no doubt I could have saved some money!

[interstellar]

eps said:

Karcher K4 here, got it from their outlet store.

https://www.karcheroutlet.co.uk

K4 for £139 is a bargain

[interstellar]

Skyedriver said:

Bought this on Saturday

https://www.aldi.co.uk/ferrex-compact-pressure-was...

Pleased with it so far:


Comes with a lance, spray gun and bottle thing (no idea what to do with it as no instructions).

That’s some a decent job for £50 !!