Foam gun or hire a detailer?

[FrankL]

I have a 2018 X5 that is in mint shape with low miles. I have an electric pressure washed but cannot disconnect the gun. So if I buy a foam cannon, it would be a hose version.

I have been washing and waxing my cars for decades. I am not short but the roof work on the X5 will need a step ladder which I have. I am debating still doing it my self with the foams then mitt, etc. Then using Griot 3 and 1 if that is good. Back in the day, German Zymol was the thing. Now we have ceramic liquid.

I have the 3D matts and keep interior clean. Maybe just a detailer every other month? Just wonder what others do. A car is pretty easy but the X5 is pretty big.

Thanks to all.

[Phillies8008]

If you'd like to use a regular foam cannon you could always replace both your hose and gun, that way they'd be separate pieces. That being said, a foam cannon should be able to fit on the end of your current gun where the tips connect, I'd think.

I don't think the height of the car and the need for the step stool is a big deal – I'd just start up there and rinse it when I was done, then move on to the rest of the car.

As far as brands, I've been happy with pretty much everything I've bought from Griot's Garage and have found their 3-in-1 ceramic to be excellent. I'm sure you don't, but just don't think that they spray-on ceramic coatings are anything like a real ceramic coating. They'll last maybe a month or so, unlike a real coating that'll last years.

Asking people about detailing products is kind of like asking BBQ guys about recipes – everyone has a different one and are all convinced that their's is the best, lol. The truth of the matter is that so long as it's a decent brand there's really not a whole lot of difference. Just try one, and if you like it stick with it; there's no reason to spend a billion dollars on the never-ending flavors of the month, which is a mistake I made for a while. You end up with a bunch of half-empty bottles of essentially the same thing.

My strategy in terms of detailing is that once a year I have it professionally detailed as a "reset" and do it myself the rest of the time. I've found that I can get about 90% as good a result as the professional guys, which IMO is fine for a daily driver. I don't need absolute perfection when the car is just going to get dirty in a day or two.

Everytime I detail my i4, and especially my Z4s, I think about how thankful I am that I don't drive something huge. I can't imagine trying to deal with an X7 or some monster Suburban or something. I think I'd resort to using a pro just to get out of doing it, lol.

[Phizzzle]

We wash/detail ours as a mobile detailer is at minimum $100 and we'd rather use that money for gas, haha. Phillies already captured good points so not going to repeat it.

For our roof though, the highest point of the car, we use a leaf blower instead of a towel. Our entire car is ceramic coated so the water beads and flies off. No need to try and throw towels that high up and risk falling.

[Zig613]

Consider the “Microfiber Madness Incredipole Kit” to give you a little extra reach for the roof instead of the mitt.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by FrankL

Maybe just a detailer every other month?

Financially you can get great cleaning equipment for the cost of a pro detailer 6 times a year.
If you don't like cleaning your cars but do want them to be clean, sourcing it out is probably the best approach, regardless of the (lack of) economic sense. A mobile detailer is much better than a car wash.

I have basic car cleaning equipment and supplies, don't mind the cars not being spotless, and wash them only a few times a year. The only thing I try to be diligent about is washing away road salt from under the cars' whenever there's a warm spell in winter.

[louielouie]

Curious what you mean about not being able to disconnect the gun on the pressure washer setup.

Do you just need a quick disconnect kit? If so, it's a relatively cheap fix and you can get up and running for the cost of 1 detailer wash.

[Mautofied17]

You can't change the tip on the gun? No way.

[Game]

Foam cannon will never work properly without a pressure washer.

That being said even the $100 Ryobi will give you decent power and foam.

[tcphoto]

I got into detailing my car over the pandemic and found that I enjoyed it. I bought a DA Polisher and products like compound, polish and essential bits. I'd buy a foam canon kit and start doing it yourself, it looks complicated but it's easy to understand the basics. I've done a three stage detail and ceramic coating after some paint work and love that I've done it myself and saved quite a bit of money.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by Game

Foam cannon will never work properly without a pressure washer.

That being said even the $100 Ryobi will give you decent power and foam.

Yeah, but the OP states that he has an electric power washer. I've never seen a power washer that didn't have removable tips, so he should definitely be able to connect a foam cannon.

[mmarsalone]

How does the hose connect to the handle or lance? You're going to want to buy a short handle anyway with a quick connect for the canon. Then you can change tips to rinse. And, you could get an Uberflex hose if you're using the stiff ones that come with the lower cost pressure washers.

I may have posted this before, but this is my wash cart. it was just as much fun building it as it was gathering the bits. And it's been improved just a little since these pictures were taken.

Ugh,
W
H
Y
?

[Our03z4]

I use to be crazy about it. Had a RO/DI system, power washer and every tool to go with it. Then I realized I don't really care that much anymore and instead just run through the wash. Deal I have now is the best they offer for $20 per month. I go through about twice per week. There is so much construction going on that it just makes more sense now.

When I do wash at home I use a pump sprayer to make "foam". I found it works quite well. I still give them a deep clean about once a month. But man these new car washes are pretty good, even my wheels and tires come out looking perfect.

[jcortez75]

If you already enjoy washing your own cars, I’d keep it DIY and just make it easier on yourself for the X5 size.

What works well for big SUVs:
1) Foam pre-soak
2) Two-bucket wash with a quality mitt
3) Drying towel + blower for mirrors/trim
4) Spray sealant every few washes

For interior wipe-downs, this is still one of the best no-shine options: https://amzn.to/4l6WpOK

I’d only hire a detailer 1-2x/year for a true decon + polish reset, then maintain it yourself in between. Best of both worlds, and your shoulders survive roof day.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by jcortez75

If you already enjoy washing your own cars, I’d keep it DIY and just make it easier on yourself for the X5 size.

What works well for big SUVs:
1) Foam pre-soak
2) Two-bucket wash with a quality mitt
3) Drying towel + blower for mirrors/trim
4) Spray sealant every few washes

For interior wipe-downs, this is still one of the best no-shine options: https://amzn.to/4l6WpOK

I’d only hire a detailer 1-2x/year for a true decon + polish reset, then maintain it yourself in between. Best of both worlds, and your shoulders survive roof day.

I quit the two-bucket method. So much easier to just buy multiple mitts, and once you've used one you toss it aside for a new one. That way a dirty mitt never goes into the clean water bucket, which IMO is much better than hoping a grit guard actually works.

[Three Stents]

foam guns are overrated....right? I bought one last year and have yet to use it this year

[rmedina]

No ceramic coating for this guy. Only because I enjoy detailing my rides every month or so. I find it very therapeutic just like pressure washing . There's something about applying wax and then removing it while enjoying a cold one.

[FrankL]

Originally Posted by Game

Foam cannon will never work properly without a pressure washer.

That being said even the $100 Ryobi will give you decent power and foam.

Thanks. I have a little Sun Joe electric about 1800 psi. I can get a new hose for about $25 that has the connectors. It was a cheap little pressure washer but it reliable.

[FrankL]

Originally Posted by rmedina

No ceramic coating for this guy. Only because I enjoy detailing my rides every month or so. I find it very therapeutic just like pressure washing . There's something about applying wax and then removing it while enjoying a cold one.

What wax do you use? I hear you. They look even better when they are all clean and waxed.

[rmedina]

Originally Posted by FrankL

What wax do you use? I hear you. They look even better when they are all clean and waxed.

I kid you not I've been using turtle wax hybrid paste. I've used many waxes in my day and this one takes the cake in my opinion. The bimmer is garaged kept, so I can easily get 3- 6 months protection here in Texas. Granted I only drive it 1 day 2 at the most a week. If you have swirls and are hesitant to polish this paste has some good fillers. My ride is black and I have a few imperfections courtesy of the dealership. One coat of this wax and all is well. Once I see the same imperfections reappear that's my queue to reapply the wax. Again this will be around the 3-6 month mark. If you prep (decontamination, iron remover, etc.) correctly. Your ride will pop. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
https://www.turtlewax.com/products/c...hene-paste-wax

[chowser51]

buy the new hose. a foam gun requires a pressure washer. none of the hose foam guns really foam.

[fiveightandten]

Originally Posted by chowser51

buy the new hose. a foam gun requires a pressure washer. none of the hose foam guns really foam.

This.

I wouldn’t bother trying to foam without a pressure washer. It just doesn’t work. And you don’t really *need* to foam. The idea is to use it as a prewash to break bonds between dirt and paint (and rinse it off) so you’re grinding less “stuff” into the paint when you contact wash it.

It can also be used to contact wash the car if you’d like to maximize lubrication, but at the expense of visibility being reduced (seeing what you’re doing on the paint).

So it’s beneficial to minimize the amount of micro imperfections your wash process inflicts on the paint. And it’s fun. But you can certainly wash a car pretty safely without it.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by FrankL

Thanks. I have a little Sun Joe electric about 1800 psi. I can get a new hose for about $25 that has the connectors. It was a cheap little pressure washer but it reliable.

Honestly, you're better off with that then a higher PSI model, insofar as we're talking about detailing a car, anyway. If you go any higher than that you run the risk of damaging the paint due to too much pressure. Also: don't use anything more than a 45º tip to avoid damaging paint, and don't feel like you need to get within six inches of the car with the nozzle. You're using it to rinse the car, not actually clean it like you would your house's siding, etc. And be sure to do a quick test after attaching the nozzle while pointed away from the car, just in case you didn't get it latched in quite enough. Shooting the tip at the car would be bad.

Originally Posted by fiveightandten

This.

I wouldn’t bother trying to foam without a pressure washer. It just doesn’t work. And you don’t really *need* to foam. The idea is to use it as a prewash to break bonds between dirt and paint (and rinse it off) so you’re grinding less “stuff” into the paint when you contact wash it.

It can also be used to contact wash the car if you’d like to maximize lubrication, but at the expense of visibility being reduced (seeing what you’re doing on the paint).

So it’s beneficial to minimize the amount of micro imperfections your wash process inflicts on the paint. And it’s fun. But you can certainly wash a car pretty safely without it.

I'm not really convinced that foam cannons aren't mostly hype, and I use one. The whole "pulling stuff from the paint" thing seems a little nonsensical to me, and my guess is that you're really not doing all that much at the end of the day. But it's kind of fun, so what the hell. It's certainly not hurting anything.