Which Karcher pressure washer?

DotFifty89 · 26 Jun 2013 at 22:32

Hey im in need of a Karcher but I cant decide which to go for.

Mainly will be used for cars.

Not sure what pressure I need, but I don't think I need a very high one for cars, im not sure.

They can go up to hundereds of pounds but I don't get the difference.

I am willing to pay up to hundereds £250 but only willing to pay that much if the quality is considerably better than cheaper ones.

Thanks guys.

orbspeed1 · 26 Jun 2013 at 22:38

Only buy the ones made in Germany and not Italy.
All work the same just more hose and litres of water per hour and higher preasure the more you spend.
More litres per hour = faster cleaning /more cleaning power
Longer hose = less moving the machine around car/patio
Higher preasure = more cleaning power /faster cleaning.

The basic one will work/clean the same as top of the range just takes a little longer.

ShaolinDreams · 26 Jun 2013 at 22:42

Tbh i dont think there's that much difference apart from pressure and a few other small benefits. We have the Karcher K2 (£92) and it cleans everything with ease. I dont think for car cleaning you need an extremely powerful one. Just get the K2 with car cleaning brush (£12), it gets great reviews on a well known retailer website.

Nightglow · 26 Jun 2013 at 22:42

Get one of these, it's been brilliant, can't fault it.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/nilfisk-a...=Search-_-SearchRec-_-Area1&_requestid=735285

This one is slightly more powerful.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/nilfisk-c120-3-6-120bar-pressure-washer-with-trolley-230v/56192

BananaDunka · 26 Jun 2013 at 22:51

My Nilfisk is almost older than my car (ownership years) and is still going strong whereas friends and family who have bought various Karchers have had them fail long before. Mine sits in the wooden shed year round and gets used weekly.

Nilfisk all the way. With Karcher, you're mostly paying for the name anyway until you hit the much higher end models.

stulid · 26 Jun 2013 at 22:52

Modern Karchers are rubbish compared to how they use to be.

Buy a Nilfisk.

Good customer service too

233 · 26 Jun 2013 at 22:53

indeed, many of the professional valeters I know swear by nilfisk stuff for heavy use and reliability

mejinks · 26 Jun 2013 at 22:53

Some iffy advice here. However, if you go for the K4 series, they are more reliable due to having ceramic internals.

If you want to spend £250, then consider this

Its a K6 from the Karcher outlet and its a pearl of a pressure washer if looked after correctly.

As with all pressure washers, you need to turn the power off and release the pressure when finished and not leave it plugged in and switched on for long periods. Over the winter, you need to totally drain it before putting it away unless you keep it indoors.

BTW, I am a semi professional detailer and I have a Karcher which is getting on for 15 years now. By all means buy a Nilfisk, but try and find a specialist who will service it...

DotFifty89 · 26 Jun 2013 at 22:54

Yes the k2 does look pretty good, just wondering, do I iust plug it into the outdoor tap and go? Because I thought you could put some sort of detergant inside it

Nightglow · 26 Jun 2013 at 23:08

mejinks said:
am a semi professional detailer and I have a Karcher which is getting on for 15 years now. By all means buy a Nilfisk, but try and find a specialist who will service it...

Karcher were built to last 15 years ago, today they don't, know several people who have had one or more of the latest ones failed.

cyber69 · 26 Jun 2013 at 23:24

I usually have to book my Karcher washer in for repair every time I want to use it. Apparently if you don't use them very often then the valves are prone to sticking on them (told to me by Karcher dealer).

mejinks · 27 Jun 2013 at 00:06

cyber69 said:
I usually have to book my Karcher washer in for repair every time I want to use it. Apparently if you don't use them very often then the valves are prone to sticking on them (told to me by Karcher dealer).

Apart from my commercial 745, I have a K2, which I bought in 2008 which does infrequent odd jobs when I dont have the 745 to hand. Make of that what you will.

platypus · 27 Jun 2013 at 07:04

mrk said:
My Nilfisk is almost older than my car (ownership years) and is still going strong whereas friends and family who have bought various Karchers have had them fail long before. Mine sits in the wooden shed year round and gets used weekly.

Nilfisk all the way. With Karcher, you're mostly paying for the name anyway until you hit the much higher end models.

Can you get something to reduce pressure on the Nilfisk? I'd like to use one for cleaning my bikes but don't want to be [high] pressure washing certain parts. By which I mean an additional attachment, or is the pressure controllable?

Haze · 27 Jun 2013 at 07:13

platypus said:
Can you get something to reduce pressure on the Nilfisk? I'd like to use one for cleaning my bikes but don't want to be [high] pressure washing certain parts. By which I mean an additional attachment, or is the pressure controllable?

stand further away

Jokester · 27 Jun 2013 at 07:27

Should have an adjustable nozzle as standard I would have thought.

Got a K3 last year. No issues so far.

platypus · 27 Jun 2013 at 07:29

Haze said:
stand further away

.

Nightglow · 27 Jun 2013 at 09:49

platypus said:
Can you get something to reduce pressure on the Nilfisk? I'd like to use one for cleaning my bikes but don't want to be [high] pressure washing certain parts. By which I mean an additional attachment, or is the pressure controllable?

Mine came with a variable pressure nozzle standard.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/nilfisk-a...=Search-_-SearchRec-_-Area1&_requestid=735285

This nozzle:http://www.cleanstore.co.uk/products/Product.asp?ID=3563

Murzo · 27 Jun 2013 at 10:10

Nilfisk Centennial

Cheaper than cleanstore and screwfix, plus you get everything you need with it.

muffins · 27 Jun 2013 at 10:14

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7420449.htm

That is all

Nightglow · 27 Jun 2013 at 10:32

Murzo said:
Nilfisk Centennial

Cheaper than cleanstore and screwfix, plus you get everything you need with it.

muffins said:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7420449.htm

That is all

Good offer, I didn't bother to Google last night, just linked to what I had.