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Snow Foam

Claying, polishing, waxing... share your secrets in here.
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TheDan
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Snow Foam

Post by TheDan » Mon Aug 09, 2021 11:22 am

Hi guys,

What snow foam do you E85 and G29 guys use (E85 and G29 as I am looking for soft top safe options for accidental overspray).

I tried the Meguiars Ultimate Snow Foam and it just doesn't foam very well and does not remove much (or any) of the surface crap.

I've heard Bilt Hamber are good, but which one? Surfex HD or Auto foam? Also are Bilt Hamber ones okay if they are accidentally oversprayed onto the soft top?

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Post by idej_z4 » Mon Aug 09, 2021 11:39 am

So long as it's PH neutral they're all fine. I would check your foam mix / foam cannon if the Meguairs isn't foaming well. I'm not sure about the reasons for not foaming the soft top. I hit mine a bit with it sometimes to loosen the crud - just takes longer to rinse.

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Post by Rockhopper » Mon Aug 09, 2021 12:36 pm

I always foam my soft top, as well is spraying it with APC then attacking it with a scrubbing brush and the jet wash.

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Post by TheDan » Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:07 pm

idej_z4 wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 11:39 am So long as it's PH neutral they're all fine. I would check your foam mix / foam cannon if the Meguairs isn't foaming well. I'm not sure about the reasons for not foaming the soft top. I hit mine a bit with it sometimes to loosen the crud - just takes longer to rinse.
It foams averagely. I have bought a separate adjustable foam cannon and it still isn't the best.

In terms of not foaming the soft top, I don't know much about why you should or shouldn't foam it, so I was erring on the side of caution. When I clean the soft top specifically, I use the Renovo cleaner which is designed for the job.

This Bilt Hamber stuff has a pH of 13 (when concentrated) so I'll probably avoid this and go for something with a neutral pH.
Rockhopper wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 12:36 pm I always foam my soft top, as well is spraying it with APC then attacking it with a scrubbing brush and the jet wash.
Any particular brands of foam or APC you like to use?

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Post by Scubaregs » Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:09 pm

Have you tried adjusting the foam/water ratio?
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Post by TheDan » Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:34 pm

Scubaregs wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:09 pm Have you tried adjusting the foam/water ratio?
Yep, have it set to full foam and while its better, I see so many other people get better results and wonder what they are using.

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Post by Scubaregs » Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:38 pm

Do you have a bottle for the mixture? I was referring to that.
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Post by TheDan » Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:02 pm

Scubaregs wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:38 pm Do you have a bottle for the mixture? I was referring to that.
Oh I see, I have upped it which also makes a difference, but as before its still pretty liquidy and doesn't really hang on the car. Even if it did though it doesn't get much grime off as I applied a second coat of it once and it still had a load of surface crap on the car after rinsing. Just wasn't impressed with the Meguiars stuff and thought I'd get recommendations for other brands that people like.

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Post by Scubaregs » Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:03 pm

PRO-Kleen, half/half mixture in bottle on pressure washer.
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Post by enuff_zed » Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:08 pm

TheDan wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:02 pm
Scubaregs wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:38 pm Do you have a bottle for the mixture? I was referring to that.
Oh I see, I have upped it which also makes a difference, but as before its still pretty liquidy and doesn't really hang on the car. Even if it did though it doesn't get much grime off as I applied a second coat of it once and it still had a load of surface crap on the car after rinsing. Just wasn't impressed with the Meguiars stuff and thought I'd get recommendations for other brands that people like.
Snow foam looks awesome but having tried a few different ones, there are none that really do much more than remove the loose grit and dust, no matter how long they hang on to the car. You still need to rinse it all off then set to with shampoo and a sponge. All it really achieves is lifting off the bigger particles that you may otherwise rub into the paintwork.
I tend to use it more in the winter before a proper wash. In the summer I find that usually, assuming a decent layer of wax is on the car, then a good rinse with plain water from a hose removes as much dust and quicker than snow foam.
I wonder if maybe you're expecting too much?
Of course, other opinions may vary. :wink:
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Post by Scubaregs » Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:59 pm

My 718 was ceramic coated. In 3 years it had about half a dozen proper washes, normally rinse/snow foam/rinse and a drive to dry off left it pristine.

As you can see, only dirty part was number plate which was added after car had been ceramic coated.
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Z4 is already booked in with the same guy.
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Post by enuff_zed » Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:02 pm

Scubaregs wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:59 pm normally rinse/snow foam/rinse
Ah, well if the OP is doing that and rinsing first then it's no wonder the snow foam is not sticking as long as he thinks it should.
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Post by Scubaregs » Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:10 pm

enuff_zed wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:02 pm
Scubaregs wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:59 pm normally rinse/snow foam/rinse
Ah, well if the OP is doing that and rinsing first then it's no wonder the snow foam is not sticking as long as he thinks it should.
The 2 pics of my Z4 above were done using this method.
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Snow Foam

Post by enuff_zed » Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:36 pm

Scubaregs wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:10 pm
enuff_zed wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:02 pm
Scubaregs wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:59 pm normally rinse/snow foam/rinse
Ah, well if the OP is doing that and rinsing first then it's no wonder the snow foam is not sticking as long as he thinks it should.
The 2 pics of my Z4 above were done using this method.
Ah well, I did say 'opinions will vary'. :D
I always found the snow foam just ran straight off a wet surface.
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Post by TheDan » Mon Aug 09, 2021 4:44 pm

Maybe expecting too much, but I see so many photos of other people's experiences with snow foam and it just seems so much more successful than mine.

I do pressure wash -> snow foam -> pressure wash -> two bucket wash -> pressure wash -> microfibre dry.

But the main problem I have is when I go to two bucket wash, there is still loads of contaminants on the surface of the car which will just scratch up the paint when I come to wash it with mitts.

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