GM Details is a channel that tests and reviews the latest and greatest detailing products on the market. From car shampoo and wax to polish and sealant, we'll show you how to get the best results for your vehicle. We'll also compare different brands and prices, and give you honest and unbiased feedback on their performance. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you'll find something useful and interesting on GM Details Subscribe to GM Details and join me on the journey to find the ultimate detailing products! 🚗👍
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Happy Detailing!!,
Graeme
NOTES
GMD is a monetised channel that receives standard revenue from views. GMD where possible uses affiliate/commission based links to products in the video description, As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. GMD content is based on my own opinion and experience using products / equipment.
Hi Jamie thanks for your question, the answer is ….. it depends……. There are so many variables with polishing that it was so difficult to make this video cover everything but I can try and explain the process here So if you have inspected the car and find it relatively swirl free like this one and you find the pad/polish combo that works to your liking typically on a bonnet area you’d spend around 30-45 mins per panel If however you’re working a 2 stage cut then refine you can easily double that time If you just want a quick polish using an AIO or a glaze you could easily get around a car of this size in under 2 hours so I hope that gives you an idea of timeframes to expect 👍
I just enjoy watching your detailing videos very informative I’ve just ordered a lot of Autoglym products to clean my wife’s car just hope it’s all good 👍🙈
Have never tried green star have no need i use surfex diluted in various levels and it's very cost effective when you buy the 5 litres great video as always graeme the green star looks good but I'll stick to my surfex hd 👍👌
Personally I’d buy a smaller DA (3”) as a larger DA machine won’t like a smaller backing plate being used with it, it’ll feel unbalanced plus a small DA is preferred as they don’t have much of a pad throw at that size so it’s perfect for small areas a larger machine can’t get into
Really useful video I’ve actually decided to change from specific wheel cleaners to APC for my detailing business as the cost saving is massive. I find sometimes I use specifics like car pro retyre or P&S brake buster . I’ve also switched to Pressol bottles with dual spray to speed up!
Jon from Forensic Detailing did a similar test a few years ago in which Surfex came out on top. However, he is a die-hard Bilt Hamber fan and not the most objective source for this kind of comparison. Would love to see the same two products tested against each other on traffic film, grease and damage on plastics.
@@GMDetails I used the wheel cleaner today based on this video. Result was pretty good. I do find a bottle is just enough for one clean. Maybe two. This is probably the most expensive part of the cleaning process. Would a apc or Bilt hamber cleaner be better?
@@SabeTheApple Hi! 🖐️ An APC would certainly be perfectly fine for a maintenance clean but if the wheels haven’t been cleaned for months then a reactive wheel cleaner would certainly be beneficial
Great question!!, ideally with it having a sealant quality rather than a temporary gloss enhancement it’s best to apply to properly clean and decontaminated paintwork then if you like you could use the ICE spray wax on top of it if you like
Excellent video Graeme, shows exactly why rtu are not worth the money and how cheap, versatile and value for money both of those are. Can't decide which I would pick out of the 2 but either way I wouldn't be disappointed. 👍🏻
Honestly I would happily use either as they both do a great job for all exterior/interior cleaning at various dilutions. I do prefer GS for alloys/tyres as it foams more so a slightly better user experience. Is it worth the extra money for this over Surfex? For me no but that is personal preference, others may find the increased foam on agitation important.
Brilliant summary Brian!, I’m one of those that look for a nice foaming action during my routine, I just can’t shake that but it’s no bad thing as it’s a personal preference It wasn’t really an intensive look at both head to head just a quick interesting look at the differences between them as a viewer had suggested
Worth noting that Green Star is an APC whereas Surfex is a degreaser, so I guess their cleaning surfactants make up are different and focused on different things?
Surfex ans Greenstar are designed for the exact same purposes Mick, both will degrease and clean many things but you’re right in that they’ll probably have different surfactants in them
I chew through one 5L canister of Surfex per year, I use it for everything except the interior. I have been eyeing Green Star for quite some time so this vid makes me go for it. I will use both haha no need to put Surfex aside. I always start with APC on my wheels and then use a bleeding cleaner for the remains, mainly on the brake caliper though, where the highest concentration of dust is.
Big fan of greenstar also- Yes the 5litre is more expensive but I feel it is worth it as it can be used internally and externally as I am sure BH can... I feel more confident with GS though.
Really good detailed review. I held off buying the ceramic sealer today before I’d read/ watched reviews but now wish I’d bought it after watching the video as I’m going to wash my car later 🤦🏼♂️ 😂
Cracking wee video Graeme 👍🏼 I'm a big fan of both and have used gallons of both - hard to pick a winner on performance but for some reason I just prefer using Green Star - the cost looks like a big difference but when you're diluting products at 1:10, 1:20 or 1:100, you're actually talking pennies of difference per litre so not even a factor for me 👍🏼👍🏼
I’m happy enough just getting a litre at a time but that’s costing £35 all in but I’m still not quite ready to commit to 5L that would last me a lifetime 😂😂
@@GMDetails Well, seeing as I worked in the motor trade as a valeter at a main dealership, and have been a hobby detailer for about 20 years, I think I can safely say yes. In fact, I'd wager I probably know a lot more than you do. Of course you 'can' use Surfex HD to clean wheels, or anything else, but why would you when it is an all purpose cleaner not specifically designed for wheels, and there ARE specific wheel cleaners which are designed for wheels ? You 'could' use washing up liquid to clean wheels, I mean, it's a cleaning chemical isn't it. You still haven't answered my question, is it because you don't have an answer ?
Sorry was away for the weekend there , so ‘why am I using an APC as a wheel cleaner? Well, both Surfex and Greenstar are indeed All Purpose’ cleaners so wheel cleaning falls within that category whereas to use Auto Wheel every time is not only vastly expensive it’s not good for the metal to be hit with acid every wash (don’t even think about saying Auto Wheel is ph neutral 😂 ) If you find using auto wheel suits you then I’m not going to argue you shouldn’t , this video shows me using what I want and there’s already dozens of comments with people agreeing with me that they use it too!!, there’s absolutely no need to use ‘dedicated’ wheel cleaners and those that are are generally the stronger versions of APC anyway 🤷🏻♂️
Auto wheel is an aggressive fallout remover wheel cleaner. You would use it every 3-6 months, not every wash. Being very experienced (apparently) you really should know this hence Surfex is your maintenance wheel cleaner from the BH range. Being a degreaser/ALL PURPOSE CLEANER it's perfectly normal to use for cleaning wheels & it does a great job.
@@BrianW1612 I use auto wheel every wash, not because I 'need' to, but because I 'want' to. There are no downsides to using it every wash, other than it costs a bit more. If I wanted to just use a less harsh cleaner, I'd use a cheaper brand wheel cleaner, and use Surfex HD as an general all purpose cleaner for trim and plastics. Experience over many years has taught me this, not just reading reviews most of which are paid promotional videos/articles. Unlike you, I obviously DO know from experience, and not just what some bollox I read on the internet. Auto wheel is not only a very strong iron remover, it is also a great cleaning product too.
Good reminder of how simple detailing can be you don’t need so many specialist RTU products. These two are always on my shelf, should use them a lot more really as they are so cheap and versatile. I agree though that Greenstar feels a little more slick and sudsy and although neither have much scent it’s definitely more pleasant too which is why it’s the one I slightly lean towards out of the two.
Cheers for this content, Graeme. I've been want GS for ages but still have 2L of surfex to use up 😅. I'll definitely jump onto GS at the next time of purchase. Regarding use, it's funny how we get sucked into buying interior cleaners and wheel cleaners when they're not really needed. I remember the days of 100:1 for interior use, I need to take a step back and reduce the amount of products I hold or, should that be, hoard 😂😂
Thanks Lee!, yes I have always been a hater of RTU products as you’re only buying water and lining the pockets of the brands, ok we are all in business of making money for our families to enjoy living but in these hard times every penny is a prisoner and products like these just work well for the pocket and the task 👌
Bilberry is dedicated wheel cleaner tbf.. try BH auto wheel or infinity wax incinerate, sometimes I just use what I’ve got to hand… like an app or KKD citrus.
Why does he need Bilberry when both of these are cheaper per 1L and 5L, they both just cleaned a wheel perfectly at 1:10 and have many other uses 🤷🏻♂️
Problem with the likes of Infinity wax Incinerate is it’s too bloody strong!!, for a maintenance clean like this don’t you agree it is best to always use the least aggressive first ?
@@gillywash1487 The Billberry works better on the tires in my opinion, and more specifically the degreasing part. The price is somewhat relative and we should not do for those few cents. I buy the Gs per ten liters and that makes it cheaper, the Gs is safer and more versatile, and can be used for multiple purposes. Unlike the Bill ... . The BH needs little further explanation. If it meets your expectations that is the most important thing.
It does indeed as my other video showed but I thought I’d try both at 10-1 this time and although it didn’t clean the brake callipers it did good on the main wheel face and barrel 👍
Green star all the way for me, so cheap to buy, excellent for interior cleans too. My plan on Sunday if the weather allows me to is try it in a foam lance on top of a layer of it in a pump sprayer 🤔
Good video as always, I generally use GS as prewash on wheels then used dedicated shampoo on wheel and rebound on tyres, easy to forget either one of these will do it all, especially on well maintained wheels. Thanks for excellent commentary, makes all the difference.
IMO Surfex won Jon’s mega APC test but the actual results show there’s splitting hairs worth of difference between the two products in real world use. Surfex won but it really was a close result in I think the 5 litre value swung it. Surfex not foaming up particularly well, does unfortunately make it not so enjoyable to use but it does have a lot of uses and is incredibly versatile, cleaning tyres, engine bays, interiors and carpets, particularly useful for lower parts of the car as well. It’s a tough old pick with GS cheaper for 1 litre but surfex shining over 5. The incredible thing is people can use them for household jobs. Excellent video Graeme. Succinct and to the point. Regardless of what you pick, these are excellent wheel and tyre cleaners and should be in every detailer or weekend warriors kit. Fall out remover is expensive and not necessary to use every wash unless money is no object.
@@gillywash1487 Bilt Hamber always stands a good chance in Jon’s test but tbf their products are brilliant more often than not. Touch On however, didn’t win his latest Ceramic shampoo test.
I’m with Nick here Jon can be a little bias towards BH as they pay him to promote them but I do really think Gs is a very pleasant product to work with and every bit as powerful as Surfex 👍
@@GMDetails Agreed. At the end of the day, the job being done and done well comes first to me every time. People have said that on Jon’s videos for a long time that he’s paid to promote Bilt Hamber. For the most part all I’ve been is interested in his mega tests and tips and tricks he comes out with. Though increasingly there are noticeable absentees from the mega tests which make it hard to fully decide conclusively the best product to go for now.
Thanks for that. I did exactly the same test as you and found GS to be soundly beaten by Surfex at 10:1. And at 4% it performed the same as Autofoam. As such i haven't bothered using GS again. Having watched this, i will try the same set of tests again. Very odd. Anyway, thanks again and i shall definitely report back
That’s odd maybe you mixed up the bottles 😂😂 seriously we can’t all get the same results every time and possibly I could have used the products on all 4 wheels to get a clearer result but was only a wee quick test 👍
More 9 parts water (better for it to be filtered or deionised water depending on how hard your tap water is) and 1 parts product. E.g 900ml water to 100ml product
@@petersmith7126 Ah lovely. Love Scotland and Scottish water. Welsh water is also pretty good. Tap water should be fine. Filtered water seems to get Surfex to foam up more. Deionised might do better but depends which one you get and if you are bothered by foam.
Hi Peter yes 10-1 is 10 parts water to one part product so 45ml of either product to 455ml water or just round up to 50ml 450ml water for the non ocd 😅
Cheeky little video mate👍👍. I have 5ltrs of GS already on my shelf and it's fantastic at everything it's thrown at just like you mention. I've not tried Bilt Hamber before so maybe when I've run out of GS I'll try the Bilt Hamber. I may even become one of those fanboys 🤣🤣
Interesting comparison Graeme. I’ve got about 4 1/2 litres of Surfex which will last me for years, so I need to use it more! The curse of the dodgy trigger and the windy conditions made your life hard there, that’s just real life.
Thanks Mate!!, there was more than you know hampering that day hence the quick test but I was genuinely surprised by how well Greenstar done on its own without agitation, you should stick in a wee order of 1L Greenstar next time you’re getting products just to see what you think 😅
Green star works brilliant and is cheap as chips, as much as I love the Bilt hamber range, I've never felt the need to replace green star as it works 100%
A lot of good info and food for thought delivered, almost, in the most scientific way we can expect. We all clean our own cars as otherwise, we wouldn't tune in to channels like this (and this is one of the better ones) But we all do what suits us. I'm lucky enough to own a garage queen that only does dry miles and despite what I just watched, I can't help feeling the purpose of snow foam is to simply loosen and help carry away debris, maybe grit, that would induce swirling. I don't see foam as a cleaner. You're gonna have to contact wash no matter how clean the white pad is. Of course there's no harm in using a foam that cleans better but I don't think there's any advantage over using a cheap foam either. Even applying this logic to the two daily drivers we own has never harmed their paint. However, your video was way beyond illuminating and very much appreciated.
Thank you very much Adrian!!, I’m glad you are enjoying my videos and I’m certainly enjoying reading comments like this ❤️ You are quite right in what you’re saying I think people just like to push the boundaries of products and expect them to be a one hit wonder instead of a routine or a tried and tested system, there are a few alkaline snow foams I just won’t use because I fear they might damage some plastic trim so using a more balanced product suits me more in thinking it’d at least going to remove the grit etc. thank you again mate 👍
Good video there mate, explaining things well! Best advice I ever had when I was learning was this: 1. Don't even LOOK at a polisher until your wash and decon is 110%. If you can't get every single millimetre of your car spotlessly clean, you have NO PLACE touching it with a polisher. 2. Go to a scrap yard and buy a bonnet and a boot lid (preferably from a Japanese car, as the clear coat is softer and harder to perfect) and work them and work them until you perfect your technique. Learn you scratches from your pigtails. Your swirls from your etching. And learn EXACTLY what it takes to burn through clear. Especially on edges. Always stood me in good stead and I've found, since then, I can pretty much tell what pad and polish combos I'll need just by looking at the paint under my torch!
