BMW 3 Series detailing in Houston

What we watch for

Paint and interior on the 3 Series

Paint and exterior

Mineral White, Black Sapphire and Portimao Blue are the usual colors on newer cars. The trunk lid and roof take the most sun, and the side skirts on M Sport cars catch road tar from I-10 construction zones. Older cars often have a repainted bumper that polishes differently from factory clear.

Interior

Newer cars mostly have Sensatec or Vernasca, F30-era cars Dakota leather, and many E46 and E90 cars have a cracked driver's bolster. The iDrive knob and gloss shifter trim collect hand oils.

Living in Houston

As a Katy Freeway or Westpark Tollway commuter parked at an Energy Corridor lot all day, a 3 Series gets a baked dash, pollen in the cowl and sprinkler water on the side glass.

• Hard clear coat: swirls take more cutting to remove, so correction is slower, but a corrected finish holds up well afterwards.
• Black and dark colors are common: they show swirls, water spots and pollen film first, and benefit most from a coating.
• Synthetic leather: it does not need conditioner, just a gentle cleaner and a matte protectant so it does not go shiny.
• Older plastic headlights yellow in the sun: headlight restoration is an add-on worth asking about.
• Piano-black trim: it scratches if you look at it, so it gets plush microfiber only and can be polished and coated.