BMW 4 Series detailing in Houston

What we watch for

Paint and interior on the 4 Series

Paint and exterior

Frameless doors and a sloping roof send rainwater straight onto the side glass seals. The tall grille on the current car has deep slats that trap bugs and wax, so it gets a soft brush rather than a towel. Brooklyn Grey and Sanremo Green are typical newer colors.

Interior

Long coupe doors mean big door jambs and sills that get scuffed by shoes. Vernasca and Sensatec are common, and the convertible's rear seats collect leaves and fade when the top is down.

Living in Houston

A 4 Series convertible gets driven top down in March and November and stays closed through summer, when a black interior is too hot to touch after an hour in a Sugar Land parking lot.

• 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.
• Piano-black trim: it scratches if you look at it, so it gets plush microfiber only and can be polished and coated.