BMW X4 detailing in Houston

What we watch for

Paint and interior on the X4

Paint and exterior

The fastback tail and spoiler leave the rear glass and tailgate permanently coated in road spray. Dark grey and black are common, and M Sport bumpers have black mesh intakes that trap bugs.

Interior

Sensatec or Vernasca, often in M Sport seats with large bolsters that wear on the driver's side. Rear headroom is low, so the rear headliner gets marked by heads and hair products.

Living in Houston

An X4 on the Grand Parkway every day wears a coat of love bugs in May and September, and they need to come off before the sun bakes them into the clear.

• 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.
• Unpainted textured trim: it fades grey in the sun, so it is cleaned and dressed with a matte UV protectant.