Mercedes-Benz C-Class detailing in Houston

What we watch for

Paint and interior on the C-Class

Paint and exterior

Polar White, Obsidian Black and Selenite Grey are the usual colors. The hard clear resists light swirls, but sprinkler spots etch in if left, and the AMG Line grille with its many small chrome pins holds wax and grime.

Interior

MB-Tex on many cars, leather on others, with open-pore wood or piano-black trim. The newest car has a large portrait touchscreen and a gloss black console that scratches from rings and phones.

Living in Houston

Commuting on I-69 and the Sam Houston Tollway, a C-Class turns its front wheels dark grey with brake dust within a week; left through a July week, that dust bakes on.

• 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.
• Large touchscreens: cleaned with a screen-safe, ammonia-free product and a dedicated cloth.