Mercedes-Benz CLA detailing in Houston

What we watch for

Paint and interior on the CLA

Paint and exterior

Frameless door glass, a sloping roof and a short trunk lid. Polar White, Cosmos Black and Mountain Grey are common, and the diamond grille on AMG Line cars traps bugs between its pins.

Interior

MB-Tex is the usual seat material, with a lot of gloss black trim and, on later cars, turbine-style vents that hold dust in every blade. The rear seat is tight, so shoes scuff the rear door sills.

Living in Houston

CLAs at Westchase apartments and office lots live outside, so the dash and rear deck take full sun and dark cabins get hot enough to bake in a spilled drink.

• 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.
• Black and dark colors are common: they show swirls, water spots and pollen film first, and benefit most from a coating.
• Large touchscreens: cleaned with a screen-safe, ammonia-free product and a dedicated cloth.