BMW detailing in Abu Dhabi for every model from the X1 to the XM

Each line wears in its own way, so the work is planned around the model and how it is driven.

• X5 and X7: large SUVs whose wide tyres throw sand along the sills. The X5 can run 21-inch wheels, and X7 editions sold in the region have illuminated panoramic glass roofs.
• XM: launched in the Middle East at an event in Dubai in February 2023. It sits on 23-inch wheels and wears an accent band in Night Gold.
• 5 Series and i5: the first BMW with a fully vegan interior as standard, covering the seats, dashboard and door panels.
• 7 Series and i7: the base for BMW Individual editions sold in the region, with hand-applied two-tone paint and Merino leather.
• M3 and M4 Competition: a carbon fibre roof as standard, plus staggered wheels: 19-inch up front, 20-inch behind.

Fully electric models such as the i5, i7 and iX are detailed in exactly the same way. Their high-voltage parts are never part of the job.

Both are washed by hand and never machine polished without a clear plan. Frozen paint gets its look from a silk matte clear coat over a metallic base coat, so rubbing can make it glossy.

BMW gives owners special care guidelines to stop a Frozen finish turning shiny. That rules out wax, polish and rough brush washes. A recent example is Frozen Deep Green Metallic, offered on 7 Series editions sold in the region.

Two-tone paint brings a different risk. BMW Group Middle East says this work is applied by hand, and it offers over 100 special colours and two-tone combinations. Where the colours meet, any correction is done by hand and the edge is taped first.

Exposed carbon and large brakes need the most attention on these cars. The roof of both models is carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic, a light composite under a clear finish that marks like paint.

An optional M Carbon package adds carbon inlays to the front air intakes, plus a carbon diffuser, mirror caps and rear spoiler. Dust builds up along those edges, and a detailing brush lifts it before the wash mitt goes near.

Standard brakes use 380 mm front discs, and the optional M Carbon ceramic set uses 400 mm discs with gold calipers. Brake dust bakes onto hot wheels, so the rims are cleaned often with a non-acid product. Optional M Carbon bucket seats also have exposed shells that scuff when you climb in.

Most BMW cabins now combine a leather-free surface, Merino leather and glass or lit trim. The 5 Series uses vegan surfaces as standard, and its Veganza seats can have a decorative perforation.

Merino is a fine-grain leather, standard in the M3 and M4 Competition and offered in two-colour versions on the 5 Series. A gentle hide cleaner, then a thin coat of conditioner, keeps it soft through the summer.

Veganza needs no conditioner at all. On perforated seats, the cleaner goes onto a brush so liquid does not sit in the holes. The 5 Series can also have the BMW Interaction Bar, a panel running the full width of the dashboard, which is wiped dry.

Lit parts and big glass panels get hand cleaning only, with no harsh chemicals. The X5 and XM can have the Iconic Glow kidney grille, which lights up, and it is optional on the 5 Series.

On 7 Series and X7 editions in the region, BMW fits Crystal Headlights with Iconic Glow. Their lenses are washed like paint and dried with a clean towel, because grit dragged across them leaves fine scratches. Clear film on the lenses adds chip protection.

An illuminated panoramic glass roof needs cleaning on both sides. The outside gets a normal glass clean, while the inside is wiped with a barely damp cloth to protect the lighting.

On a BMW here, the paint, wheels and cabin usually show wear before anything else.

Frozen paint never goes through correction, so protection has to come first. Matte film and gentle hand washing keep its sheen even.

Brush washes risk polishing patches of the matte finish, which then look shinier than the rest. Gentle hand washing keeps the satin effect even.

Yes. Cleaning and protecting an electric BMW has nothing to do with its battery or high-voltage parts, so the work matches any other model.

Veganza is a leather-free material, so it needs a mild interior cleaner rather than leather conditioner, which can leave it sticky.

Yes. Parking sensors and cameras are positioned in the bumpers and grille, so they are wiped carefully and never blasted at close range.

Yes. Rings and keys can mark the glass parts of Crafted Clarity controls. Spray a glass-safe cleaner onto a soft cloth, then wipe them gently.

Yes, by hand. A soft brush cleans the kidney openings, and any pressure jet stays well back from the lit edges and wiring behind them.