Car Detailing for BMW X1

Detailing your BMW X1

The X1 is a city SUV that lives in tight condo spots and does the school run, so the cabin takes more abuse than the paint. Light SensaTec seats show jean dye and the back carpets get salt stains beyond the edges of the mats. We extract the carpets, clean the synthetic leather properly and protect the paint with a sealant that makes the next few winter rinses easy. Dog hair in the cargo area is a regular job.

What we watch for on a X1

• Oyster (off-white) SensaTec is popular on the X1 and shows blue denim transfer and grey wear on the driver's seat; it cleans up well with a proper interior cleaner
• The rear footwells are small and the floor mats are often undersized, so salt stains spread onto the carpet beside the mats every winter
• The current car's curved screen and glossy console attract fingerprints and fine scratches, so we avoid paper towels and abrasive cleaners
• Roof rails and the rear spoiler trap dirt in the gaps where a drive-through wash never reaches; we clean them by hand with a soft brush
• Many X1s carry a small dog; hair in the cargo carpet and on the rear seat needs a rubber brush before vacuuming

Compact SUVs: cargo areas that do everything

Compact crossovers are family cars, gear haulers and dog taxis in one. The cargo floor, the rear seatbacks and the door sills collect the most dirt, while taller bodies catch more road spray along the sides.