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BMW M4 in San Marino Blue after paint correction and ceramic coating

Project • Ashford, Kent

BMW M4 — Paint Correction & Ceramic Coating

A San Marino Blue BMW M4, decontaminated, machine polished and protected with Gtechniq Crystal Serum & Exo and Suntek paint protection film — carried out at our studio in Ashford.

  • Paint Correction
  • Ceramic Coating
  • PPF

The Vehicle

A Weekend Car, Kept in Good Condition

This BMW M4 — finished in San Marino Blue and powered by BMW's 3.0 litre twin-turbocharged straight-six, producing 425 horsepower and 406lb-ft of torque through the rear wheels — came to us as a genuinely well-kept weekend car rather than a daily driver in need of rescuing.

Overall condition was good, which is exactly what you'd expect from a car used sparingly and looked after by an owner who cares about it. What it did have was light swirl marks across the paintwork and some stone chipping in the areas that take the most exposure — the lower skirts and a couple of marks on the bonnet.

What we found

  • Overall good condition — a well-maintained weekend car
  • Light swirl marks across the paintwork
  • Stone chipping to the lower skirts
  • A couple of stone chips on the bonnet

The Work

What We Did

Full decontamination and preparation, BMW M4 paint correction to remove swirl marks and chipping, then ceramic coating and targeted PPF.

  1. Wheels & arches

    As with every vehicle, the process starts with the wheels and arches. Bilt Hamber Surfex and Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel were used with EZ detail brushes to reach the tighter areas behind the spokes, and dedicated wash gloves for the wheel faces themselves.

  2. Pre-wash & snow foam

    Gyeon Bug and Grime was applied to the front of the car to soften and lift bug splatter, followed by Bilt Hamber Touch Less, left to dwell before a high-pressure rinse — the aim being to remove as much contamination as possible before anything touches the paint with a mitt.

  3. Wash & decontamination

    CarPro Reset shampoo was used for the main wash, chosen for how well it lifts stubborn dirt and leaves a clean base to work from ahead of polishing. This was followed by a combination of Gyeon Iron and Gyeon Tar remover — even on paint as clean as this one, chemical decontamination remains an important step in the preparation process.

  4. Drying & claying

    The car was dried using plush drying towels alongside a filtered, heated dryer — the best way we've found to clear water out of grilles and other trapped areas that towels alone can't reach. Once on the ramp, a clay cloth was used with purified water and a touch of shampoo to lift any remaining stubborn contamination from the paintwork and glass.

  5. BMW M4 Paint Correction

    Correction was carried out using a forced-rotation polisher and a 3-inch DA for the tighter areas, working through a combination of Menzerna 300, 2500 and 3800 compounds paired with Lake Country pads. Working from the top of the car down, the colour depth improved noticeably as the correction progressed. Once cutting and polishing were complete, the car was rinsed to remove polishing dust and a panel wipe was used to clear any remaining residue before protection went on.

  6. PPF & ceramic coating

    The owner chose Suntek paint protection film for the rear bumper — a popular choice for the area that takes the most contact from loading and unloading the boot, and one that sits almost invisibly once fitted. For paint protection, Gtechniq Crystal Serum and Exo were applied together: Crystal Serum as the base layer, followed by Exo on top for additional slickness and water repellency.

  7. Finishing

    With protection applied, the interior was vacuumed and cleaned, tyres dressed and glass finished ready for collection. As with every coating we apply, the car was kept at the studio for a minimum of 12 hours to allow the coating to bond to the surface properly before it went back out on the road.

The Result

Finished

The PPF on the rear bumper sits almost invisibly against the paintwork, protecting the area without being noticeable unless you're looking for it.

BMW M4 finished at Kent Detailing Studio

Questions

BMW M4 Detailing Questions

Does a well-kept M4 still need paint correction?

Usually, yes. Even a carefully used weekend car picks up light swirl marks from washing and general handling over time. Correction addresses what has already happened to the paint, regardless of how well the car is otherwise looked after.

Why coat the rear bumper with PPF specifically?

The rear bumper takes constant contact from loading and unloading the boot, which makes it one of the first places to show scuffs and scratches. Film there protects the area invisibly, without needing to cover the whole car.

Why does the car stay with you after coating?

Every ceramic coating needs time to bond to the surface before the car is exposed to weather, dust or road use. We keep every coated vehicle at the studio for a minimum of 12 hours to allow that to happen properly.

Do you give any aftercare advice once the car is collected?

Yes. Every customer receives a maintenance guide and product recommendations suited to their coating, along with ongoing support if they have questions about looking after it.

How long does a job like this take?

A full decontamination, machine correction, PPF and ceramic coating combination like this one typically runs across more than a single day, partly because of the labour involved and partly because the coating needs proper curing time before collection.

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