This Ferrari 488 GTB came to Apex Detail Studio for the parts most people never see. The Ferrari 488 GTB dry ice cleaning covered the engine bay, underbody and wheel arches, then the interior was detailed by hand and the brake calipers were painted yellow.
Jump to section · 13 parts
- What was done to this Ferrari 488 GTB?
- Why choose Ferrari 488 GTB dry ice cleaning?
- What does dry ice remove from a Dubai car?
- Why clean the wheel arches and underbody?
- How was the dry ice cleaning done?
- Watch the full Ferrari 488 GTB build
- Is dry ice safe on a Ferrari?
- Interior detailing on the 488 GTB
- Why paint the calipers yellow?
- How much does dry ice cleaning cost in Dubai?
- Keeping the engine bay clean
- Frequently asked questions
- Book your dry ice clean
Dry ice cleaning at Apex starts from AED 750 before VAT.
- Car
- Ferrari 488 GTB
- Dry ice
- Engine bay, underbody and wheel arches
- Interior
- Hand detailing of the steering wheel, dashboard, console, blue leather seats, door sills and frunk
- Extra
- Brake calipers masked and painted gloss yellow with PPG paint
- Where
- Apex Detail Studio, Al Quoz, Dubai
Is your engine bay due a clean?
Send your car model on WhatsApp and the team will reply with dry ice options and a quote.
The 488 GTB shows off its engine under a glass cover, so a dusty engine bay is on display every time someone walks past the car. In Dubai, sand and road dust find their way into the engine bay, the arches and the underbody quickly, and a normal wash cannot reach them safely.
The owner wanted the whole car brought back to a clean, cared for state: the hidden areas, the cabin and a small custom touch on the brakes.
What was done to this Ferrari 488 GTB?
Three jobs in one visit: dry ice cleaning, interior detailing and custom caliper paint.
- Dry ice cleaning of the engine bay, underbody and wheel arches.
- Interior detailing by hand, including the steering wheel, centre console and blue leather.
- Custom caliper paint in yellow, a classic Ferrari detail.
Why choose Ferrari 488 GTB dry ice cleaning?
Because dry ice cleans without water or harsh chemicals, which is exactly what an engine bay full of electrics and sensors needs.
Dry ice cleaning fires small pellets of frozen carbon dioxide at the surface. They hit the dirt, lift it and turn straight into gas, so there is no water left behind and no residue to rinse away. That makes it safe around wiring, connectors and intake parts, where a pressure washer would be risky. It also reaches tight gaps in the arches and underbody that no brush can get to.
You can read more about how it works and what it costs on our dry ice detailing in Dubai page.
What does dry ice remove from a Dubai car?
Mostly sand, fine road dust, old grease and the grey film that builds up on engine parts and inside the arches over time.
In this climate, fine sand gets everywhere. It settles on the engine and mixes with oil mist and heat to form a stubborn grey layer on plastics, hoses and metal. In the wheel arches and on the underbody it packs into corners and holds moisture against the metal. Dry ice breaks this layer up and lifts it off without scrubbing, which is why the parts look close to new afterwards rather than just wiped.
Why clean the wheel arches and underbody?
Because that is where dirt sits longest, and on a car like the 488 GTB the arches are visible every time you look at the wheels.
Clean arches make the wheels and calipers stand out, which matters even more once the calipers are a bright colour. A clean underbody also makes it easier to spot any leak or wear early during servicing. For a car that is kept for the long term, it is part of keeping it in the condition it deserves.
How was the dry ice cleaning done?
- The car was inspected and sensitive parts were checked before cleaning.
- The engine bay was cleaned with dry ice, working around the engine covers, intake and hoses.
- The wheel arches were cleaned to remove packed sand and road film.
- The underbody was cleaned where it can be reached safely.
- Loose dust was removed and the engine bay was checked under the studio lights.
Step by step on this Ferrari 488 GTB
These stills come from the reel and the full YouTube video of this car, so every image below is this exact 488 GTB.
Watch the full Ferrari 488 GTB build
The full video follows the car from the first pass of dry ice in the engine bay to the yellow calipers and the finished car in our Al Quoz studio.
The short version is on Instagram. The reel shows the dry ice at work in the engine bay, the interior detailing and the yellow calipers going back on.
Is dry ice safe on a Ferrari?
Yes, when it is done by a trained team with the right pressure and nozzle for each area.
Dry ice is gentle on most engine surfaces, but the pressure and distance still have to suit each part. Our team adjusts both for plastics, rubber hoses, labels and painted parts, and works carefully around connectors. That is the difference between a careful dry ice clean and simply blasting the engine bay.
Interior detailing on the 488 GTB
The cabin was cleaned by hand, panel by panel, with soft brushes and microfibre.
The steering wheel, centre console and switchgear were cleaned with gloved hands and gentle products, and a soft brush was used along the seams and around the controls where dust collects. The blue leather was cleaned carefully so it keeps its soft feel and does not dry out in the heat.
The dashboard vents, the door sills and the bonnet shut area above the frunk were cleaned too, so the car is as clean where you open it as where you sit.
Inside the cabin
Why paint the calipers yellow?
Yellow calipers are a well known Ferrari detail, and they stand out clearly behind the wheels on this car.
The calipers were painted in yellow and put back on the car, giving the 488 GTB a sharper look from every side. Caliper paint is a custom job, so the colour and price are confirmed once we see the car. Ask the team on WhatsApp if you want a colour of your own.
On this car our painters masked off everything around each caliper, prepped the surface and sprayed it gloss yellow with PPG paint, keeping the Ferrari script crisp.
The finished car
How much does dry ice cleaning cost in Dubai?
Dry ice cleaning at Apex Detail Studio starts from AED 750 before 5% VAT. Interior detailing and caliper paint are quoted per car.
For more on the process, read our guides to engine bay cleaning in Dubai and the benefits of dry ice cleaning.
| Service | Starting price (before VAT) |
|---|---|
| Dry ice engine bay cleaning | From AED 750 |
| Full PPF, supercars and coupes | From AED 14,000 |
| Window tint | From AED 2,500 |
Many owners add paint protection film once the car is clean. We have fitted PPF to another 488, which you can see in our Ferrari 488 PPF article.
Keeping the engine bay clean
- Avoid pressure washing the engine bay at home.
- Park under cover where you can to keep dust off the engine cover.
- Wipe the glass engine cover with a soft microfibre.
- Book dry ice cleaning once or twice a year, more if the car sees a lot of sand.
Keep reading: see dry ice on other cars in our Rolls-Royce Dawn and Porsche 911 GT3 jobs, and protect the paint with full body PPF on a Ferrari 488.
Frequently asked questions
What did Apex Detail Studio do to this Ferrari 488 GTB?
We dry ice cleaned the engine bay, underbody and wheel arches, detailed the interior by hand and painted the brake calipers yellow.
Is dry ice cleaning safe for an engine bay?
Yes. Dry ice uses no water and turns into gas on contact, so it is safe around wiring and sensors when done properly.
Does dry ice leave any residue?
No. The pellets turn into gas, so only the loosened dirt is left to remove.
Can you paint brake calipers in any colour?
Most colours are possible. The colour and price are confirmed once we see the car.
How much is dry ice cleaning in Dubai?
Dry ice cleaning at Apex starts from AED 750 before 5% VAT.
How often should I dry ice clean my car?
Once or twice a year suits most cars, more often if the car sees a lot of sand.
Book your dry ice clean
Send your car details on WhatsApp or call the studio, and the team will reply with options and a quote.
WhatsApp ApexCall +971 58 549 2739
Apex Detail Studio, 6A Street, Al Quoz Industrial 3, Dubai · Saturday to Thursday, 10am to 7pm
