Quick answer: A black Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren came to Apex Detail Studio for a complete rejuvenation: dry ice detailing, full-body paint protection film, premium window tint and a meticulous interior detail. With a little over 2,000 built, the SLR is one of the rarest Mercedes models on Dubai roads, so every step was planned around preserving original paint, carbon fibre and trim rather than replacing it. The result is a car brought back to immaculate condition and protected for the years ahead.
Jump to section · 8 parts
- What was done to this SLR McLaren?
- Why use dry ice on a car like this?
- Why full-body PPF on an SLR McLaren?
- How did Apex Detail Studio protect it?
- What does protecting a car like this cost?
- How should a protected collector car be looked after?
- Frequently asked questions
- Bring your collector car to our Al Quoz studio
Job card
- Car: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, black.
- Services: dry ice detailing, full-body PPF, premium window tint, interior detailing.
- Coverage: every painted panel protected with paint protection film.
- Approach: preserve original finishes; clean without abrasion, protect without altering the look.
- Where: Apex Detail Studio, Al Quoz, Dubai.
Own something rare? WhatsApp us your model and the team will reply with a plan and quote for your car.
Some cars arrive for protection. The SLR McLaren arrived for preservation. Built by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren between 2003 and 2010, with a front-mid-mounted supercharged V8, side-exit exhausts and those unmistakable butterfly doors, it is a car collectors keep for decades.
That changes how a detailing studio works. On a rare car, the goal is not to make it look new at any cost. It is to clean it thoroughly, keep as much of the original finish as possible, and protect it so it never needs invasive correction or a respray. This is how we approached this one.
What was done to this SLR McLaren?
The car received four services in one visit, planned as a single programme so each step set up the next.
| Service | Why it was done | What it protects |
|---|---|---|
| Dry ice detailing | Lifts built-up grime from hard-to-reach areas without water or abrasion | Mechanical areas, arches and trim from long-term contamination |
| Full-body PPF | Adds a clear, self-healing layer over every painted panel | Original paint from chips, scratches and wash marks |
| Premium window tint | Cuts heat and UV inside the cabin | Leather, trim and occupants from Dubai sun |
| Interior detailing | Deep cleans and refreshes leather, carpets and surfaces | The cabin’s original materials |
Doing all four together matters. Film and tint go on best over a car that has already been deep cleaned, and the interior is finished last so nothing from the exterior work is carried inside.
Get a plan for your collector car
Pick your model and the services you want in the Apex estimate builder, or send photos on WhatsApp.
Why use dry ice on a car like this?
Dry ice cleaning blasts small pellets of frozen carbon dioxide at the surface. The pellets turn straight into gas on impact, lifting dirt, grease and old residue without water, chemicals or abrasive media, and without leaving anything behind.
That makes it well suited to areas of a rare car that are hard to clean safely by hand, such as wheel arches, suspension components and mechanical areas, where pressure washers and harsh degreasers can do more harm than good. Our guides to dry ice detailing in Dubai and dry ice on classic cars explain the method in more detail.
Why full-body PPF on an SLR McLaren?
Because original paint on a car this rare is irreplaceable. Every chip that needs touching up, and every panel that needs repainting, takes something away from its originality and its value. Paint protection film takes those hits instead.
The SLR’s long bonnet, low nose and wide front wings sit right in the path of road debris, and its doors open upwards, so their edges and the sills are exposed whenever they are in use. Full-body coverage means there are no film lines across the bonnet and no unprotected panels at all. For the film options and pricing, see our PPF price guide and our approach to PPF on classic and collector cars.
How did Apex Detail Studio protect it?
Rare cars follow the same documented process as every PPF job at our 20,000 sq ft Al Quoz studio, with extra time built in at each stage.
- Inspection. We checked the paint, previous repairs, trim and existing condition, and photographed everything before work began.
- Dry ice and deep clean. Grime and residue were removed from the areas that matter most, without abrasion.
- Decontamination. Iron fallout, tar and sand were lifted from the paint so nothing was trapped under the film.
- Pattern preparation. Vehicle-specific patterns were adjusted in software, so there was minimal blade work on the car.
- Film installation. Every painted panel was covered, with edges wrapped wherever it was safe to do so.
- Tint and interior. Window film was fitted, then the cabin was detailed last.
- Final inspection. Every panel, edge and surface was checked under studio lighting before handover.
What does protecting a car like this cost?
Full-body PPF at Apex starts from AED 11,000, depending on the film, before 5% VAT. A rare or complex car is always quoted individually after inspection, because preparation, panel shape, trim removal decisions and the combination of services all affect the final figure.
The useful comparison is not the price of film, but the cost of losing original paint on a collector car. Repainting even one panel on a car like the SLR is expensive and permanent. Our luxury and supercar paint repair guide explains why preservation usually beats repair.
How should a protected collector car be looked after?
- Hand wash only, with a pH-neutral shampoo and clean mitts. Rinse sand off before touching the paint.
- Keep pressure-washer nozzles away from film edges.
- Use a breathable indoor cover if the car is stored for long periods.
- Wipe the interior with a pH-neutral cleaner and use a sunshade when parked outside.
- Bring it back for a periodic inspection of film edges and tint.
For the cabin, our guide to car interior cleaning in Dubai covers safe products, and new tint aftercare explains the first few days after tinting.
Frequently asked questions
What work did Apex Detail Studio do on the SLR McLaren?
The car received dry ice detailing, full-body paint protection film, premium window tint and a full interior detail at our Al Quoz studio. The work was planned as one programme to clean the car thoroughly, preserve its original finishes and protect it for the future.
Is dry ice cleaning safe for a rare car?
Yes, when done by trained technicians. Dry ice pellets turn into gas on impact, so there is no water, chemical residue or abrasive media left behind. It is well suited to arches, mechanical areas and other places that are hard to clean safely by hand.
Why put full-body PPF on a collector car?
Original paint on a rare car cannot be replaced without affecting originality and value. Full-body PPF takes stone chips, scratches and wash marks instead of the paint, and it can be removed later without touching the finish underneath.
How much does PPF cost for a supercar or collector car in Dubai?
Full-body PPF at Apex Detail Studio starts from AED 11,000, depending on the film, before 5% VAT. Rare and complex cars are quoted individually after inspection, because preparation, panel shape and extra services affect the final price.
Can window tint protect a classic car’s interior?
Good window film reduces the heat and UV that reach the cabin, which helps protect leather and trim from fading and drying out. Tint shade should still stay within current UAE rules for the vehicle.
How do I book a collector car in at Apex?
Send the car’s details and a few photos on WhatsApp to +971 58 549 2739. We will suggest a plan and arrange an inspection at our studio in Al Quoz Industrial 3.
Bring your collector car to our Al Quoz studio
Tell us about the car and what you want to preserve, and we will plan the cleaning and protection around it.
WhatsApp ApexCall +971 58 549 2739Build an estimate
Apex Detail Studio, 6A Street, Al Quoz Industrial 3, Dubai · Saturday to Thursday, 10am to 7pm
From our reel on Instagram, 8 October 2026.
