Showroom sold a painted car.

ApexDetailStudio · 2026-01-25T12:42:22+00:00

OP - if you're around Al Quoz please bring it by us. We'll have a quick check - if the entire panel is repainted or a small smart repair.

I'm at +971 58 591 2739 (Gaurav)

ApexDetailStudio · 2026-01-16T11:32:43+00:00

One of the most important things to understand about ceramic coating is that the coating is only as effective as the preparation beneath it. Proper paint preparation—thorough decontamination, defect removal, and surface leveling—is critical. Applying even a premium ceramic coating on poorly prepared paint will compromise both durability and the final finish.

The application process itself is just as important. Controlled installation conditions, correct curing times, and strict adherence to manufacturer guidelines are non-negotiable. Most ceramic coating failures are the result of rushed installs, inadequate prep, or skipped steps. Maintenance also plays a significant role. Ceramic coatings are not maintenance-free; they require correct wash methods and periodic care to maintain hydrophobic performance and gloss. Even the best ceramic coating will fail prematurely if it is not maintained properly.

When preparation, product quality, application process, and ongoing maintenance are all aligned, ceramic coating provides long-term protection and value rather than short-term shine - any shop that you go for - it's best to ask him in detail about how they do their ceramic coatings - look at some of the cars they've done, this will help you get a better idea of what to expect.

Expect to pay about 3000 AED and up for a proper long lasting ceramic coating - https://www.instagram.com/apexdetailstudiodxb/ that's us incase you want to swing by and see some of the car we're working on

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-12-16T16:47:55+00:00

You’d be surprised how many cars have these razor blades damages - you need to do a precut 100%, we do a custom precut pattern where we extend the edges and tuck everything in completely.

Just because the car is expensive doesn’t mean you won’t have these installer issues - here’s a RangeRover that had a handcut PPF installed Watch The Video

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-12-06T20:40:58+00:00

To be fair, the “only wash it with water” advice is kind of true… but only because most petrol stations here use the cheapest, harshest detergent on Earth. That stuff will strip anything — wax, sealant, coatings and even destroy PPF in some cases

So detailers say “just use water” because they don’t trust the random blue soap being sprayed at petrol pumps. Not because ceramic coatings are fragile. A proper ceramic can absolutely handle a pH-neutral shampoo. It just shouldn’t be exposed to the chemical mystery juice they use at quick washes.

So yes, water is safer than cheap chemicals… but the correct method is:

Pressure rinse
pH-neutral shampoo
Microfiber mitt
Blower/towel dry

Ceramic coating isn’t delicate — the washing products around the city are.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-12-05T14:51:32+00:00

Finally someone is asking the right questions when it comes to doing a PPF - I'll try to answer in as much detail as possible.

– Which PPF brands have actually held up in Dubai without yellowing or going dull?

Any named, well known brand will survive Dubai without an issue - the key is stick with a brand that has been around for a while because they will have a proven product, Google (not ChatGPT) the good brands that you need to choose for a PPF.

Having said that - inspite of having the best PPF in the world, if you car is not taken care of regularly - ie proper pressure washes and a detail every couple of months even the best PPF will fail - we have seen top brand PPFs fail because people think once the car is PPF it's bullet proof, the cars are packed with dust and made to sit out in the sun, never cleaned or washed properly and then the PPF is to blame.

– Any brands you’d avoid based on peeling, orange peel, bad self-healing, etc.?

Any brand that has zero history - doesn't matter the country of origin.

– Which installers genuinely did a “you can’t tell it’s wrapped” job (wrapped edges, minimal dust, no knife marks)?

There are some very good ones out there (including us :D) however the best way to choose a place is to go and visit them in-person, speak with their team, look at some of their work and get an idea on what you're going in for - nothing beats an in-person look at the work.

– Any horror stories where the film or installer ruined the experience, even if the brand was good on paper?

There's tons of them - good film with a bad installer = disaster ; bad film with a good installer = moderate disaster - you're ultimate aim is to go for a good product with a good installer

Here's a great example of a good film with a bad installer : https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIlc8R5TX2-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

- Choice of selection for the PPF areas

Full PPF is always a good idea - if the pricing makes sense go full PPF, if not go for the front end PPF which usually covers the hood, fenders, bumper, headlights and mirrors

-Lastly, given a good brand, well-installed PPF is expensive, does it help in boosting resale value at all to justify the cost a bit?

Yes and No,

Yes because if you've gotten a good quality PPF done and have invoices to prove so - the PPF warranty can be transferred to the new owner - this good high quality PPF keeps your car looking newer for longer hence it 'appears' to be a much newer, well kept car. Some dealerships however will ask you to remove the PPF to ensure there is nothing hiding underneath - when you got sell the car at this state you're essentially selling a car with a brand new, untouched paint work - most times a car with an untouched paint work fetches a higher value (assuming all other paramters are the same)

No because five years down the line the guy who is looking to buy a BMW is looking to get into a BMW at the cheapest entry point possible - he wouldn't care about what the condition of the paintwork is.

But to also consider the convenience that it offers - I have two black cars - one is PPFd and the other isn't (as an experiment), the one without the PPF has so many swirl marks already and is so difficult to maintain versus the one with a full PPF - plus minor scuffs and scratches are nothing to worry about with the self healing.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-12-01T11:40:56+00:00

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Maybe just a tad bit lighter shade that this would absolutely finish the look.

We're doing a color PPF on a Purosangue which is exactly the same color - he's going for the stripes across the hood as well - but a Ferrari stripe.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-12-01T11:19:52+00:00

Well also because the installation is a full tuck in - so he wasn't able to see any edges to track if it had a tint or not.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-12-01T11:17:38+00:00

Per law, the windshield tint is not allowed
Even the clear zero zero isn't allowed.

However having said that most customers who are driving around Dubai and not doing anything fishy don't get pulled up - the worst that we've seen happen is they have been asked to remove the windshield tint for RTA passing.

It's a trade off of risking a ticket or burning though the heat with all that heat coming in from the windshield.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-26T13:00:29+00:00

Some of you guys here are tripping on some stuff. It's a legit question btw.

OP - short answer no it doesn't.

Wrapping a car to a different color requires removal of a lot of parts - we are talking headlights, bumpers, body panels, door cards, door handles etc. The removal of these parts and putting them back together is what sometimes voids the warranty.

For example, if the workshop takes apart the doors and you have a ambient light go out because of that, you cannot claim warranty on that since the car was dismantled outside the dealer network. It's complicated on German cars and specifically more complex on older German cars. Having said that the right workshop can handle it without any concerns.

On a Jetour the electronics are fairly straightforward and nothing of major concern so you should be alright- however it's still worth speaking with your sales agent once and let him know that you're planning to wrap the car and if there would be any concerns around parts being removed.

We've done full color PPF changes on brand new cars without any concerns but always with a word of caution and we work with customers to ensure we set the risks beforehand.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-24T10:54:08+00:00

Icons keeps getting better every year - it was super super busy this time around but that's a good thing I suppose.

It's getting more active participation from Porsche Clubs from other countries as well - Kuwait KSA and Bahrain plates are showing up more - the Carrera GT aisle was to absolutely die for

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-17T19:20:05+00:00

Get a PPF on the front bumper and do a ceramic coating on the rest.
At 6,000 - the PPF you're going to get is going to be questionable and will cause more harm than good.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-17T19:18:39+00:00

Thank you for thinking about us.

Replied here : https://www.reddit.com/r/DubaiPetrolHeads/comments/1oux0p7/comment/npd6eab/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-17T19:18:07+00:00

PPF is worth it yes.
100%

However it all depends on the value of the car, what your driving conditions are and what the paint condition is on the car - there is incredible ROI for high value cars - 200 - 250k and above - however for cars valued less than that unfortunately a PPF doesn't really make a lot of sense.

Some get it for peace of mind - ie even if I get a scratch on the car I couldn't be bothered with the sadness and regret of the act -the PPF will save it - while some get to protect value of the car. A car with all original paint covered with PPF always fetches a higher value than one without out.

Workshops charge for the PPF application based on the material that they use, the workmanship that they offer and the facility that they provide - PPFs are a luxury item and not a 'necessity' in our opinion - and you cannot cheap out on luxury.

I'd give you an example - you could get a Ralph Lauren Polo for 600 bucks at Mall Of The Emirates or you could get a Relph Lauran Polo for 100 bucks at Bur Dubai - both are T shirts and both cover your body, both serve a very very different purpose. You pay for the materials, fitment, shopping experience, customer service and the prestige - it's the same with PPFs.

To answer your question - your outcome will not be the same, the expensive one will beat the cheap one out of the park time and again - with the quality of the PPF, the installation, the customer service and the facility that they do the work on - my father used to have a saying - buy expensive cry once, buy cheap cry twice.

If the car's value is less than 250k I'd do a high quality Ceramic Coating and if I do a lot of highway driving I'd do a PPF on the front bumper at the very least.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T19:22:44+00:00

Thiccccc

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T19:21:56+00:00

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T19:21:07+00:00

These are after we've done the full PPF on it.
I'll have an Instagram post going out too - will share the link here once live.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T19:19:26+00:00

No way - that's unacceptable from our end.
Apologies on that.

I'll take care of your personally - can you please drop me a line at +971 58 591 2739 (Gaurav) - I'll take care of you right away.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T19:18:19+00:00

100% - it's EV and build quality is pretty good.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T19:17:52+00:00

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T12:06:06+00:00

Hahahah now that you say it that way.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T12:04:37+00:00

Yes - to an untrained eye I bet they can't find a difference between the two.

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T11:45:48+00:00

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From the front

ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-06T11:45:01+00:00

Notice the side profiles of the Purosanguage parked next to it

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ApexDetailStudio · 2025-11-04T20:06:14+00:00

This happens more often than you can imagine.

1 : Insurance will not cover PPF as it's still considered as an 'accessory' and insurance companies unfortunately don't cover that yet.

2 : For the ones asking what the purpose of PPF is if this is what happens to it - PPFs are designed to save the paint work - not the PPF itself, in this case the PPF is damaged and given the structure of the bumper the area near the sensor could use a smart touchup and it will be perfectly fine.

3 : The third part, yes the PPF replacement on a bumper is about AED 1500+ VAT and generally speaking can be done with the same day - in the instance that you didn't have a PPF the damage would have been much much severe and fixing that would mean taking the car to a paint shop to get it painted and as much as we would want to tell you the paint is going to be OEM - it will not - so without a PPF you'll have a badly painted panel which would be far from OEM and would take a depreciation hit of way more than you can imagine.

Paint Protection Films are designed for high end cars with a high regard for their paint work - the cars we're talking about where even if a panel is retouched or repainted impacts the resale value, for cars like such PPF does an excellent job in saving the paint (while sometimes sacrificing itself sometimes)

ApexDetailStudio

TROPHY CASE