I’m not going to put an advertorial disclaimer because I wasn’t paid to do this post, in fact, they don’t even know I’m writing this. I’d like to clarify though, that my repairs for the scratches were sponsored and they asked me to do a shout-out on IG for them in return. I paid for the window gear repair. I’m doing this post because I’m EPIC grateful to them. More on this later… Also, this post is gonna contain a lot of Singlish. I can type in perfect English but I doubt it can convey the height of my emotions as succinctly.
So in Jan 2014, my dad and I(ok mostly me) wanted to get another car, and we bought a secondhand BMW from AutoTrust Traders at Turf Club. Great people there and awesome service btw!
I was naturally excited so posted 2 pics on my IG with my car plate(obviously deleted by now). Not sure if this led to people noticing and singling out my car or I’m just suay, but I got 2 deliberate long scratches, one on each side of the car zzz. Not at the same time la, happened within months of each other.
On top of that, my dear papa is getting old so his judgement isn’t so ace like before(I’m kidding, his driving has always been a bit wonky #sorrydaddy #Istillloveyouthemost). So we got some scratches on the bumper and sides of the car too. I think only one of these was my fault. But yeah, everyone who saw my car gave me the “Aiya you girl driver, confirm all you do one.” look hahahah.
After my dad scratched the side of the car, it looked really bad. And together with the deliberate scratches and previous damages, our beloved car just looked sooo sad.
Our first BM leh, so precious… :( And I decided it was time to get it all fixed.
I went to some mechanics at Autobay, this place in Kaki Bukit with many car workshops, to get a quotation. Actually, prices SHOULD be around the same cos they charge by how many areas they need to fix and paint. It’s not like they can just conceal a scratch with paint. For eg, if you have a scratch on your door, they have to paint the entire door after they fill up the scratch. So yeah not so easy! Also, depending on how bad the damages are and the manpower available at the workshop, your car might have to stay in “hospital” for several days and if you need a replacement car, that will add up in your total bill too.
One of the workshops I went to was Bluwel. A common friend introduced it to me, saying, “The owner’s son is my friend and he’s very handsome.” But that’s NOT why I went there la haha Mervyn(the owner’s son) is newly and happily married! I went cos they said they’ll take a look and give me a good price, which they did.
But because ALL the workshops said I needed to leave my car there for at least 3-5 days, I couldn’t leave it there that day and be carless. Bluwel was the only workshop that offered me a FREE replacement car but in a couple of days’ time, not that day itself. I told them ok I’ll consider it and left Autobay.
I went there expecting to pay and so did Bluwel haha. I never imagined a workshop would wanna sponsor my repairs, especially since my online following is mostly girls(I think?). But apparently, Mervyn spoke to his dad and his dad agreed to sponsor the repairs and try this online publicity approach. So yeah, Mervyn texted and said they’d like to sponsor all my repairs and if I can do an Instagram shout-out for the shop in exchange.
I agreed textually but didn’t get down to making an actual appointment. Why? Cos Mervyn is sort of a friend and it’s his dad’s shop, and I wasn’t very confident my IG ad could get them(a car workshop) enough traction in terms of sales or even awareness. Very paiseh if the IG ad doesn’t work well right?
I’m not the sort of person who just takes free things for the sake of it. I appreciate all my clients and sponsors who always think of me and send me stuff all the time, and I try my best to return the favour. If I had a choice, and I feel I can’t do much in return for ANY business, I choose not to take their money or products.
So there I was, still deciding if I should go to another mechanic and just pay(it wasn’t a huge sum: few hundred, not insignificant la but still affordable). And truth be told, I got caught up with work and kinda forgot about it haha.
Then came that fateful day. Eric, a few friends and I went for some drinks and to play pool at Tantric, and when we left the carpark, we had to insert the cashcard into the machine for the barrier to open.
Background story: my rear right window had been a bit mad. 2 weeks before that, a friend wound down that window and it refused to close! I panicked for those 5 mins or so, but thankfully it eventually went up, and I told everyone NOT to fiddle with that window, in case it couldn’t close again.
Back to the Tantric night. The designated driver(not me cos I had a couple of drinks) couldn’t reach the cashcard machine, so the guy at the back said, “I DO LA!” and before I knew it, he wound THAT window ALL THE WAY DOWN.
In that moment, 3 words flashed in my head:
HO SEH LIAO.
Murphy’s freakin Law.
That window die also refused to come up. I don’t have a private sheltered parking lot. Can you imagine if it rained??? Or if someone tried to steal something in the car??? Or steal the entire car??? Okay, not very possible but I was crazy panicking.
It was 400am. My dog life.
I had no one to call at 400am omg. Nobody was awake, much less any chance of a workshop being opened. I just needed to park my car somewhere safe and sheltered till I could get it to a workshop first thing in the morning.
In my kancheong state, I remembered I was supposed to send it in to Bluwel to fix the scratches, and so I texted Mervyn, “Hey so sorry. I need to send the car in asap. My rear window cannot close and I have nowhere to park it! Can I send it in in the morning? You don’t need to fix it now but I need somewhere to park it”
I thought he’ll just reply in the morning and I proceeded to pack ALL my valuables in the car(damn a lot cos I have a lot of clothes and shoes that I always keep in the car for shoots) and unloaded them at home.
Within a few minutes, he replied! “Ok can no problem! What time will you be sending tomorrow?”
I was so shocked that he actually was awake lol and super relieved cos at least there was a car expert on the phone with me, even if nothing could be done there and then.
After a couple of texts, he said, “Actually can put now la, if you want lol”
Me: “Now? But what about the key?”
Mervyn: “I can go over take from you. Very near my place” (I later found out it’s not near at all! Super extra paiseh.)
Me: “Huh you sure?”
Mervyn: “Hmm yeah can be done”
I really damn not shy. 4am make people go car workshop to take the key from me. But I was really desperate then la! If it rained, I would literally have had a heart attack! Gah, so horrible just remembering that feeling now.
So yeah I went with my friend to Bluwel at 430am, and Mervyn was already there with his wife(then gf). They were awake cos their wedding was in 2 days and they were up prepping last min stuff, and she had a FACIAL MASK ON. Like really about to sleep already!
Can you imagine my heart when I saw her??? I’m very independent normally and I HATE to inconvenience other people. I don’t believe I’ve ever felt worse. (So sorry Eunice! You had your mask on the entire time, but trust me you all looked like angels lol.)
So yeah, there I was. Relieved my car was now safe and sheltered. And epic paiseh. They insisted on driving us out to take a cab(no replacement car then cos all were to be used for their wedding fleet!), and it was a pretty long ride cos my stupid unthinking mouth said “Just nearest mall will do” when near Kaki Bukit GOT WHAT MALL???
They eventually dropped us at a mall near their place(that’s how I know they don’t stay near Kaki Bukit at all haha), and that was the end of my dramatic night.
Mervyn was very on the ball and updated me the morning of their wedding that window gear had been fixed and they had started on the repair work for the scratches. And 2 days later, he texted to say I could pick it up! So much faster than they told me! They even polished my car after!
My midnight blue baby looking like the day I got her again!
So sparkly and new again!
BIGGEST THANK YOU to Mervyn and Bluwel Automotive.
The service was really beyond anything my heart can imagine. And it’s not just because it’s me. Mervyn says all of you who go to him and fix your damages there will get a free replacement car in the meantime. Usually it’s about $70 a day. He’s super nice and patient and won’t make you feel like a retard even if you don’t know anything about cars. Even if what you need isn’t offered by his workshop, he knows almost every other shop there and can help you get a better price than if you were to walk in yourself, eg you need to change your tyres and they don’t sell tyres. He’s like a really cool bro type, so I guess everyone at Autobay likes him haha.
If you have anything about your car that needs fixing, I personally recommend Bluwel. Tammy (@ohsofickle) also sends her car there, and she was a paying customer(not sure about now) so that’s a good sign they don’t anyhow quote exorbitant prices.
Also, I told Mervyn he’s gonna regret this but he said you all can call him if you have car trouble, so here’s his number: 96610302 (I saved it as “Mervyn Car Angel” HAHA). If he’s awake, he will attend to you. But TRY not to call in the middle of the night la, people just got married, need to make babies! Text first and please be polite!
I won’t say I’m the expert when it comes to cars, but this I know: if you love your car, who better to send it to than someone with so much heart?
Bluwel Automotive Service Pte Ltd
Autobay @ Kaki Bukit
1 , Kaki Bukit Ave 6, Blk C, #01-
Other numbers to call cos Mervyn is not really an angel, he’s human and needs to sleep and eat like humans do:
6745 2088 Office
9755 2088 Kenny Yap
9488 7111 Kwang
Angels and humans all need to rest, so Bluwel is closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Please share this post with with anyone who drives and tell them to remember the name Bluwel and save Mervyn’s number for a rainy day. You never know when you need some angels to rescue you. X