GOOD meaning the workshop has skilled mechanics who can diagnose problems and fix them in the most efficient way possible, equipped with the necessary tools or machinery, and most importantly, ETHICAL people who practice with honesty.
I've learnt to appreciate good workshops after I had a personal encounter of being scammed/cheated by a particular motorcycle workshop located in Jalan Bukit Merah when I sent my first motorcycle in to for some repair work.
I was 19 years old then, riding a KTM200EGS.
Parts that I was told needed replacement, didn't have to be changed (I found out later). What started stirring my doubt was each time I sent my bike into that workshop, it seemed like a new set of problem would arise.
Week after week.
When I raised questions, the mechanic would give some lame explanation which never quite made any sense.
The worse part was, the original problem was NEVER fixed. Instead, all I felt was my pocket becoming lighter and lighter, whereas my poor helpless bike never got better.
Eventually, I was like "Ok that's it, fark it, I'm switching to another workshop".
That's when a kind friend told me I have been cheated as that workshop is known to be a "black" shop (in Mandarin), and he quickly introduced me to another workshop which rectified the problem my bike had within the first visit.
WHY DIDN'T THAT KIND FRIEND APPEAR SOONER? Argh.
Since then, when I come across a really good motorcycle workshop with reasonable-priced services and honest mechanics, I would normally stick with them all the way.
But now, we're talking about CARS.
As you know, I ride every other day. I drive only when I reallyyy need to, and it's my parents' cars.
I don't visit car workshops at all, not unless when occasionally my parents need me to send their car down for just some basic servicing. And it's normally done at their regular car workshop at Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2.
I know nothing about which car workshop is good and which to avoid.
But today's my lucky day.
I was driving, on my way home from some marketing in the late morning, when my parents car, a Mitsubishi Lancer, started to choke and weird whizzy noise started coming out from god-knows-where.
I was like "what the... Please, please, let me at least get home before breaking down"
Thankfully I managed to get home without the car dying on me halfway. I told my parents about the condition of the car and they hurriedly asked me to send it down to their regular workshop to check before delaying any longer in case the problem gets worse.
"Why me?"
"Because you're the last one who used the car"
Okay...
So with the car feeling like it was in a really unstable condition, I drove down to Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 where the workshop my parents always visit was.
When I got there, it was CLOSED.
I was lost, and didn't know what to do. I only know Ang Mo Kio Autopoint is the next nearest place filled with car workshops. So I decided to try my luck there and see if I can find an OK workshop to at least help me check the problem.
When I arrived at AMK Autopoint, I went straight up the ramp to the second floor because I don't know lah, I always have this impression that the most expensive workshops are always on the ground floor where it's most easily accessible.
Hmm.. It's like you go shopping at Platinum Mall in Bangkok. Clothes selling on the 1st level is always more expensive and have lesser bargaining chances. Prices started to dip a little as you go up to 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th floor.
That's just my Vaune-logic lah.
Ok so I went around the second floor and saw that not all the workshops were open, whereas some were just way too packed. Onto the third floor I went, and didn't see any workshop that caught my eye. I was at the last workshop and the car was like going to die on me anytime, so I decided to just try the workshop on my left.
They're called Merlin Motor Works.
When I stepped out of the car, a guy wearing the company's T-shirt came forward as I guess he could instantly tell I was in distress, or more like my car was.
He patiently listened as I went on and on about the symptoms the car was having, and sought his assistance to rectify the problem.
Turns out, his name is Jacky, and he is one of the co-owners of Merlin Motor Works.
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| Merlin Motor Works mechanic working on a customer's Lexus |
He got his mechanics to start evaluating the problem of my car, while I un-suspiciously probed more about the history of his workshop. You know.. undercover detective Vaune doing some history background check. LOL.
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| From left: Merlin Motor Works Co-owners Jacky, Henry |
It was then revealed to me that Merlin Motor Works has been around since 1970! That's more than THREE DECADES!! Jacky's dad started the business back then they were located at Lorong 8 Toa Payoh Industrial Park. They have since moved over to AMK Autopoint and Merlin Motor Works is now being passed down to Jacky and his brother-in-law, named Henry.
Like every other business, Merlin Motor Works paved its way from a humble beginning, to a full fledged automotive aftercare business providing a wide range of services for cars of any make and model.
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| Merlin Motor Works mechanic working on Lambos |
Jacky shared that whether you drive a flaming Lamborghini, or a BMW X6, Subaru WRX, Nissan Camry, Toyota Vios or Mitsubishi Lancer (like my parents car), they have skilled professional mechanics who can evaluate your car accurately, and execute the necessary repair.
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| Merlin Motor Works mechanic working on Aston Martin |
After a quick check, Merlin's mechanics advised that my car's wheel bearing is slightly out of alignment, hence the weird noise. The air filter was also dirty, which affected the mixture of air and fuel getting into the car's engine, causing it to choke.
"Don't worry, it's a small problem lah" he said, and proceeded to fix up my car.
As I was sitting at the corner waiting for my car repairs to be done, I saw 3 - 4 other cars coming in to Merlin to have their cars serviced. What I noticed was Merlin's mechanics were consistent in their customer service, where the minute a car arrives at their workshop, at least one staff would almost immediately step forward to assist their client.
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| Merlin Motor Works mechanic working on BMW |
I decided to approach a lady who just sent in her BMW three series to Merlin Motor Works. I explained that as it was my first time sending my car in here, I was curious about how reliable this workshop was.
She shared that she's been visiting Merlin Motor Works for many years, all her family cars are serviced by them (her family has three cars). Main reason is not only because their prices are reasonable, but their quality workmanship gets the job done efficiently, without her having to ever re-visit the workshop again for the same problem.
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| Merlin Motor Works mechanic working on Porche |
The only problem is the waiting time, which can be a little long as Merlin Motor Works is usually packed with lots of customers.
This totally reminds me of Bike Workz, the motorcycle workshop I send my bikes to. Their waiting time can be reaalllyy long, because it's always flooded with customers. But because they're really good, so everyone knows it's worth the wait.
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| Merlin Motor Works mechanic working on VW |
Well maybe because I came during Merlin's non-peak hour, so luckily my car didn't take too long. My parents car repairs were done within the next hour or so. There was no more weird noise nor choking as I tested it around the compound.
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| Merlin Motor Works mechanic working on Merserati |
It's always better to test your vehicle around the workshop's compound after a servicing or repair just to ensure everything is OK so in case there's still something not quite right, you can immediately point it out to the mechanic, rather than find out only when you're halfway on the expressway on the way home.
Satisfied with their service, I went on to pay the bill which, surprisingly didn't hurt my wallet :) Maybe because before that, I was telling Jacky how broke I was because I just bought myself a second Ducati after saving for some time hahaha so he gave a mini mini discount.
Thank you so much Merlin Motor Works for helping me with my parents car!
They're definitely worth a shout out :)
Please Note:
There weren't much pictures taken as I didn't expect to be writing a review on my blog to shout out for Merlin Motor Works, until the whole experience was over and I realize they're actually not bad at all. Hence most of the photos of other cars serviced here were grabbed from Merlin Motor Works website which you can visit here.
Merlin Motor Works
10 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2A
#03-13
AMK Autopoint
Singapore 568047
Tel: 6484 5225
Email: merlinm@merlinmotorworks.com