Singcarpore

The 2012 BMW F20 116i in 2026

2026-08-10T08:29:52Z

Hello again long time readers! It's been a while! I want to announce that Singcarpore isn't dead. Quite the contrary, it brings me mixed pleasure and varying degrees of odd joy to announce that I've gotten the BMW F20 116i back in November 2025. I now understand why people say that Bimmers are full of electric gremlins fussing around the car throwing error codes in every nook and cranny.

Jack. You ask. Why the F20? Why the one series?

And I say to you: Long-time fans, readers, friends and family will know that I really only drive hatchbacks. I appreciate and enjoy the practicality of the form factor. My criteria for a car boiled down to the strict inclusion of a rear wheel drive and rear air con vents because I wanted my passengers in the rear to feel the air con freezing their legs and thereby experience great difficulty when exiting the car.

Before I dive further into the review, I should announce that I will be performing a site infrastructure migration and upgrading the backend to be more performant and snazzy. I count my lucky stars that I possessed (and still do, to some degree) developer chops and will therefore get downright dirty to fuss around with command line, scripts, and stuff.

Hang in there, folks! Car content will return!

Driving Again in 2024

2024-03-09T03:30:13Z

Ever since I scrapped the Honda Jazz in June 2022, the thought of owning a car had never really left me. Sure, going green, saving the planet (saving ourselves), and saving money resonated with me.

But, I treasured freedom. This is something drivers truly understand and feel deep in their beating hearts. So, when 2024 swung around, the Wife--through many months of uttering "if only we had" and "car" and "saving time" and "too far" and "waste time" must have caved in to my overt suggestion.

And so car hunting I did and car hunted we did. My pal's brother happened to work at OneShift and shared a blue Ford Fiesta 2014 Titanium 1.0L EcoBoost model with low mileage for sale. We're talking under 40,000KMs here.

Long story short, I am back on the roads again. First impressions and review to come some time later. :)

Fix Your Honda Jazz's Always-On Brake Lights

2022-03-12T12:27:20Z

If you ever find your Jazz's brake lights not turning off even after you switch the engine off, this post might just be what you need. This happened to me and I learned several new things about not just the Jazz but also how brake pedals work to toggle the brake lights.

Brake lights remaining on throughout the night and morning.

While there may be several causes for your brake lights remaining on until it eventually kills your battery, I identified the culprit with Google's help.

These are not fragments of a fallen tooth but broken pieces of a plastic plug sitting between your brake pedal and switch.

I saw these fragments on my mat and had thought they were food. But, I was dead wrong. Yesterday, I had driven to my office at Mountbatten and parked the car; all was well.

However, when I wanted to leave the office to meet The GF, I noticed my brake lights were on! Had I forgotten to turn off the lights and kept them on? Would my car still start? It did. I browsed videos on YouTube which pin-pointed the problem.

You need the Brake Clutch Pedal Stopper Pad Bushing Plug piece.

Call it what you want. I needed this. You can get this online for $5 a pop or a pair. In the dead of night past 1, I reached my carpark and Googled the steps needed to turn off my brake lights in a vain attempt to save power lest I wake up the next morning with a dead car.

I gave up after nearly over an hour of looking at the fuse box under the front hood. YouTube for solutions: The broken plastic piece is apparently a common problem with a deadly simple fix. You simply had to remove the plastic panel underneath the steering wheel, above the footwell, to gain access to the brake pedal.

I can't remember what I was looking at. Was it the brake pedal?

How does the brake light work? When you step on the brake pedal, it breaks (ha ha) contact from the button. When the button is not pressed upon, the brake light turns on. Conversely, let go of the brake pedal, and the plastic piece will come into contact with the button, thereby turning off the brake lights.

The absence of my plastic plug piece ensures a gap between the brake pedal (when it's not stepped on) and the brake button. I had wanted to conjure up a temporary fix had I been able to remove the plastic panel.

Alas, I decided that I had to head home, shower, and sleep, for it was past 2am. I prayed to the Brake God and hoped that my battery would last throughout the night. I also messaged Eric, my trusted workshop boss of Precise Auto at: 1 Kaki Bukit Ave 6, #02-33/34/36 Autobay @ Kaki Bukit, Singapore 417883

Meanwhile, I had messaged two Carousellers who were friends, and who were selling the very same plastic plug as seen above, for $5 a piece. They offered installation for another $5. After a bit of back-and-forths, I decided to message Auto 101 LLP (thanks, Google!), and Victor answered my queries. Thanks, Victor! He instructed me to head to the workshop at 9.15am.

So, it was a trip to Auto 101 LLP at: No. 2 Yishun Industrial Street 1, #02-01 Northpoint Bizhub, Singapore 768159, in the morning.

I waited for about 25 minutes. The mechanic came, started my car, and asked when I noticed the problem. "Yesterday night". Actually, the problem started yesterday evening. Possibly even in the afternoon.

He commented that it was amazing my car could even start, and that I could drive it over to their workshop.

I thought so too.

So, it was barely a minute, and the problem was sorted out by the wonderful mechanic of Auto 101 LLP. $30 gets you a metal plug. Silly me forgot to ask for a photo. But, no matter: I would be scrapping my car this June. $30 for peace of mind to drive another 3 months, that ain't too bad.

Retrofitting a Temperature and Hygrometer Sensor to the Honda Jazz

2021-05-30T06:12:00Z

Since I started driving the Honda Jazz GD1, I adjusted the aircon temperature through a knob, like any other driver would.

Many new cars however, now come equipped with digital readouts. I thought how nice it would be to retrofit the GD1 with a sensor that could tell me the ambient temperature.

GD1 drivers can appreciate the simplicity of adjusting fan and aircon settings through knobs.

There are two small gaps behind the steering wheel.

So, for a long while, I had stared at the two gaps between the steering wheel and the speedometer. It felt like I could place a gadget there. I need not look far before chancing upon the Xiaomi Mijia Thermometer & Hygrometer Sensor over Lazada.

The seller sold the thermometer in a set of 3 for $13.30 (when I bought it in December 2020).

Side by side with a Daiso Thermometer & Hygrometer. The readings are aligned.

The Xiaomi sensor measures 43 by 43mm and is approximately 12.5mm thick. It uses a CR2032 battery and is still going strong after 6 months. I am pleased with its performance and use it inside the GD1 to give me a sensing of how cold my AC still is, and how unbearably warm it can be under the Singapore weather.

Note that the sensor will give you a different reading if you place it at the steering wheel like I did, compared to placing it by the vents. You could use adhesives to mount the sensor by the vents. I prefer it by the speedometer so my eyes do not flirt around much.

The sensor even displays a smiley face to let you know how it feels.

This is money well spent. I will gladly buy another set of 3 to place around my home. If you are looking to retrofit a thermometer and hygrometer to your car, consider the Xiaomi sensor.

Turn Left on Gone

2020-10-26T04:12:33Z

Sometimes, the green turn-left light doesn't make itself known until it starts blinking. In this case, a black Mercedes honked a white Lancer in the final moments before both cars zipped off into the night. I've driven down this road by Yishun MRT countless times, and such occurrences are common: Drivers consistently miss the left turn light and get honked at by others.

So, what is the morale of the story? When waiting at a left-turn only lane, get ready to turn left when you can turn left, and when it is safe for you to turn left, and especially when someone is waiting behind you, and also when you took that lane to turn left anyway.

Turn left.

Singapore's Shortest Right Turn Traffic Light

2020-10-24T15:40:56Z

If you've ever zipped down along Yishun Avenue 2, and come to this junction towards Lentor and Yishun Avenue 1, you'd have experienced Singapore's shortest, quickest, briefest green light; Call it what you will.

If anyone knows why the right turn light is set in such a manner, please let me know. Meanwhile, always be ready to slam the brakes when you turn right towards Avenue 1.

70mai Smart Dash Cam Pro

2020-10-05T07:16:02Z

It's been several years since I got behind the wheel and drove without a dash cam. That has changed. I purchased the 70mai Smart Dash Cam Pro (Global Version) on 1st October for $79.90 through Lazada. It arrived today, four days later.

Now, I (somewhat) fudged up the installation of the electrostatic sticker. Still, running the wires up and along the car trims was a piece of cake. 70mai included a pry tool that you use to open a gap in your car trim for stashing the wires into. If I can do it, you can too.

Setup was a breeze. Initial test footage looks fine. I may put up a review and live footage. But, the internet is awash with thorough reviews and footage of the dash cam. I don't think I add value by going through the specs. Instead, I will talk about what I think are useful features bordering on must-haves.

What do I like about the 70mai Smart Dash Cam Pro?

The unit features inbuilt wifi so users do not need to eject the microSD. I like this a lot and this was one of my primary considerations in getting a dash cam.

Next, it records at up to 1944p. I've got mine set to use the H.264 codec, recording at 2560 x 1440p. The firmware lets users select recording lengths of 1, 2, or 3 minutes. I've set it to 2.

Voice control works well even when I wore a mask. The unit is able to capture four commands: "take picture", "record video", "turn on screen", "turn off screen" with no issues.

70Mai dashcam settings can be modified through your mobile phone

Night images

The following are images taken using the "take picture" voice command at night and in the rain. Night visibility is something I think many cameras struggle with. Still, the 70mai does a commendable job at boosting visibility while retaining a good level of detail. There is a good deal of light flares too, but it can't be helped.

What do I not like?

70mai states that the unit accepts microSD cards up to 64GB in total storage. To err on the safe side, I purchased a Samsung Pro Endurance microSD (64GB) for $29.90 at Harvey Norman. Some users have tested and are using a 128GB card with no issues. I might try it some day. Regardless, I think that car cams should support cards with capacities of 128GB and more.

Final thoughts

The 70mai Smart Dash Cam Pro is affordable and provides ease of installation and good image quality while also sporting useful features in a package that rivals more expensive units.

I will update with more thoughts on the unit after I've had more time driving around.

Singcarpore Server Migration and Potential Downtime

2020-05-09T13:42:10Z

On second thoughts, I've decided that I should not migrate. It turns out that I renewed my hosting plan with my current web host for a year, and I did so only last month. There should be plenty of time to pick up and figure out host migration to a LEMP stack with WordPress.

Hey there! I am still around, despite not updating much. Much has been going on in my life. I know, this sounds like an excuse for not updating Singcarpore for a long time. I want to assure my readers (the few of you) that I am still around!

I am writing to announce the migration of Singcarpore.com to another web host. So, please do not be alarmed if the site goes down. Migrating Wordpress from one host to another isn't a straightforward task. But, I'll do what I can to ensure minimal downtime.

~~The domain will still stay the same. I will still be around, I promise! :)~~

I Renewed the COE for My Jazz GD1 for 5 Years

2017-10-14T12:41:01Z

Jack's Jazz has had its COE renewed for 5 years. While I contemplated scraping the car, the joy of driving the Jazz proved too much of a pleasure that drove me to renew the COE--which by the way, can be done online--and I did just that. As we also know, a 5 year COE renewal basically spells the death penalty for the car after that period of time.

But hey, until the 15th year rolls by, I'll carry on bumming around with the stylishly bland hatchback. So, here's to another 4 years and 9 months of Jazzing around!

Now, as I write this post, I am reminded of the pain and anguish of having witnessed the COE prices for Cat A dip by at a few thousand after I renewed the COE for twenty five grand.

Anyway, I bought the Cairefresh Cabin Air Filter from Autobacs for $40.95, for the GD1 model and installed it myself. I couldn't have been more proud of doing just that, and must say that watching the following video taught me everything I needed to know to become an expert in the Honda Jazz GD1 2007 Cabin Air Filter Changer Technician Hands-On Person:

Honda Jazz GD1 Cabin Air Filter Replacement

Really. Watch the above video and change the filter yourself. Easy. Meanwhile, allow me some time to collect my thoughts on driving the Jazz after about 1.5 years--that'll be in a new post.

Ciao!

Signal Even When No One Is Looking

2017-05-31T00:33:27Z

Here's a hot tip for drivers new and experienced. Regardless of the time of day, signal even when no one is looking. Statistics show that 72.8% of accidents happen either due to a lack of signalling or one done too late.

So, whether it's 2 PM or 2 AM in the dead of night and you're about to do a right turn at a cross junction? Signal. It's cool. You can do your part, and I'll do mine.

Also, I made the stats up.

But the point is: Signal.

Drive in My Head: 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer EX

2017-01-28T03:11:41Z

Welcome to the first "Drive in my head" where I talk about cars that I've not driven but can only imagine myself doing so. Think of me rambling when drunk. Because I am so incredibly lazy, I won't even post pictures from Wikipedia, much less attempt to take photos of mentioned cars lest I be slapped with a copyright or legal claim. In this first post, I talk about the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer EX. Here goes! (I will think of a better title soon.)

This is the car that confuses me to no end whenever it passes me by. I lost count of the number of times I thought it was an Evo X. Turns out, there are body kits that turn a Lancer into an Evo! Who knew?

First, let us take a short trip down memory lane--mine, specifically. I've grown to love the look of the older Lancers with its distinctive front bonnet. Certainly, by today's standards, the pre-2007 Lancer has aged, but there's nothing a good wash, wax and polish can't bring out and I've seen many Lancers with and without rear wing spoilers.

I have to say that they all look nooooice. The Lancer does not scream for attention and dare I say: Will stay classy a decade into the future.

But, back to the 2016 Lancer. This is a car that certainly wouldn't give you cancer. Get it? That made absolutely no sense.

Moving on.

A respectable 1.6L engine powers the Lancer, giving it oomph in a visual-heavy body and screams to push muscle. The engine puts out 117HP at 6000RPM, and a max torque of 154Nm at 4000RPM. I imagine it getting you to places and allowing you to leave the stop sign a tad earlier.

Perhaps I enjoy the steady drive of sticking in my lane and don't mind not winging the accelerator unlike the Lancer drivers I see on the roads. Surely they are all busy people with goals to meet and targets to hit and who must absolutely be ahead of everyone else.

A quick lane change here, a dart there, a bit of acceleration here and a burst of speed there--before you know it, the Lancer has bestowed a 3 second advantage to the driver. Look, I can still see you ahead of me. Though, if I see another Lancer in my rear view mirror, I feel the need to apologize for getting in their way.

With remote operation and audio controls at your fingertips, control is a cinch--and I imagine drivers driving to the beat of Deep Techno while flicking them and going "no, this track won't do. We need more aggro." Surely the imposing stance of the front headlights and bonnet bleeds its character into the very driver it houses. There is just that much going on in the front, and if you've ever followed a Lancer for more than a meter, you know the car presents a huge rear--there's as much going on at the back as there is at the front but that ain't such a bad thing.

I posit that the 2016 Lancer is a dependable sedan for a daily drive.

Jazzing Into 2017

2017-01-01T01:10:17Z

Happy New Year, y'all! It's been a while since I've updated. I know, it's entirely my fault for neglecting updates on Singcarpore. But, life happens. Yes, that's another excuse. Why can't I stop making 'em? No, I don't make excuses.

So, what's happened? The Jazz has since gotten into 2 accidents, 1 minor (I smooched the rear of a VW along the PIE-CTE (AMK), and 1 major--I got sandwiched between 2 vehicles along the BKE driving behind a Maxi Cab with a loaded van trailing me. That happened during peak hours. In that incident, a motorcycle fell and all vehicles behind the motorcycle braked in time except for the van behind me.

Suffice to say, I got rear ended into the bum of the Maxi Cab (who ferried passengers!) I've since received a letter from the police stating that the van was at fault.

At times, I think I should just stick to public transport. See, the Jazz acquired scrapes on the front right lip and left side skirt--the same side also fell off in and unfortunate incident. I've also had my the front lip crushed on December 31st, 2016.

I used a plastic bag to hold the skirt and prevent it from falling.

I know, what a way to end the year.

Note to self, when the carpark is full, do not attempt to go up a makeshift ramp when the angle is blatantly steeper than what your clearance can handle. I'm looking at you, Popeyes @ Tebing Lane.

The lip couldn't be saved.

But you know what? It's nothing. Scrapes, bumpers, lips, fenders, skirts--they can all be repaired. What matters is that I am here, very much alive and writing.

And I thank you all for reading my humble blog. I am by no means a car enthusiast. What do I know really? But, stick around, and let's put a little spin on automotive-things in Singapore, on Singcarpore.

P.S. I will create a category and talk about cars I will never get to drive in Singapore. Because my pockets don't run deep and I am but a mere peasant.

See y'all in 2017! Wait, we're already here. See y'all, again!

Respect the Truck Drivers

2016-10-23T01:58:02Z

I want to talk about truck, van, lorry, and heavy goods vehicles. Before that, let us all rise and give their drivers a standing ovation.

As if driving a car isn't difficult already, with e-scooters, bikes, bicycles, random pedestrians, children dashing across the roads, insurance scammers and all manner of roadly activities happening--truck drivers are a different breed altogether.

They not only (mostly) drive a manual vehicle, but one that is laden with goods that add a lot of weight to it. The result is a vehicle that feels sluggish going up slopes and can't brake on a dime when going down.

Truck drivers tend to keep safe distances between themselves. I say "tend to" because we know that's not always the case in Singapore. But, you know what's more amazing? I've had the pleasure of driving behind trucks in the past. The good drivers can maintain their speed, even if only going 40km/hr on the left lanes.

While it isn't the most comfortable experience getting sandwiched between a lorry and van, you can bet this convoy moves at a steady pace. And like cyclists, we hate to brake. Braking means wasted energy. Nobody likes start-stop traffic.

Nobody.

Keep your distance from all sorts of big and menacing trucks.

Truck drivers thus keep safe distances in mind. The heavier the vehicle, the longer and further it takes for them to brake. For this reason, I like to imagine them possessing a great load of patience as cars speed up to occupy the space ahead of them.

Sometimes, I am one of them.

Notice that trucks will slow down again to always maintain a safe distance. I observed that the larger the vehicle, and the more goods they carry, the gap between them and the vehicle in front tends to grow.

Again, the keyword here is "tends to". While we groan about vans driving on the 2nd lane, sometimes, it can't be helped. They have delivery schedules to adhere to, and drivers aren't always courteous enough to let vans do a 3 to 2 to 3 lane switch.

What was I on to again? Oh right, truck drivers.

Respect them.

Thoughts on the Taffeta White Jazz After Two Months

2016-06-26T04:29:36Z

It's been two months since I got behind the seat of the Taffeta White Jazz. In that time, I've not met Death yet, but other drivers were surely close friends of It.

The 1,339cc I-Dsi engine puts out enough power for my daily commute to work. Would I want more? Sure, why not? The CVT transmission is buttery smooth and dare I say it: Beats a traditional auto tranny. But, an opinion is still an opinion and I can respect those who love their gears.

The Jazz still puts a smile on my face each time I see it. Whenever a Jazz/Fit passes by me, I can't help but observe the driver behind the wheel, mods, the sound it makes, driving style, ride height, rims, tyres, tints, body kits, anything and everything that makes a Jazz, jazz.

I've ferried a full load of adults up and down slopes, scraped the front end over high humps and bumps, scraped the side in an act of misjudgment, bolted from green lights in "S" gear, drove in heavy rain, late at night along Mandai, and expressways, convoy-ed with a column of Jazzes and Fits in highway congestion, ran errands, ferried my family to and fro. I enjoyed every single moment.

The wipers are squeaking and I will need to do something. Perhaps new blades are in order. My rear wiper feels crumbly; No wonder it is doing a terrible job at wiping water away. It's not that bad, but I should do something about it soon.

I look forward to taking care of the Jazz, as it has taken care of me. Singapore roads are largely safe but some drivers can and do drive erratically. I've had near misses when a driver decided to switch lane without signaling. They are the best.

Expressway Etiquette

2016-05-23T07:29:25Z

How do we drive on Singapore expressways? How do we drive on them given that we are not allowed to while driving around with "L" plates?

It's simple.

When merging onto the expressway, speed up so you don't slow down when filtering and merging. Easy.

Also, try not to brake when you filter. Doing so typically causes the vehicle behind you to brake, which causes the vehicle behind the vehicle that braked to brake...and you just created a butterfly effect.

You are the cause of jams. But, I kid.

That was easy, wasn't it? You now know 50% of how to drive on the expressways. What is the next 50%?

The 1st lane. Lane number 1. Numero Uno. One, the loneliest number. The lane furthest to the right. The lane meant for tailgaters, speedsters, accidents, pile-ups and deaths.

Also: The lane for overtaking. Observe 2 speed limits. Some stretches limit vehicles to 80km/h, while most stretches allow vehicles to travel at 90km/h.

So, you drive on lane 2 and a vehicle is going at 60km/h. You see an empty stretch of lane in front of the vehicle, and wish to overtake. Signal right, check, safe, filter right, speed up to within the speed limit, signal left, check, safe, filter left.

That was easy.

But see, if you could travel at 90km/h constantly on lane 1, wouldn't that be mighty fine too? Sure it is, until a car appears in your rear view mirror and you can see the driver's face clearly. That's when you give way and filter left to lane 2.

It's simple physics. Really simple. Easy. No sweat. You'd think that Singaporeans are law-abiding citizens and that we all drive under the speed limit.

No, no, no! You're dead wrong. Remember, give way and don't road hog.

Drivers will always go above the speed limit. As for you? A little road courtesy and common sense goes a long way.

Predictable Driving

2016-05-22T10:36:55Z

You see all sorts of drivers on Singapore roads. Human beings are intricate creatures and no two persons behave the same. Thus, no two cars will handle similarly. Yet, what makes our road tick? Why do so many of us get to our places eventually without fuss?

The answer is driving in a predictable manner. What is that? I'm glad you asked.

I will go slow and go straight because the arrows tell me to.

Predictable driving is driving with true intent. When you signal right to filter, I don't expect you to swerve right immediately. But, I know you will check your mirrors. I know you have determined there is enough space and it's safe to do so. You then filter right and turn off your signal lights.

Likewise, if you do not signal left to enter the carpark in 10 meters, I will expect that you will carry on straight, you won't slam the brakes to enter the carpark, and you will spare me a panic attack.

Driving predictably keeps our road safe and efficient. Be a predictable driver. Singapore thanks you.

What Is Car Detailing?

2016-05-10T06:05:14Z

Car Detailing is the act of cleaning your vehicle to showroom standards. Go to a car show and you will see cars with surfaces so reflective and clean, you can see your own booger in the reflections.

No joke.

Detailing takes car cleaning to the next level, and then some. Forget about $8 car washes at gas stations unless you don't mind towels that have swiped themselves over thousands of cars.

For the adventurous however, check out cleaners who roam carparks and offer to wash your car for rates starting at $30 to $40 per month. I've seen drivers comment that these cleaners use one rag and bucket to wash dozens of cars in one night.

Go figure.

Beware Hidden Fees by Used Car Dealerships in Singapore

2016-05-04T14:00:29Z

Browse used cars from dealerships and chances are, the sticker price isn't the final cost you pay. Hidden fees exist and is an industry practice as bewildering and scammy as it sounds. What exactly is it?

Introducing, "Documentation" or "Administration fees". Dealerships typically list this line item at $500 and won't inform you of it just before you sign on the dotted line just as costs are laid down.

Consider this a Public Service Announcement though your mileage may vary. I dealt with a salesman who didn't charge documentation fees and one who did.

What exactly does documentation entail that half a thousand is charged to the customer? Your guess is as good as mine. Nonetheless, should you think you are getting a good buy even with a $500 charge tacked on, more power to you!

If it makes you sleep better, know that salesmen are just like us and need to eat, pay rent and make a living too. Selling cars isn't easy, more so when it's used.

The best advice is: Always remember to use your judgement and if a deal makes you uneasy, walk away.

How to Scrap Your Car in Singapore

2016-05-02T04:00:27Z

It's that time of the month. No, not that time. That time! It's time to scrap your car. Let Singcarpore show you how it's done. The process is painless.

First, you would have received a letter from LTA commanding you to either scrap or not insisting that you renew your COE. You choose to scrap. Go straight to jail and do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

Besides, you are not earning the salary of a minister.

So, if you're like me and prefer to do things early, download a D01 form here, print, and complete the relevant fields such as your license plate number, name, signature, contact number and date of submission (Date of scrapping).

Clear your car of belongings and things you wish to keep. Don't be like me and forget to remove the mobile phone windshield holder if you have one (Most do, right?). You can also remove your blind spot mirrors if you have them. Nevermind the leftover adhesive.

Then, head to the LTA office at 10 Sin Ming Drive. If you drive, park at the nearby public carparks. Remember your parking coupons and cashcard.

Enter the LTA office by foot, join the queue, get a queue number and another form for which the counter staff will hand to you. Fill it out while waiting to be called.

When the system chimes your number on screens, walk to the counter, hand the form to the staff and get a Transactional Pin. Or you can apply for the TPIN online at One Motoring which is sent to you within 3 to 5 business days.

This TPIN is sealed and must be handed over to the scrapyard with form D01. From waiting to getting the TPIN, it took me just under an hour on a Saturday morning. I used 2 parking coupons and made it back to the car in time.

Next, drive to any of the 3 appointed scrapyards. At the time of writing, they are:

Company/Address	Contact No	Operating Hours
Hup Lee Leong Hardware Pte Ltd 26 Sungei Kadut St 3 Singapore 729153	Tel: 6363 5055 / 6367 0019	Monday to Friday: 8.30am - 5.30pm Saturday: 8.30am - 4.30pm (Closed on Public Holidays)
Kheng Keng Auto Pte Ltd 47 Sungei Kadut Loop Singapore 729512	Tel: 6844 3333	Monday to Saturday: 8.30am - 5.30pm (Closed on Public Holidays)
Sky Metal Pte Ltd 7 Gul Road Singapore 629364	Tel: 6862 9109	Monday to Friday: 9.00am - 5.30pm Saturday: 9.00am - 12.30pm (Closed on Public Holidays)

*[Information via OneMotoring.com.sg]*

I drove to Kheng Keng Auto Pte Ltd. Go in and park at the area not far off the entrance near a sign that says "Scrap". A staff will come by and confirm that you want to scrap your car.

Say yes. Hand him the keys. Go into the air-conditioned office and fill in another form. The staff will guide you. When done, hand the form over with your NRIC.

Wait some more.

The staff will hand a purchase agreement stating information on the car and that the scrapyard has bought your car. Get either $50, $100 or $150 in cash on the spot. Keep your NRIC.

Make your way out the scrapyard and walk, call a cab, or have a friend already waiting to drive you out.

Then, go back to One Motoring and opt to have your remaining COE/Parf encashed--whichever is valid. The money will be channeled through GIRO if previously set up or a cheque will be mailed to you.

Easy.

Then get a used car.

Mobile Phone Windshield Holder

2016-05-01T14:56:40Z

Using a phone while driving is illegal and dangerous in Singapore. How then, do we look at the GPS on our phones?

Easy.

Stick a holder onto the windshield. It typically secures your phone in place by the sides while it cradles the bottom. The holder is attached either to the windshield or dashboard. Most models mount to the windows but are able to mount to your surface of your dashboard too.

In this model, the bottom allows room for cables to run through. The side arms clamp inwards onto your phone in steps so you can adjust the intensity. Depress a switch in the back to release the clamps and the arms slide out smoothly.

Alas, I forgot to take this holder out when I scrapped my Nissan March and now resort to placing my phone on a small square non-stick surface.

I promise to buy a new holder and show it in use. You can find holders in most automobile and accessories stores. Electronics stores carry them too.

Update soon to come.