Miele, Bosch, Asko, Fischer & Paykal dishwashers?

[Bluebear]

My dishwasher has been nothing but problems and I am replacing it. Gives me a good chance to rotate around my kitchen and replace my appliances one by one in stainless steel.

Anyone have good/bad experiences with any of the named brands?

[Stinky The Clown]

1. I am aware of an early F&P drawer model that was a lot of trouble

This was a few years ago, and not mine, but a friend's. It leaked, it failed to run properly, and it ran for a time on just one drawer. They finally replaced it free of charge and made it right. The new one's been perfect.

When we redid our kitchen a year and a half ago, we looked at all those brands and they're all great machines. However, we wound up selecting the top of the line Kitchenaid. A couple of reasons went into this. First, it seemed to us to be the best price/value relationship; right in the sweet spot. It is American made, so that was another thing. It is stainless in and out. The rack adjustments are very adaptable and flexible. It achieved the second highest final rinse temp (I think Bosch was the highest at 158). Lastly, my wife liked the sexy curved handle. It matches the Kitchenaid oven and Kitchenaid warming drawer we also bought. We remain very, very happy with it. We replaced a nearly 20 year old Kitchenaid (also the top of the line - and while I say "replaced" it was actually just moved to my son's house and it still works) and the new one is several orders of magnitude quieter. In fact, even now, we sometimes open it during the cycle cuz its so damned quiet!

My business partner has the top of the line GE (Monogram?) and it is also a great machine - stainless in and out, all the bells and all the whistles with a few horns throw in to boot!

I just did a Google on Asko, as I think they're US made but foreign owned. I didn't find that, but I did find this. Makes me not want an Asko!

http://fixitnow.com/2004/02/mailbag-asko-dishwasher-meltdown.htm

[NMDemDist2]

2. well that link summed it up pretty well I think n/t

[Bluebear]

3. Many thanks

Thanks for that info. F/P seems like a cool machine, I think they are from New Zealand...but it does seem like a novelty and i have heard of leaking problems. Getting someone to repair something like that may be a problem.

Asko is Swedish but I have 'heard' problems with them too. I do know that the Bosch's for the US market are American made.

I WILL look into Kitchenaid. I really want the stainless inside which most US machines don't have so it's a great to have a name to look at.

As to GE...I have a Profile and never again. It oozes some oily mass out the front with every wash and time to time some of the black rubber 'soundproofing' material decides to just fall onto my wood floors in an oozy mess! yuck!

Now for that Viking Professional refigerator.....:)

on edit: read your Asko link...that's what happened to my GE! The insulation just pours out of it, maybe from requesting "hot water wash"?

[NMDemDist2]

4. i am getting a jones for a new DW too, mine gets icky brown stuff

on the front too.. I tried to psych myself by changing the front panels, but the back side of the black is almond and my other (newer) appliances are white so that didn't work.

:shrug: but the house needs paint and a roof overlayment first so the DW is pretty far down on the list

[Bluebear]

5. What is the lifespan for appliances?

It tears me to have buy new ones after just 5 years. I wonder if you do pay a little more to begin with that they don't last a while longer?

[NMDemDist2]

6. here's some interesting reading on that subject

http://fixitnow.com/2004/03/appliance-tip-of-day-how-long-should.htm

[Bluebear]

7. You are too helpful as always

I must go read up :)

[NMDemDist2]

8. and the live chat feature is TOOO COOL n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

9. We've gotten more than 20 years from a top of the line Kitchenaid

as I pointed out, above. I have a 20 year old Sub Zero that my appliance dealer tried to talk me into replacing this last go-round. The only reason he could come up with, by the way, was energy efficiency. The thing works fine and nothing's broken or worn out. Same with our old cooktop - a Thermador, one with the four burners and the griddle/grill in the middle. It is on its second life in my son's kitchen right along with the old Kitchenaid and the old Magic Chef oven. The washer from Sears is in its third decade and still spinnin' the jeans. Hadda replace the matching dryer a year or three ago.

So how long do they last? I dunno. But mine have done quite well. All of them were top or near top of the line in their day. On the flip side, most of them have had a repair or two over the years.

Just anecdotally, anytime I try to save a few bucks on a big purchase I wind up regretting it. Now, don't take that to mean I overpay. I try not to. But I **do** try to buy in the sweet spot ...... good reputation, comparable features that I *need* and then do research all over again before you actually buy.

[wildeyed]

15. I have the same Kitchenaid dishwasher.

Got mine as a scratch and dent special, $300 off. The 'dent' is microscopic, no one can find it unless I point it out. I got my new stove the same day, scratch and dent special, too, another $300 off. Good bargain hunting day.

The Kitchenaid has been great. My youngest child hangs of the top rack on a semi-regular basis and has failed to break it (yet, but he gets bigger every day), so it must be well made. It is not as quiet as the Bosch, which my Mom has, but it has a larger capacity.

[Longhorn]

10. We have a Bosch that is several years old.

My husband is a remodeling contractor and one of his customers was replacing it with something newer so it was at least a couple of years old when we got it and we've had it for at least five years, if not longer.

This thing is so quiet, you have to feel it to see if it's running! We've never had a bit of trouble with it and it does a great job of cleaning the dishes. I'd get another one in a second (assuming he has another customer replacing one. It's against my principles to actually pay for one. There has to be SOME advantage to always living in an unfinished house! ;))

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

11. I really wanted a Bosch,

but it doesn't have a feature to just air dry does it? I always just open the door. Since I never unload the dishwasher until the next day it doesn't make sense to use power to dry the dishes. I keep hoping they'll add that feature. Those machines are unbelievably quiet.

[Longhorn]

12. No, you're right about the lack of an air-dry setting.

My husband says Miele is supposed to be the best (and quietest) you can get. He does high-end remodeling and many of his customers ask for it.

He says Kitchenaide has improved their dishwashers quite a bit and their newest one with a stainless steel interior, graphite racks, etc., competes very well with the Bosch. He thinks it's the best value -- several hundred dollars cheaper than the European models but comparable quality.

[WritersBlock]

13. I hadn't even noticed the lack of an air-dry setting. DOH.

Our Bosch dishwasher works great. The only complaint I could have with it is that I'd like a little more flexibility with the bottom rack configuration. It's fine if you have a lot of dinner plates to wash, but not very versatile with a combination of plates, bowls, and pans.

But it's like the Energizer Bunny... it keeps going, and going, and going........

[imenja]

14. check out consumerreports.com

Bosch are rated the highest but also have the most frequent and expensive repair costs. Sears Kenmore has some very good, affordable models.