Bosch Nexxt 500

[andrewinorlando]

OK everyone....I'm in the process of ordering a Bosch Nexxt 500 front load washer and matching gas dryer. I'm interested in knowing what everyone thinks, especially if you have experience with the machine. Between discounts from Lowes, rebates from Bosch and my gas company, both machines come out to $1472 plus tax, with free delivery. I think that's a pretty damn good deal for these machines.

Thanks everyone...greatly appreciated!!

Andrew

 

[tlee618]

Andrew keep us posted it will be very interesting to see what you think of them. What will they be replacing?

 

[whirlcool]

That is a good deal for those machines. I have read a lot about them, and the people who have them really like them. Except for the following issues:

Bosch service is terrible if you need service. Not as bad as LG, but slow and arrogant.

These machines can do a profile wash, and are very efficient with the onboard heater.

They seem to have an average reliability rating. While not having any major issues, they have been known to experience cracks in the exterior cabinet and control panel.

They can't be stacked if needed due to the placement of the control panel on the top of the machine.

 

[andrewinorlando]

I have read about the cracking issue; it seems to have been a problem on the earlier models, the ones that the 500 replaced. I hope that's the case!!

I've been to 4 different Lowe's stores and I asked various salespeople about the machines, and all seemed to agree that the biggest problems they have are with Maytag, and to stay away from those units. No one really had anything negative to say about the Bosch units and only one store indicated that they had one return on a dryer that was DOA. We actually seem to have a decent service network in the Orlando tri-county area, so let's hope!! They are complex machines.

I'm replacing my old Calypso washer. After 6 years of hard use, it has seen better days. I opened it up last week, and the whole base plate and one arm of the suspension are completely rusted to the point that you can pop holes through the base. Seems the bleach dispenser has been slowly leaking down onto the suspension and one corner of the motor. Also, the wash plate has loosened up and you can move it up and down with your hand. It's still working fine, just noisy. I don't use it anywhere near as much as I used to since the ex-husband moved out and one of the dogs has gone to the great kennel in the sky. I guess at 15 loads or so a week, I can't complain too much about it. Funny thing about the Calypso, once you learn to use it correctly, it's actually a damned good washer....but it does take practice, and Sears users manual is worthless. The matching dryer has chips all over the drum, which I didn't think happened to powder coated drums so easily. Besides, I really like the matched set, and the Bosch dryer has a window. It's just a little bit smaller in volume than the Kenmore dryer.

 

[oxydolfan1]

Andrew
when the lowe's folks referred to maytag problems
was it the neptune models by samsung
or the newer epic machines
they were referencing?

 

[andrewinorlando]

Oxy - the Lowes folks seemed to indicate that they got a lot of returns on Maytag washers, notably the top load machines. No one specifically mentioned the Neptunes or the Maysungs, but two salesmen warned me away from the remaining top load Maytags they had on clearance. They did indicate that they stopped carrying the three rack dishwasher design because almost all of them came back. Not many liked them or cared to learn how to use them.

Surprisingly, their big seller seems to be the newer GE top load washers, which they indicated that they get next to no complaints about. I believe the word they used was "reliable"!! They all tried to interest me in that as a lower cost alternative if I was looking to save some money and the the GE Hydrowave washer carries the best warranty in the industry, too.

 

[appnut]

Andrew, glad yo made up your mind. Sad & glad you didn't opt for the GE, although we did talk about it at dinner that night. My only complaint about Bosch is it's not very flexible with water temp options and I think 95 degree warm is a bit on the cool side for my tastes. But otherwise I hear awefully good things about 'em!!

 

[tumbler]

Maysung

Undoubtedly the Lowes folks were warning you away from the later Maytag Neptunes made by Samsung. (MAH6700, 8700 & 9700). They really are junk. I had a 6700-for about 3 weeks. Then I wised up and got rid of it and got a Duet HT, and I've never regretted it.

 

[~sudsshane]

AndrewinOrlando~

OH! Im so excited to come over and have a mini wash in with your new Bosch!!. Let's pull up 2 chairs,make some popcorn and watch your undies spin in circles!

~Princess

 

[andrewinorlando]

Shana Mae - you are one crazy girl. You bring the popcorn...and not the microwave kind.

 

[super32]

What nexxt

You should enjoy your new nexxt. I've been using one for 3 yrs now and absolutly love them! I recenly decided to sell my 6400/6500 set and went platinum. A few words to the wise, if you have soft water, measure detergent carfully. With the low water consumption they only recommend 2-3 tablespoons for a large or heavy soil load, even with HE detergent. Sometimes I would use a little more for the really dirty stuff and sometimes less for the not so dirty stuff. Secondly, dont be in a hurry. 1hr +/- for a "normal" load. Alot of people who went from T/L machines to a nexxt question the long wash times. Sometimes if you add x-rinse and/or power washes it can push 2+ hrs, but damn does it clean! The dryer, I absolutly DO NOT recomend the use of dryer sheets. Lots of issues of the sheets coating the moisture sensors and the lint filter. The damage is not permanent, but has elicted serveral service calls for error codes. Hot water, an old tooth brush and some dawn will take care of the filter, and some vinager or rubbing alcohol for the drum sensors. 2 other minor notes, when the flames lites on the dryer you will know it. The burner is a bit louder than most other gas dryer but I personally dont find it offensive and have not received any major complaits or problems with it. Also with todays energy standards, Sometimes "regular" dry doesnt cut it. Most load are ok, but I like my towels bone dry. Occasionaly with larger loads of towels I may have to put 2-3 back in for an extra 10mins or so. I dont fuss about it because the set otherwise does a great job. As far as the srvice aspect, they are in the process of impruving on that. Some changes for the better have taken place and more are on the way. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any question

[email protected]

P.S. I recently aquired a calypso set with a house we just bought. I tryed to get the previous owner to please! take it. They ended up buying my 1st nexxt set. lol

Enjoy

Scott

 

[andrewinorlando]

Scotty, thanks for the Bosch info. I would be going for the gas dryer, but never use dryer sheets in any of my machines. I do have moderately hard water here, so same rules would apply that do for the Calypso...have to be very careful with suds in that machine or it sudslocks and stops washing.

Right now, it looks like I may postpone the Bosch Nexxt set, at least for a little while. For $95, Sears sold me all of the replacement parts I needed for my Calypso - he leveler assembly, the u-joint, new gaskets and seals, lubricant, and inner wash plate. Glenn (Dadoes) was kind enough to send me a Whirlpool service manual for the machine. The machine is amazingly simple to work on. So, I tore it apart tonite, removed the washplate, inner plate, leveler and U-joint. The u-joint's boot had torn. The tub was in perfect condition underneath. I removed the damaged parts, replaced the seals and gaskets, lubed the drive shaft, put the new parts in, put her back together, and she is washing away as I type. I forgot how quiet that machine was since the wash plate had loosened up and started making a racket whenever it washed. I ran a 1/2 cup of CLR through the machine to take care of the scale buildup, and it works great now.

So, I'm a little torn...it's only 6 years old and I hate like hell to just get rid of it. It really does wash very, very well, especially with Ariel powder. It's just a quirky machine that takes practice to use correctly. I've never had any washability problems or streaking issues with this machine. It just cleans well and gives me the whitest whites that I've ever had. And it's quiet, too, now that it's working right again.

It's a tough call...I really love the Bosch, beautiful set, and would love to have a machine with a window!! But the practical side of me says to save my money right now and have the bathroom redone instead - which I desperately need to do. I don't know what to do!

 

[appnut]

Andrew I nkow you're a happy camper. Now, about the dryer, .....