Buy or repair - Bosch / Asko / Miele

[jacksonp]

My condo's laundry closet is sized according to, ahem, Euro standards. Our current W/D combo is a stackable GE pair:

WSXH208 washer: 36" height x 25 3/4" depth x 26 3/4" width and corresponding
DSXH43 dryer (same height/depth as the washer and 26 7/8" width)

They're about 10 years old. The washer never had an issue but one day it decided that it had enough of our soiled laundry and broke. Calling any service repair shop gets me a quote of $50-100 for them to come out to diagnose the issue. Based on the sound of a problem (it sounds like a small stone being tumbled), they think it's a bearing deep in the guts of the washer. The repair quote is $500-800.

My options:
1. Repair the current washer. Roll the dice on the service repair shop and the quality of the repair.
2. Buy a new W/D set. I've narrowed it down to three: Bosch Axxis ($2,000), GE WCVH48 ($1,800) or Asko W6424 ($2,500 or so)
3. Buy a used Miele set (various models on Craigslist for $500-1000)
4. Buy a new Miele set ($5,000 or so for the set)

We do 5-10 loads per week. My criteria for what I am looking for other than (obviously) right size:

1. Reliability
2. Vibration / noise
3. Quality of the wash

We ruled out Speed Queen based on weight and vibration/noise. If we had space in our garage, we would have went with SQ a long time ago. Option 4 may appear to be the best but it's stretching our budget. Is it really worth twice the cost versus other models? I would do option 1 if I can have some kind of assurance that the repair will fix the issue. By assurance I don't mean warranty, I mean someone who can say "this is definitely problem X and it will take me 3 hours to fix at this cost".

I am leaning toward new Bosch or GE. What do y'all think?

 

[mieleforever]

I would definetely go for the Miele, as we have had a set for more than four years now, and no issues whatsoever.

The Miele's are really very good machines and excell in all three of your criteria. The wash is excellent, most stains comes out, without any pretreating, Vibration and noise, you will not know it is there, very quiet, except maybe when spinning a bundle like bathroom mat, then there will sometimes be vibration/noise but no walking around the room.

The Machines are really very efficient, using only the correct amount of water not too little and not too much.

I have used a Bosch washing machine, as my sister has one, but there is really no comparison, it is like comparing a Mercedes with a VW.

The VW being a good machine but really you just can't compare the two (have owned both a VW & MERC).

One thing it does not excell at is price, they are very expensive but at the end of the day you will get what you pay for, and you are the one having to work with the machine every day with and if you are buying just for the sake of having a machine, rather save your money and later buy you Miele, as you will not be dissapointed.

One thing I have also learned is to rather buy a crap house in a very good neighbourhood, than buying a grand house in a bad neighbourhood, what I am trying to say you don't need to go for the top of the line Miele just get a regular Miele and you don't need a capacity of a 100KG's as most new machines advertise (they won't last anyway)

You will be satisfied with your Mieles as we have been.

They are regarded as the very best for a reason, not just by advertising and doing promotions it takes years of hard work.

Keep us posted on your descision.

Cheers

 

[henene4]

Based on your criterias

The Bosch will most likely be nor reliable enough.
The Asko is really good in all your criteria. There is a deeper model avaible with a bigger drum. You could check how that would fit.
Keep in mind both Bosch and Asko washer and dryer need a 240V kind of outlet (basicly like you would hook up 2 dryers).
The Miele has the smallest capacity, but is the most reliable out of all of them. It runs at 110V and can give you a Standard US-style wash (fill at wash temperature) or a longer, more effective EU-style wash (cool fill and heating to selected temperature).
The GE will probably not last as long.

 

[wringingwet]

I had an asko for 8 years

There is no need to have the GE fixed sounds like the spider is going on the back of the tub. I have the same issue with size you have euro standard. Asko USA does not like to deal with SC so repair or purchase is out of the question for me on my Asko so I bought the same GE you are looking at. I do really miss my asko since I could raise the temp of the water to 205 degrees whites come out so clean with just soap and no bleach that I miss the most and the vibration was non existent with the asko

Here are my issues with the washer GE WCVH48

Poor sand & Pet Hair removal.
so if you have pets this might be an issue. I have two dogs.

So far I am happy with the set and it does have a temperature boost heater for a sanitize wash

Philippe

 

[countryguy]

Philippe,

Are your machines just sitting free on the concrete blocks or are they bolted to them somehow? They seem to be sitting flat on the blocks - were the levelling legs removed? I'd like to raise my Kenmore He4T machines but I don't want to pay $500 for the drawers. Also my conrete floor is not perfectly level so I need to use the levelling legs.

Gary

 

[wringingwet]

yes they are

Gary

like you I did not want to pay those prices either. A friend of mine was building a new house and those blocks made up the support columns. They were the perfect It is three of these block glued together with liquid nails so it is a total of nine blocks. I let the liquid nails cure and then layed them down found baskets that fit in them.

I hope this helps you

Philippe

 

[countryguy]

Thanks Philippe. I've never heard of liquid nails? I'll have to google that. Did you remove the levelling legs?

Gary

 

[combo52]

Replacement for a Frigidaire built FL washer

What you have are not European sized machines, you can easily replace the washer ONLY with a midsized WP' Mt or Frigidaire FL washer. We do the same replacement EVERY WEEK, you just screw the brackets from the old washer on the top of the new machine and you are good for another 10-15 years.

While the Asko, Meile, and Bosch washer are not too bad, their dryers are MISERABLE, there is no other word for them, they are MUCH smaller and 1/2 the heating power. Unless you do really small loads be per paired to start ironing a lot of clothing, and you can be sure the next time you are buying a W&D it will be because the dryer crapped out, LOL.

 

[wringingwet]

I left the legs on

I will add pictures as to why I said I need euro appliances it is so redneck but a 24 inch washer is all I can get thru the doors. Its a long story but a funny one

Philippe

 

[countryguy]

Ok thanks....looking at the pics from that angle is appears like there are no legs.

 

[mrb627]

their dryers are MISERABLE

I will SECOND this statement. The primary reason for abandoning the Miele set I had was the dryer. A terrible let down, IMO, from what should have been a premium laundry pair.

Malcolm

additionally, new Speed Queen models are coming...

 

[jacksonp]

Stackables of different sizes

Combo52, I was told that replacing my washer with one of a different size wouldn't work with the brackets from the old machine, and that with different sizes, a custom kit would also be impossible. They also said a smaller washer would be a bad idea due to stability issues with a larger dryer. We haven't been able to find a new machine with the current washer's dimensions, which is why we have been thinking about replacing both machines.

Have I been misinformed (I really hope so)?

 

[jerrod6]

I wouldn't even bother with a set.  Get a good Miele washer and any old standard dryer as long as it will fit in your space

 

[pierreandreply4]

If i was you i would try to fine a vintage 1970 portable

If i was you i would try to fine a vintage portable kenmore or whirlpool washer like this that you can convert to perment installation with the dryer on top via a rack

 

[combo52]

New FL Washer for an older Frigidaire built FL washer

Current MT, WP built and Frigidaire FL washers are the same 27" wide as yours and only an inch taller and deeper, unless yours are really shoehorned in these will fit fine, as I said we install one of these machines almost every week, all that is necessary is drilling eight small holes in the new washers top and using the existing brackets from the old washer.

The other thing to consider is to buy a European sized washer and put the current dryer on a shelf a few inches above the new washer. Doing this actually makes repairing the washer or dryer much easier. And if you buy a Meile you will be repairing it, I would also caution if you are buying any imported brand washer be SURE that there is a good service agency that you are willing to use, otherwise like many here in the DC area you may get fed up with long waits for repairs and over priced repairs and you may not have the new machine as long as you had your current washer.

 

[jacksonp]

Shelf / closet spacing

combo52 (and everyone else) - What type of shelf and how would it attach to the closet wall? It should be able to hold approximately 200 pounds washer that vibrates like hell..

The W/D unit was indeed shoehorned into my laundry closet. There's no "give" on width because of the closet door and there may be half an inch of freedom at best on depth. The shelf option sounds good in theory but is this what people do in practice with small laundry closets? I certainly would love to save money on the dryer!!

 

[combo52]

Dryer Shelf

The dryer loaded weighs less than 200 pounds, and of coerce dryers do not vibrate much.

Building a shelf should be easy, remove the current washer & dryer and attach heavy strips of wood to side and back walls and cut at least a 3/4" thick section of plywood, every thing should be screwed and glued in place.

Once this is done you can reinstall your current dryer [ which should remain serviceable for the next 10-20 years] and you can place any washer underneath that will fit. One of the best buy compact FL washers are the 24" wide WP and MT machines, these are usually less than $700.