Mega Miele?

[sudsmaster]

The control panel is visible on the web site, though. And unless I'm mistaken, it's a bit of a disappointment. It looks quite dumbed down for mass American consumerism - it's all pre-selected cycles with only three options: Heavy Soil, Extended, and Sensitive. Perhaps there is some mysterious way to customize these selections, but I'm not seeing it. There's no clear way, for example, to change water temp or spin speed for various agitation times and levels. No extra rinse option either. Strange. I'm sure it washes well enough, it's just a bit puzzling. So much for "Advanced Touchtronic" ... less is more?

 

[brisnat81]

All the options are there

You press sensitive for an extra rinse, or raised water level depending on how its been programmed.

Extended gives you a long wash time, Extended off should equate to a cycle time of 40-50 minutes.

Heavy soil provides a prewash.

Soak option would be available from the LCD screen.

Temps can be set via the LCD screen, as can spin speeds.

The tumble speeds and interim spin speeds are set via the preset cycles.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Sudsmaster - Sensitive on the US Miele machines is equivalent to teh water plus options on worldwide machines, which is an extra rinse and higher water levels.

My machine has the soak option whilst these don't I believe, but mine is definitely the most flexible machine I've used and I have to say apart from water plus I rarely use the other options - they're just not needed even with heavily soiled whites. As Nathan said, temperature and spin speed is changed via the corresponding option underneath the display - no more complicated than a mobile phone interface. It definitely is more flexible than the Bosch Nexxt machines, which are the only other high capacity frontloader there is out there from a premium German brand. If you ask me, I think the Bosch machines are quite dumbed down and are no where near as flexible as these Miele's.

The Miele's I use actually have lots of additional cycles (Outerwear, Sportswear, Proofing, Dark Garments, Curtains etc) , and I have to say that the cycles I use mainly are Cottons, Minimum Iron and Denim- no more flexibility really is needed. BTW the Mastercare cycles option (labelled as Further programmes on the TOL Miele's here) brings up a further menu of 10 or 15 programmes - that doesn't shout out dumbed down to me.

Jon

 

[lavamat_jon]

BTW - I'm not sure if these machines come with programmable functions laid out in the menu, but on the digitla Miele's here pressing in both the temperature and the spin speed buttons brings up the programmable fucntions menu, where you can select the function of the water plus/sensitive option, turn gentle action on/off, alter the length of the prewash etc.

The W1200 series from what I've read still allow you to perform programmable functions, so no doubt the W4000 machines would too - plus it would be considerably easier selecting programmable functions through a visible menu rather than counting the flahses of certain indicator lights etc.

Jon

 

[lavamat_jon]

IMO

In terms of the cycles beign preset, any washing machine cycle is preset so I don't really see the big deal here... just you are pressing a button to select a cycle another to select the tempertaure rather than twisting a dial or two round. As I've said repeatedly before, the controlling system on these Miele's is very similar to my machine and I have found them to be the most flexible out of the machines I've used.

Every cycle is thoroughly tested, developed and perfected at Miele for the optimum results, so I'm not sure why anybody would want to mess too much with the "pre-set" cycles anyway.

Jon

 

[sudsmaster]

It's just not all that clear...

Here's the control panel (from the miele web site).

I see that there are "adjust" buttons under the LCD display; I guess you press a button repeatedly to cycle through the possible selections...

As for why one would want to alter the preset cycles... I guess you just have to be a laundromaniac!

 

[launderess]

Awhile back posted a link to a Miele UK website which had the 2007 laundry brochure. You can check there to find the "cousin" for the American models, and read that unit's manual. Did so myself and while certian functions are different, you will get an idea of what these new models are like.

As pour moi, still say these new uber units are Miele's way to address the American market, but with some corner cutting. Several commercial laundry owner's I spoke to about these units flat out stated they had seen them, and wouldn't bother for even middle to light commercial use. Being as that may, suppose if one is doing on average one or two wash loads per day (if that), the units will be fine; however consider previous Miele washing machines were built to withstand Madame's three or four wash loads per day, every day for 15 or so years.

Finally am not a huge fan of LCD/computer controls, especially in the summer when power demand causes ConEd to cut power (brown outs). Some equipment acts funny under those conditions, and there is the fact hate scrolling through menus to find what am after. Still am eagar as the next to see one of these units in person.

L.

 

[sudsmaster]

I probably can wait until they start showing up at Sear's Appliance Outlet... lol...

 

[launderess]

Miele washers are NEVER sold in outlet stores, much less K-Sears.

Miele keeps a very tight lead indeed on their dealers. Prices, and so forth are carefully controlled, and anyone caught violating their contractual obligations with Miele can be dumped. From what a Miele tech told me, machines returned from dealers often are sold off to Miele employees (who wants to pay to ship one or two appliances back to Germany?), at a decent enough discount.

Sudsmaster, keep your eyes peeled for any of the older Miele washers from the 1900 series onwards. They pop up more often than on thinks on fleaBay, CL and other places. Many people just consider Miele laundry appliances too small for them when buying a new home and have them taken out/sold. Great thing about Miele is they stock parts for decades after a model line ceases production. So even if you get a unit that needs work, it is a pretty safe bet Miele will have parts in stock. My unit hasn't been produced in almost 20 years, but parts are still available from Miele USA.

L.

 

[sudsmaster]

Yes, I'm aware of Miele's dealer programme

But in its mad rush to appeal to the lowest common denominator in the American laundry marketplace, viz, 110 volts, plastic outer tubs, super large capacity, etc... Perhaps Miele will one day be pushing its American-market washers in the big chain stores like SEars, Best Buy. Who knows, maybe they would even show up at Lowe's or Home Depot.

Stranger things have happened.

 

[jonv112]

Miele @ The Bay

I was at The Bay on Tuesday last week, and when I was browsing through the appliance section, I saw a Miele W&D set on display, plus a Advanta and Optima DW on display as well, but they are all so pricey!

 

[bewitched]

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time there were washing machines and there was Miele...something really on its own...
Plastic wash tub? Aaaaarrrrghhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I hope these Miele will never hit european market!!!

 

[pulsator]

I saw the new "mega Miele" today, and frankly I wasn't impressed. WAYYYY too plasticky for my taste. I didn't like that the drum was tilted so far, it looks almost like a Neptune drum, perhaps tilted more so. I also didn't like that it had a bleach dispenser and that the drum vanes were solid. I vow NEVER to buy a modern residential front loader with solid vanes, they need to be perforated in order to help justify how little water they use. I also saw a regular Miele there, not sure what the model was, but there was no LED display for the time... Anyway, I liked that machine a LOT better, it had the perforated drum vanes, the 220 volt power, no bleach dispenser and a completely horizontal drum! Hopfully sometime this summer I'll be purchasing a Miele W1215!

 

[sudsmaster]

Tilting at Mieles

I am very surprised that the new Miele 4840 has a tilted drum. This is after years of Miele criticizing other mfg's (namely Maytag) for daring to build a washer with a tilted drum. Miele has always maintained that for proper "fall height" a drum needs to be perfectly level.

I've never completely bought that argument, and now, that Miele has come out with a tilted drum washer, I suppose they don't buy it completely, either.

I understand the 4840 has a 8 degree tilt. For comparison, the solid door Neptune have a 15 degree tilt. The HE3 has a 13 degree tilt. The LG, an 11 degree tilt. Don't know about others, but the GE Adora and the Duet Sport washers have zero tilt.

 

[launderess]

Miele realised what many already have who make large front loaders, after a certian drum size units require some sort of titled angle to the drum for easier access. Of course this can be eliminated if the washer will be placed high enough on a concrete slab or other type of platform. IIRC Milnor and a few other commercial front loaders have slight tilts to their drums.

As for things Miele stated they would "never" do: well one can add straight 120v power and allowing LCB to the list. Miele really is pulling all the stops out on this to capture "Middle America" with these new models.

This next bit can be taken with a grain of salt if one wishes, but spoke to several commercial laundry people who had inquired about the new larger Miele units for use in a "light" commercial setting. To a man all were discouraged with the common theme that the units were not up to the task. Historically Miele laundry appliances have been built to withstand European laundry habits of on average several wash loads per day, many with water temps of over 180F. Do ntt think the fiberglass outer tubs will withstand multiple wash loads per day at max temp in sucession.

Personally think Miele will end up like other German luxry brand names such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and such: there will be a top tier line for those that have the lolly and wish the "real thing", and a lower tier for those who just wish to own the brand.

 

[oxydolfan1]

I do wish that Electrolux/Frigidaire would invest in the Westinghouse brand as their upper-tier name, and bring back a new slant-front Westinghouse Laundromat to compete with the big LG machines!

So many styling cues could be incorporated from the original design, and frankly, I think the whole front-loader selection could use something of a freshening....LG has its identity, a large, solid Westinghouse machine would have its own.

 

[vintagesearch]

the new mega miele...

Looks like a great machine and the "honeycomb" tub is a nice new idea never saw that before however 4.0 cu ft in that front loader hmmm, the HE TL oasis and cabrio are bigger with 4.5 cu ft also i think some kenmore elite frontloaders have 4.5 cu ft tubs. but still very nice machine still like them better than the whirlpool FL.

 

[sudsmaster]

"Do ntt think the fiberglass outer tubs will withstand

With a wimpy 110 volt heater element, I don't think there is much chance of anyone attempting multiple loads per day at max temp with a 4 cu ft Miele anyway. With a water heater set to 120F, it would probably take more than two hours for the poor thing to reach 170F and complete a wash cycle.

Then again, I can't think of many residential design front loaders that do commercial duty in the USA - with the possible exception of the Maytag Neptune, which has appeared in some numbers in laundromats across the nation, with mixed results. But then there are few residential design front loaders that can reasonably be expected to last 20 years.

 

[launderess]

Well there are the Speed Queen "Homestyle" line of washers, which were sold for years as "light commercial" washers before their redesign for home use.

FWIW many dry cleaners and laundries have used the Miele residential line washers, especially for doing silk items.

As for a 110v powered Miele reaching 170F, my vintage Miele W1070 is currently running on 120v/20amp power (using one leg of 3000 watts heater ='s 1500 watts) and can take 120F water to 170F or even 180F in about 40minutes or less. Will heat that same water to 200F with a bit more time without any problems. Am willing to bet my vintage machine uses more water for the wash cycles that this newer large sized machine.

L.

 

[irishwashguy]

I am quite shocked that they have "comprimised" a

Before I bought my Miele W/D, I read the thing about the tilted drum how it would force the load to the back, and some would not get as clean, clothes would get 'trapped' in the front. Although Miele would like to capture the American market, I hope that they have not comprimised and made it less than its pretisessors. I love mine, I think that it is bullet proof, I love the heating element, I am not a big fan of plastic, that is where I wonder if they have gone to far. I know that the drain hose on my washer is in fact ,plastic. All of the steaming hot water drains out of it.I will have to play with it when I go to Seattle, and I can give everyone the run down on it. If anyone is in Seattle, there is a Luwa distributing in Tukwilla (206-574-0770).Make an appontment, and they will let you do a few loads for free in it.There are a few other places in the country that there are showrooms at the distributer that they also do the same thing, it could and would be a fun field trip. They make good stuff, I hope that they have not sold out and gone the way of everything else, down the drain.