Miele 1900 series.

[ctyankee]

After five years of extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that the Miele 1900 series were the best washing machines ever built.

I recently decided not to fix my Staber after years of poor performance, most notably, the inability of the machine to spin when unbalanced. Several times I came home at night to find the Staber still running from a load of laundry that I started that morning, ten hours earlier. I am disappointed with Staber, especially after taking the ferry across the Long Island Sound to Long Island to pick up the washer and back again. I went to great lengths to get this machine, and they, the washer and more importantly the company, let me down.

Based on what I've read and many emails to Miele dealers, there are no more NEW 1900 series machines available.

Does anyone think it possible to build a W1986 from spare parts alone or is it more realistic to rebuild an older machine? What about someone who rebuilds/restores washing machines to "almost new" condition?

Thanks for any and all comments!

Mark

 

[launderess]

You Can Find Miele 1986's

Around. Check estate sales, Craigslist and other such places.

As for doing the rebuilding, you'll need the parts, knowledge and tools, other than that it's not much more than a Miele tech would do; however the devil is in the details. Where to get the parts, who will do the work and how much will it cost.

Far as one knows the only place in North America to source new Miele parts is through them, and it's ever cheap purchasing anything via that source. However you can build your "FrankenMiele" using parts from other machines. Take a peek around UTube (keywords Miele) to see some great work done by mainly Miele fans/collectors from Europe.

 

[qualin]

To CTyankee

I was going to consider buying a Staber, but I found lots of unhappy people by Googling. I'm kind of surprised they're still in business considering the way how they treat their customers. No service network. No Support network. Customers are expected to complete repairs. It doesn't help that there are some engineering flaws with the machine which resulted in the problems you discussed.

I don't mean to turn this into a Staber bashing thread and I'm sorry if it seems that way, but I am quite sorry to hear you're not satisfied.

Now onto the other topic... I apologize if I sound like I'm trolling..

Can you describe to me what makes a 1900 series washer better than a 3000 series washer? (ie. the W3033) I don't mean to troll, but technology has progressed in the last 25 years and I'm curious.

 

[ctyankee]

To qualin,

I believe the release date for the W1986 was July 31st 2002. Please see the attached URL for reference.

The reasons why the 1900 series is physically better than later Miels has been discussed here and elsewhere at great length.

http://www.miele.ca/miele/canada/corp_pr3.asp

 

[qualin]

Do you have a link to that thread so I can read it?

I don't think I was a member of this board when that thread was posted.

When you consider that this machine is 9 years old now, there must be a reason why Miele discontinued these washers other than age.

I have to admit, I'm curious as to why.

Good luck finding a used one.

 

[launderess]

Need To Take A Break From Ironing

So I'll bite:

Qualin: use the search function with keywords "Miele,1986, 1918" to start off which should get you where you need to go eventually.

For some purists Miele made too many changes in their new offerings especially those aimed for the USA market.

First was the elimination of strictly 220v power in favour of 110v/120v. This of course limited water heating which IIRC the max temp now found on most Miele units is around 150F? I could be wrong on that so check.

Then there are other niggling things such as the *plastic* out tubs, controls made overly simple and or more complex (depending upon how one views certain functions).

Miele counters that Americans never wanted laundry appliances with the breath and range of options offered by Miele. Well at least they weren't prepared to pay >1500 USD for a *small* washing machine from them in any great numbers.

The plastic outer tub and other changes were in part bowing to Americans by and large refusing to give up using LCB.

 

[sudsmaster]

I found my 1918A Miele some years ago on Craigslist. A group home was being changed over to a single family residence and there were two 1918A's for sale for $200 each. I bought one... sort of wish now I had gotten both .

It is a very good machine. If it has a flaw it's that the upper temp is limited, for conservation reasons, to 170F. But I rarely go above 160F anyway on this machine, and it's more than enough to get whites very clean. And the 1600 rpm top spin speed gets them relatively dry as well. Of course the 2 cu ft capacity prevents it from handling large thick comforters, but it seems to do quite well with many other heavy items, including bath sheets.

I don't know about later machines, but the 1918 and the W1065 machines are indeed built like tanks. You find quality features in the construction that are not found too much elsewhere: the inside of the cabinet and support members are finished in the same high quality white porcelain enamel that the outside is finished in. Instead of using concrete blocks for weight balance, it uses iron castings - which are well painted in black so they don't rust. And of course the inner drum and the outer tub are made of quality stainless steel.

As long as the machine is working well or is repairable at a reasonable cost, I would recommend the 1918.

 

[launderess]

CtyYankee

Every now and then one saw or heard of a NIB Miele 19XX washer popping up from a dealer, but will admitt as time goes by that has occured less often. Still never give up hope. *LOL*

Methinks part of the problem is how Miele sends appliances to distributors. IIRC they must pay in full or a decent amount for what they order or at least display models. If they do not sell then there is the problem of what becomes of the units.

Since Miele sets strict pricing guide lines (how they get away with not violating anti-trust regulations is beyond me), selling units a discount must be approved.

This is all off the top of my head but remember seeing a lonely Miele W1918 years ago at local PC Richards. Salesman told me though the units were discontinued Miele wouldn't take the thing back and the store was limited in how much they could mark it down to get shot of the thing. IIRC the price wasn't *that* much off normal and so one wondered if it ever sold.

Another trick to finding Miele appliances is to spread the word amoung contractors/decorators. Many times new homeowners rip out perfectly good Miele laundry appliances because they are deemed too "small" for their needs.

 

[ctyankee]

I am seeing dozens of threads about bearing failures in Miele washers due to old age or improper consumer use etc. The problem could easily be solved by Miele installing stainless steel or ceramic ball bearings during factory assembly. If I ever have to pull the bearings on my 1903 I would like to upgrade the bearings.

Has anyone installed stainless steel bearings instead of the steel oem bearings?

 

[launderess]

Everything On This Earth Has A Natural Lifespan

If the bearings fail on a Miele washer 1900 series or otherwise the first question to ask is if the thing is pemature or simply the result of the part reaching the end of it's life.

There are several postings on U-Tube of persons changing bearings on Miele washers, and IIRC Miele USA will do it if the thing fails under warranty, but there are unknowns as well.

From what one has read on various UK/EU appliance repair and hobbist websites Miele has always used rather robust bearings and absent improper use of the machine they should last if not out last the washer. Problem with most all bearing problems is that usually owners of the machine either aren't aware of the problem and or notice so late that other things have become damaged as well.

 

[sudsmaster]

I can see several problems with the stainless steel bearing proposal.

One is that stainless steel cannot be hardened as much as various types of tool steel used for ball bearings. And those types of stainless that can be hardened are not as corrosion resistant and non-hardenable stainless (like 316).

Two is that even if the balls and races are stainless steel and resist corrosion, there is the small matter of hot detergent water washing out the grease that is needed to lubricate the bearings. Even 316 stainless won't last long without any lubricant.

Three is that it is the bearing seals that do the major work: sealing the bearing innards from the hot detergent water in the first place. Typically if the bearing seal fails, then shortly later the bearing will fail. Stainless might delay the failure a bit, but as I've said, the loss of lubricant will spell an early demise for the bearing anyway.

Not that I have seen any of the above happen. I'm just speaking from an understanding of the metals involved and the probable usual cause of bearing failure.

 

[freshlinen]

when did Miele release W820 and W925/W9245 washing machine models worldwide and how long were they in production?

I own these models of 2nd hand/used Miele machines now and will have them serviced this weekend to their former glory.
Some people cannot take care of these quality machines?I am sure they will outlast me.......