passatdoc
Well-known member
I ordered it on April 25 and received it yesterday. Dropped shipped from Miele to a NJ distributor and then shipped to me. I purposely left one carpeted room unvacuumed for those two weeks to be able to evaluate the S183 when it arrived. Here are the initial impressions:
Fit & Finish/Design
--lightweight but with a 12 amp motor, same as on the new Miele uprights ($550-950...) and full size cannister models
--bag and HEPA doors are easy to operate, filters/bags easy to replace. This one came WITH the HEPA filter installed. Many times, you have to buy a Miele without the HEPA filter and then lay out $50 for the HEPA to boot. I think this is why earlier reviewers on the net reported costs of $350+. One website that caters to allergy sufferers sells it for $300 and you have to buy a HEPA filter on top of that.
--suction hose exits vacuum body, loops around the back of the machine, and inserts into a fitting at the base of the vacuum. To use the suction hose, simply detach from the fitting and attach desired tool. Hose is longer than the electric hose on my S5 cannister, hence greater reach
--base-mounted switch to cut off roller brushes for hard floor use or when using cleaning tools with suction hose.
--foot switch lowers handle for carpets. Second push on switch lowers handle to 180 degrees to reach under furniture.
--box said "Made in USA". I understand earlier versions were made in Spain.
--uses "Z" Miele bags which are twice the size of FMJ bags and, surprisingly, lower in cost (like five for $15). Unit came supplied with a Z bag installed plus a spare bag.
--has a "bag full" indicator like the cannisters.
Performance:
--did an excellent job on both the unvacuumed room and other areas that had been vacuumed recently. Noisier than an S5 cannister but not oppressive. No dirty or dusty exhaust, you can sense that the HEPA filter really works.
--self-adjusting to carpet height. Suction/lifting of dirt appears good.
--suction hose accepts non-powered attachments such as micro cleaning set, mini turbo brush, and all sizes of dusting brushes. It even connects to the power wand of the S5, so that the wand could be used to clean a hard floor (with hard flood brush) or to reach overhead (valances, ceiling fans, tops of cabinets/bookcases). Of course normally one would use the cannister for these tasks, but my Miele service place is SLOW in turnarounds. They do good work for reasonable prices, but speed is not of the essence here. I don't know if he gives loaners, but with the S183 I have an alternate machine that will clean carpets and work with tools. I don't know if suction hose diameters are universal, or whether my Miele attachments would work on a non-Miele suction hose, but having attachments that work on either machine is a plus.
--hose is mounted near the top of the upright portion of machine. As such, with its length, it has a greater vertical reach than the electric power hose of the S5 cannister.
--suction on the hose at least as strong as on the S5 cannister. Very powerful.
Negatives:
--foot switch to lower handle often requires an extra push, it somehow doesn't lower consistently on first push. Other online reviewers said the same thing.
--on-off switch for roller brush is on the base of the machine and is a mechanical, plastic switch. Enough resistance that I can't move it with my socked foot (unlike the tap controls on a Miele cannister) so one has to bend over to reach and move the switch by hand. An electronic switch to cut off the rollers located on the handle (similar to S5 powerheads) would have been NICE.
--the plastic clip that fastens the hose to the right side of the vacuum body, on its way down to the base fitting, has a tendency to come undone. They should have just built in a more substantial hose clip that would allow the user to fasten or detach hose at that point.
--no headlight, which the higher models S184 and S185 (not sure if anyone even still sells S185) do have, but no big deal, as I don't vacuum in the dark and the S5's powerhead lacks a light as well
--normal limitations of a 14" wide upright vs a more limber cannister powerhead re: mobility around furniture. That was to be expected, and in any case this machine only plays backup to the S5 cannister.
--not as maneuverable as the new upright models, but then again $229 trumps $550-950 anytime, particularly since the motor/suction are the same. The other nice feature the new ones have is a very long stretch (unpowered) hose with excellent reach, to make up for the fact that there is no wand.
--crevice tool fits inside tube extension, which then snaps onto the left side of the machine. If you want to use the tube extension(say, with the supplied dusting brush) and not the crevice tool, you have to remove the crevice tool and reinsert it in the notch for the tube---so far it seems to stay put, but I can see it falling out of the notch in the future. Minor point, though.
--dusting brush rather skimpy, particularly for a Miele. Not an issue here, since I have the standard S5 dusting brush plus the extra-large brush that swivels at two points on its handle to reach nearly any angle.
--cover for bag is a little cheesy: not hinged or attached, it simple pops off the front and then inserts by placing the two tabs at the bottom into slots on base of machine. Given all the cool doors on the S5, this left me a little disappointed. Did not test the doors or covers on the new uprights, but I would not be surprised if they are hinged.
Maybe a bit pricier than simpler bagged uprights, but I don't get a dirty/dusty exhaust in the house and am enjoying true HEPA filtration. Also, I don't like bagless machines, I find that emptying the dirt bin is messy and I'd rather toss a bag when full. What was amazing is that $229 bought the unit AND the HEPA. Apparently Miele has discontinued it, but scattered retailers still sell remaining S183 and S184 units.
I will take the cannister to the service store tomorrow, knowing that I have a reasonably good back up device. I wouldn't have laid out $550 for it, but at $229 it appears to be an excellent value. I just hope it lasts and doesn't fall apart.
Fit & Finish/Design
--lightweight but with a 12 amp motor, same as on the new Miele uprights ($550-950...) and full size cannister models
--bag and HEPA doors are easy to operate, filters/bags easy to replace. This one came WITH the HEPA filter installed. Many times, you have to buy a Miele without the HEPA filter and then lay out $50 for the HEPA to boot. I think this is why earlier reviewers on the net reported costs of $350+. One website that caters to allergy sufferers sells it for $300 and you have to buy a HEPA filter on top of that.
--suction hose exits vacuum body, loops around the back of the machine, and inserts into a fitting at the base of the vacuum. To use the suction hose, simply detach from the fitting and attach desired tool. Hose is longer than the electric hose on my S5 cannister, hence greater reach
--base-mounted switch to cut off roller brushes for hard floor use or when using cleaning tools with suction hose.
--foot switch lowers handle for carpets. Second push on switch lowers handle to 180 degrees to reach under furniture.
--box said "Made in USA". I understand earlier versions were made in Spain.
--uses "Z" Miele bags which are twice the size of FMJ bags and, surprisingly, lower in cost (like five for $15). Unit came supplied with a Z bag installed plus a spare bag.
--has a "bag full" indicator like the cannisters.
Performance:
--did an excellent job on both the unvacuumed room and other areas that had been vacuumed recently. Noisier than an S5 cannister but not oppressive. No dirty or dusty exhaust, you can sense that the HEPA filter really works.
--self-adjusting to carpet height. Suction/lifting of dirt appears good.
--suction hose accepts non-powered attachments such as micro cleaning set, mini turbo brush, and all sizes of dusting brushes. It even connects to the power wand of the S5, so that the wand could be used to clean a hard floor (with hard flood brush) or to reach overhead (valances, ceiling fans, tops of cabinets/bookcases). Of course normally one would use the cannister for these tasks, but my Miele service place is SLOW in turnarounds. They do good work for reasonable prices, but speed is not of the essence here. I don't know if he gives loaners, but with the S183 I have an alternate machine that will clean carpets and work with tools. I don't know if suction hose diameters are universal, or whether my Miele attachments would work on a non-Miele suction hose, but having attachments that work on either machine is a plus.
--hose is mounted near the top of the upright portion of machine. As such, with its length, it has a greater vertical reach than the electric power hose of the S5 cannister.
--suction on the hose at least as strong as on the S5 cannister. Very powerful.
Negatives:
--foot switch to lower handle often requires an extra push, it somehow doesn't lower consistently on first push. Other online reviewers said the same thing.
--on-off switch for roller brush is on the base of the machine and is a mechanical, plastic switch. Enough resistance that I can't move it with my socked foot (unlike the tap controls on a Miele cannister) so one has to bend over to reach and move the switch by hand. An electronic switch to cut off the rollers located on the handle (similar to S5 powerheads) would have been NICE.
--the plastic clip that fastens the hose to the right side of the vacuum body, on its way down to the base fitting, has a tendency to come undone. They should have just built in a more substantial hose clip that would allow the user to fasten or detach hose at that point.
--no headlight, which the higher models S184 and S185 (not sure if anyone even still sells S185) do have, but no big deal, as I don't vacuum in the dark and the S5's powerhead lacks a light as well
--normal limitations of a 14" wide upright vs a more limber cannister powerhead re: mobility around furniture. That was to be expected, and in any case this machine only plays backup to the S5 cannister.
--not as maneuverable as the new upright models, but then again $229 trumps $550-950 anytime, particularly since the motor/suction are the same. The other nice feature the new ones have is a very long stretch (unpowered) hose with excellent reach, to make up for the fact that there is no wand.
--crevice tool fits inside tube extension, which then snaps onto the left side of the machine. If you want to use the tube extension(say, with the supplied dusting brush) and not the crevice tool, you have to remove the crevice tool and reinsert it in the notch for the tube---so far it seems to stay put, but I can see it falling out of the notch in the future. Minor point, though.
--dusting brush rather skimpy, particularly for a Miele. Not an issue here, since I have the standard S5 dusting brush plus the extra-large brush that swivels at two points on its handle to reach nearly any angle.
--cover for bag is a little cheesy: not hinged or attached, it simple pops off the front and then inserts by placing the two tabs at the bottom into slots on base of machine. Given all the cool doors on the S5, this left me a little disappointed. Did not test the doors or covers on the new uprights, but I would not be surprised if they are hinged.
Maybe a bit pricier than simpler bagged uprights, but I don't get a dirty/dusty exhaust in the house and am enjoying true HEPA filtration. Also, I don't like bagless machines, I find that emptying the dirt bin is messy and I'd rather toss a bag when full. What was amazing is that $229 bought the unit AND the HEPA. Apparently Miele has discontinued it, but scattered retailers still sell remaining S183 and S184 units.
I will take the cannister to the service store tomorrow, knowing that I have a reasonably good back up device. I wouldn't have laid out $550 for it, but at $229 it appears to be an excellent value. I just hope it lasts and doesn't fall apart.
