Hi all,
First of all, a hello to everybody on here, not been posting much as I used to recently, but still have a read and a quick post on here from time to time.
Just an update on our Miele washing machine. Last week it stopped mid-cycle, displaying an F53 error and to call for service. This happened Monday, called technical service and they came out Saturday. Very pleasant chap, very friendly and helpful and just how customer service should be. Anyway, he plugged in the Miele laptop through the PC interface, and from the fault codes displayed (of which about 50 were detergent overdosing errors - probably thanks to when my siblings use themachine), he saw that F53 was a "Speed sensor error", however he couldn't get the error to replicate and everything was fine and working as should. However, in the fault history there was also a couple of Powerboard errors which apparently came up a year or two ago but cleared themselves, however he still swopped it for a new one just to be on the safe side. Other than that he couldn't find anything wrong, and said that the error code was probably just a false alarm.
However, as well as all that, he also ran the PC update function on the machine, and this is the really interesting bit. The updates raise the water levels on the main wash for cottons and minimum iron, for "enhanced fabric care and wash performance" (they must have been reading on here!), so now the mainwash fills to the rim of the drum, which was where water plus used to fill too... now when water plus is selected the wash water will touch the bottom of the window. There was also an update to the woollens programme, which altered it so it uses more water in order to soak down the load quicker.
The final update was a change in the rinse and spin cycles. The major rinse update was a change in the interim spins. Instead of gradually speeding up to 1000rpm over a minute or so without any bursts, now it will do a 600rpm burst or so, decelerate, then start tumblign again straight away, winds up into a distribute in about 15 seconds, then zooms up to 1000rpm in a matter of 10-15 seconds if that. This is apparently in order to aid in preventing sudslocks, out of balance loads, and also excessive creasing. The extra rinse that is introduced on 30/40/50*C cottons cycles has also been altered. Before, the 1st rinse was about 10 minutes long, and would then drain and refill the drum without tumbling at all, before doing the "extra" rinse for about a minute if that before doing the interim spin and going onto the final rinse. Now, the first rinse lasts for about 6-7 minutes, it will drain whilst still tumbling, do a long, fast burst (definitely longer than the minimum iron interim spins, and the new pre-interim spin bursts on cottons), before doing another 6 minute "extra" rinse at a high level, and then continuing into the 1000rpm interim spin and the softener rinse.
The final spin profile has also changed so that it is longer and faster. The profile before used to be about 3 minutes of 1200rpm followed by 1.5 minutes of 1600rpm, before slowing down, doing a minutes anti crease or so, then ending the cycle. Since it's been updated, it now speeds straight up to 1400rpm, will spin at 1400rpm for about 2 minutes, then up to 1600rpm for 3-4 minutes, before slowing down, only doing a couple of loosening tumbles and then ending the cycle. Seems to get stuff even drier before though it's probably my imagination, but hearing it go to 1400rpm in a few seconds is amazing.
So, although I was intially disappointed that it needed service after 3 years, I'm actually now happy that they came as the new updates really are an improvement. The extra initial cost really has paid off... not only in the form of the 10 year guarantee, but we've on average only had run-of-the mill Hotpoint and Bosch machines last 3-4 years. The Miele engineer who came round assured us that we still have years of service left yet in the machine, and seeming as our washer is on 3-4 times, sometimes more everyday, and washes for 6 people including a 1 and a bit year old, it pretty much is a testament to their quality.
We also had issues with the dryer a few months ago, which was quickly sorted out. A blocked vent had caused fluff to accumulate inside, and on the drum rollers which was causing the dryer to make a scraping noise. Since this has been sorted (again, free of charge by Miele even though it was out of guarantee), the dryer has been quiet and as good performing as ever.
It has actually restored my faith in humanity, that there is at least one company left out there with decent customer service and one that makes products to last the duration! A heavily used washer is now 3.5 years old without any major repairs bar this slight hiccup, dryer is over 2 years old, dishwasher that's used 1-2 times a day is now over 4 years old and nothing wrong as of yet, and the vacuum cleaner we have is astounding too (can't remember how long we've had it though, probably about 2 or 3 years). Definitely all worth their intial outlay.
Jon
PS. I forgot to mention that the sent back the powerboard that was originally in our machine back to Germany to be investigated, as it was unusual for one to show a fault at such an early age - really shows their commitment behind the product.
First of all, a hello to everybody on here, not been posting much as I used to recently, but still have a read and a quick post on here from time to time.
Just an update on our Miele washing machine. Last week it stopped mid-cycle, displaying an F53 error and to call for service. This happened Monday, called technical service and they came out Saturday. Very pleasant chap, very friendly and helpful and just how customer service should be. Anyway, he plugged in the Miele laptop through the PC interface, and from the fault codes displayed (of which about 50 were detergent overdosing errors - probably thanks to when my siblings use themachine), he saw that F53 was a "Speed sensor error", however he couldn't get the error to replicate and everything was fine and working as should. However, in the fault history there was also a couple of Powerboard errors which apparently came up a year or two ago but cleared themselves, however he still swopped it for a new one just to be on the safe side. Other than that he couldn't find anything wrong, and said that the error code was probably just a false alarm.
However, as well as all that, he also ran the PC update function on the machine, and this is the really interesting bit. The updates raise the water levels on the main wash for cottons and minimum iron, for "enhanced fabric care and wash performance" (they must have been reading on here!), so now the mainwash fills to the rim of the drum, which was where water plus used to fill too... now when water plus is selected the wash water will touch the bottom of the window. There was also an update to the woollens programme, which altered it so it uses more water in order to soak down the load quicker.
The final update was a change in the rinse and spin cycles. The major rinse update was a change in the interim spins. Instead of gradually speeding up to 1000rpm over a minute or so without any bursts, now it will do a 600rpm burst or so, decelerate, then start tumblign again straight away, winds up into a distribute in about 15 seconds, then zooms up to 1000rpm in a matter of 10-15 seconds if that. This is apparently in order to aid in preventing sudslocks, out of balance loads, and also excessive creasing. The extra rinse that is introduced on 30/40/50*C cottons cycles has also been altered. Before, the 1st rinse was about 10 minutes long, and would then drain and refill the drum without tumbling at all, before doing the "extra" rinse for about a minute if that before doing the interim spin and going onto the final rinse. Now, the first rinse lasts for about 6-7 minutes, it will drain whilst still tumbling, do a long, fast burst (definitely longer than the minimum iron interim spins, and the new pre-interim spin bursts on cottons), before doing another 6 minute "extra" rinse at a high level, and then continuing into the 1000rpm interim spin and the softener rinse.
The final spin profile has also changed so that it is longer and faster. The profile before used to be about 3 minutes of 1200rpm followed by 1.5 minutes of 1600rpm, before slowing down, doing a minutes anti crease or so, then ending the cycle. Since it's been updated, it now speeds straight up to 1400rpm, will spin at 1400rpm for about 2 minutes, then up to 1600rpm for 3-4 minutes, before slowing down, only doing a couple of loosening tumbles and then ending the cycle. Seems to get stuff even drier before though it's probably my imagination, but hearing it go to 1400rpm in a few seconds is amazing.
So, although I was intially disappointed that it needed service after 3 years, I'm actually now happy that they came as the new updates really are an improvement. The extra initial cost really has paid off... not only in the form of the 10 year guarantee, but we've on average only had run-of-the mill Hotpoint and Bosch machines last 3-4 years. The Miele engineer who came round assured us that we still have years of service left yet in the machine, and seeming as our washer is on 3-4 times, sometimes more everyday, and washes for 6 people including a 1 and a bit year old, it pretty much is a testament to their quality.
We also had issues with the dryer a few months ago, which was quickly sorted out. A blocked vent had caused fluff to accumulate inside, and on the drum rollers which was causing the dryer to make a scraping noise. Since this has been sorted (again, free of charge by Miele even though it was out of guarantee), the dryer has been quiet and as good performing as ever.
It has actually restored my faith in humanity, that there is at least one company left out there with decent customer service and one that makes products to last the duration! A heavily used washer is now 3.5 years old without any major repairs bar this slight hiccup, dryer is over 2 years old, dishwasher that's used 1-2 times a day is now over 4 years old and nothing wrong as of yet, and the vacuum cleaner we have is astounding too (can't remember how long we've had it though, probably about 2 or 3 years). Definitely all worth their intial outlay.
Jon
PS. I forgot to mention that the sent back the powerboard that was originally in our machine back to Germany to be investigated, as it was unusual for one to show a fault at such an early age - really shows their commitment behind the product.
