Miele w4840 series

[tomdawg]

I have a customer that I know of that has one of those big Miele front Load washer and dryer. Window cleaning is my full time job and they told me about their machines- they really like it, but they have found it hard to find people to work on it. I told them I have experience working on washers and dryers - Miele being one of the very few l havnt worked on, but I would give it a try.

Well they said the dryer is having problems, I’m going to at least look at it tomorrow. I’m not sure what’s wrong with it. But the thought I’d ask you guys for tips or are they worth fixing? The haven’t even begun looking to see if they still sell parts.

 

[gizmo]

Really we need to know what the problem is first.

I don't mean a full diagnosis, but what is the machine doing wrong?

 

[launderess]

In theory only place to get new parts for Miele appliances is from their North American parts department. These models were discontinued several years back, but they still may be covered by Miele's 15 year part stock guarantee.

If you know exactly what part is needed often things can be found elsewhere such as eBay, European and other sources outside of USA.

You can also try looking online for service/technical manuals or other information. MieleUSA no longer provides any sort of diagnosing or tech support via telephone. You must make an appointment for a call out (and pay dearly) where a tech examine machine.

 

[henene4]

Miele T9000 dryers

I just searched for Miele T9822 service manual, second result was the service manual.

 

[tomdawg]

It’s the dispenser controller that’s leaking in the washer. Activating the waterproof system. I’m having trouble finding parts

 

[tomdawg]

I told them I will call Monday to see if there are any parts for it. Unless you guys know where to find parts.

They are thinking of buying a new set. If they do. I’m tempted to take it! Is it worth it?

 

[launderess]

Miele Had No End Of Troubles

With various issues that plagued the W4XXX series washing machines, and various leaks was one.

You can read various posts in forum about issues here: https://www.google.com/search?q=W48...u-DEsQrQIoBHoECBAQBQ&biw=984&bih=711&dpr=1.25

Again for NOS parts first choice would be Miele USA, but also armed with proper numbers check around internet for anyone selling online.

Don't believe Miele sold W4XXX washers outside of North America, thus any parts specific to these two models of washing machines may not be found say in Europe because weren't sold there for a start. As already noted service manual for W4XXX washers is found online so that's something anyway.

Apparently water path unit for W4XXX was a weak spot that kept causing issues (leaking), to point Miele went back and redesigned the part with new number as you see in your picture. Some still had issues later after even after swapping out part.

 

[henene4]

The one part I found that MIGHT fit (again, nor warranty on that) is this:
https://www.buyspares.com/water-path-control-unit-elbi-type-650-31690014-21/product.pl?pid=3960131

They are all pretty simmilar, dunno if the W4xxx series had larger drawers?
Cause that diverter is a pretty common part - any Wxxxx machine used basically the same thing, just diffferent itterations of it.

Anyway, replacement seems futile.

These things are pretty easy in terms of functionality.
So you might want risk takeing it apart and see if some seel failed or such.
Just do it very slowly, take a lot of pictures.

The W4xxx series has been burried as much by Miele as possible.

The idea was sound in itself, just very badly exectued.
Getting hold in the US washer market is basically impossible by now...

 

[sgt10]

Unlikely to pencil out

I have had 2 miele w4840 machines die a premature death. One had shot bearings, and I can’t remember the problem with the other one, but something that Miele service techs would not touch. When the machines worked, I think they did a great job washing. However, they were less reliable than the typical miele product. I still have the matching large miele dryers (gas), and they do a fine job. Each has had to be repaired, but they are still running. But despite Miele’s promise that they will continue to stock parts for 15? years after a product stops being sold, the Miele servicemen who have given the dryers a casual glance while working on something else have said to me several times that certain dryer parts are no longer available for those machines.

This is a long-winded way of saying that you are setting yourself up for heartbreak (or, I guess a substantial challenge if you find that type of thing rewarding) if you get those machines. Parts are likely to be an issue, and they are also likely to break at some point. And they are, of course, big and heavy, too. The irony of the larger machines is that they could not be filled all the way like the traditional smaller sized Mieles, so in reality their capacity was no larger despite their size. Not Miele’s best product.

 

[launderess]

Interestingly both Bosch and Miele entered North American laundry appliance market with uber sized washers about the same time (NeXXT and W4XXX respectively), and barely a decade or so afterwards withdrew all washers and matching dryers.

Bosch's NeXXT washers and dryers were at least built in USA, and one would have thought that company also did their due diligence in R&D. But alas those washers and matching dryers had issues as well. IIRC like Miele Bosch didn't sell those huge washers and dryers in Europe which meant pretty much dependent upon North American sales numbers for success.

Miele has been building uber sized commercial washing machines for ages, and thus does know very well how to do so. Thus was surprised as the litany of problems that kept plaguing W4XXX series washers. The matching dryers had problems and to be fair Miele hadn't built a gas dryer for residential use (IIRC) so were operating in dark there so to speak.

Thing is overall the Miele W4XXX washers like their smaller cousins of time were built to near commercial standards. These were despite their issues pretty substantial bits of kit.

One thing it came down to is what it always does with Miele; people paid huge sums for those uber sized washers and dryers, only to have them have issues not long after installation. That was bad enough but given Miele's not extensive service/repair network it could be weeks or longer before a tech even came out to look at the machine. Then weeks longer before he returned to do the repair.

Was considering a W4840, found a local dealer who had one at a very good price. Queried the man about known leak issues that triggered WPS. His response was "I just tell my customers to unplug machine, open drain cover, tip washer forward to drain out water... wait then reset washer".

Replied at just 5'7" and 125lbs (stripped) wasn't going to be "tipping" a washer that weighs 300lbs or more forward as part of wash day period. So that was that.

The W3XXX series washers were introduced at same time as W4XXX models and many the former were better built washers and represented Miele quality of old.

Keep in mind despite huge size of W4XXX Miele advised only loading tub about three-quarters full for a "normal" wash. Meanwhile the W3XXX washers could be loaded as one would any other Miele washer. So you've paid more for a larger washing machine, but cannot fully ultilize capacity.

Miele took a killing financially on these uber sized washers and dryers as well IIRC. Which in fact may have been one of the reasons they decided to pull the plug on both.

Unlike Bosch Miele refuses to open a factory in USA. Thus those huge washers and dryers were built in Europe, then shipped to North America. That alone was a huge cost but again since these units weren't sold in Miele's normal largest market (Europe) they were totally dependent upon overseas sales.

IMHO quite honestly the W1 washers are better on many levels then W4XXX series. It's like Miele went back to the drawing board and came up with a better machine addressing previous problems. The W1 has same or greater capacity than W4XXX but less issues with build quality and so forth.

 

[launderess]

Miele only pulled their W4XXX washers and matching dryers in 2016. That was just five years ago which isn't anywhere near the 15 years Miele normally guarantees will keep parts in stock for models after even after production ceases.

Yes, the W700, W10XX, W19XX series largely are NLA parts , but they are machines discontinued twenty or more years ago.

https://blog.yaleappliance.com/bid/83143/Miele-Exits-Front-Load-Laundry-and-the-Best-of-What-s-Left

Miele Pulls Large Laundry Machines from US

German appliance manufacturer surrenders large-capacity laundry.

www.reviewed.com

 

[sgt10]

Market strategy a mystery

It’s difficult to understand what Miele’s North American market strategy is. Their weakness in the US has long been their service network, an apparent strength in other parts of the world. Yet, Miele’s response to their deficit is to make their service network worse, not better. Their products are not fail safe, it is inevitable that customers will have problems, and when they do, they will be without washer or dryer for some time and have to battle to get service appointment and parts. Their machines are high priced enough that customer resentment is inevitable. And the salt in wound is that their knee jerk response when calling for customer service is to blame any and all trouble on user error. Most of their washing machines are very good, but the weakness in their service network sure takes the shine off the apple

 

[jerrod_six]

I have a W1 which is advertised to hold up to 18 pounds and is also sold in Europe, although perhaps not this model. I would suggest your friends go to the Miele website and look at the 860 model. They can download the user manual and see if they like what it offers.

 

[richnz]

its leaking in the washer?

Any photos of where it is leaking exactly?

It can be taken apart and greased.

Was it this machine that had leak issues with the rubber part which connects the dispenser to the tub (Underneath).

 

[combo52]

Full Sized Miele Washers and Dryers

These were very well designed and built machines, but like all W&Ds there were a few problems and Miele does have serious service problems in the US. 

 

I have had a pair of these including the gas dryer, both machines suffered from being overly complicated and difficult to service just like all Miele W&Ds and DWs and don't even get me started on their US built-in refrigerator line.

 

And no these were not built in Europe, the full sized W&D were built in Mexico [ with a lot of parts from all over the world like all Miele appliances ]

 

The full sized W&D were discontinued for one and only one reason, Miele could not even begin to compete with the rest of the world on price and as a result sales were very poor, the full sized models would have been lucky to get 1/10 of 1 % of the US market.

 

This is why it is so hard to have good service in the US with sales hovering around 1 or 2% of the US laundry and DW market and charging such high prices they are forced make good on problems but can not maintain the level of service people expect.

 

There is really only one great choice for a highly durable easy to get repaired or even fix it yourself full sized W&D in the US Speed Queen.

 

SQ équipement is designed to be repaired by its owners [ often laundromat owners ] or do it yourselfers.

 

SQs won't shut down if you oversuds it and it leaks a little, instead you get a little water on the floor, laundry appliances are designed to be installed in laundry rooms with provisions for possible leakage, they are not designed to be installed in living rooms or on hard wood floors.

 

John L.

 

[tomdawg]

Wow lots of info!

I tried ordering the part one of you sent me and it says it can’t be shipped to my address :/

I guess this was one reason I didn’t buy a Miele because parts would take a while to find/order- esp with a growing family and seems like the washer runs all the time.

The fact that it’s 300 lb is keeping me from wanting to pick it up, but I wouldn’t mind tearing into it to learn more from German engineering.

As far as the leak, water keep seeping out right below where the electrical plug ins are. I didn’t get real close because it was leaking pretty fast.

 

[gizmo]

are you comfortable to dismantle the water distributor?

I am NOT familiar with them, but they look pretty simple.

You might find that the water path from distributor to the detergent drawer is blocked, giving the water no easy place to go except force its way out of the distributor, in all the wrong directions. I'd open up that distributor and look for any bit of muck in any water passage.

 

Check for loose screws and cracked hoses, too. Don't give up on it without checking the easy stuff first.

 

Launderess linked to a youtube video above.

If you open that link in youtube, the comments below have lots of useful info to solve the issue.

 

[launderess]

Miele 4XXX washers and matching dryers were not made in Mexico, but their Unicov plant in Czech Republic. This is same place as W1215 and some other domestic laundry appliances are made as well.

Unicov factory is where Miele makes their toplader washers, and commercial laundry appliances. IIRC for some appliances however Miele produces parts in Germany, then ships things to Unicov for assemgly.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2413441/miele-germany-czech-republic-austria

https://www.miele.com/en/com/czech-republic-unicov-factory-2313.htm

Miele does not have any sort of production in North America, and that includes Mexico. https://www.miele.com/en/com/production-sites-2157.htm

 

[launderess]

"... Can't be shipped to my address..."

That's odd!

First thing Monday morning call Miele parts directly and try placing an order for required parts.

Only thing can thing of is that part requested isn't in stock but system doesn't give that as response.

Miele USA had some major changes early in 2019 from what I understand. This washer hasn't even been out of production for ten years much less fifteen. Thus Miele should keep inventory of parts.

Another thing might be if parts are on order from Germany Miele like everyone else has had to deal with covid. Factories closing, quarantines... so they may be like many other businesses suffering from distribution and production problems at the moment.