My Bosch is dying!!

[lavamat_jon]

I'm sad to say that our Bosch washing machine is dying a very slow but painful death :-(. As of recent it has gotten a fair bit louder, so I did the bearing test (pushing the drum up and checking for play) and instead of resisting it played about quite a bit. On top of that I feel there's a suspension problem as it is starting to seriously vibrate, and to cop that all off the LCD's for the options are starting to fade! (Although the latter is mostly to the blame of my mother, she doesn't understand appliances need to be turned off between uses :-/).

I have to say that I am very very disappointed with this. I was in considerable favour of Bosch until this - and I have a gut feeling it's going to be an expensive repair. I wouldn't mind paying £150-200 to repair it if it was 10 years old... but 2 years is just too young IMO. It just confirms my view that their quality has fallen somewhat since they changed to the Maxx washer design.

So... currently on the search for a new washer on behalf of my mum! Still keeping the Bosch going for now, but it will go as soon as we have found a suitable replacement. (I'm thinking a base line Miele... hopefully that'll manage to resist my mother LOL).

Take care all,

Jon

 

[gizmo]

Hi Jon

Surely at two years old it is still under warranty?

Beraring replacement is pretty poor in a two year old machine but still it is a common enough repair and once done both the noise and vibration problems will be gone. If you do it yourself you can fit better quality bearings and seals. I am currently doing up a Thor TH85, about ten years old and needs bearings. I think it is an Antonio Merloni machine, probably sold in UK as a Servis. (??) It had rubbish quality Polish-made bearings, I will fit NSF bearings and seal and it will probably never need bearings again. I have found a couple of other design flaws with it which I think I should be able to modify so this piece of junk should be a good reliable machine. (?)For example it has gone out of balance and the concrete weight has smashed into the pump filter and broken it. I am going to move the pump and filter assembly over about half an inch which I hope will give enough clearance. Anyway my point is, I am coming to the conclusion that a lot of machines are basically pretty good but have a couple of cheap components or design problems, with a bit tweaking they can be really good. If you own the Bosch already, why not have a play with it? Fixing machines is pretty easy and can be fun, and there is no shortage of advice available here. Save yourself a bundle, learn a new skill, save a machine from the scrap metal yard.

Best Wishes

Chris

 

[kenmore1978]

repair

Good point. Most of the cost of repairing things is the labor. If one can get the service amnuals and do it yourself, it's a great learning experience and one saves a lot of money and more stuff in the landfill. And often, the replacement parts are improved over the original parts as word gets back to the manufactureres from the service techs about "weaknesses"

 

[lavamat_jon]

Nope... it's approx £150 for parts!!! It's one of those jobs where the bearing is moulded into the back of the tub so the entire rear half of the tub has to be replaced. Also the suspension kit doesnt come in cheap, and a new PCB to give operational LEDs again, it all adds up... Then it'll be £200 min with labour added. I'm not too mechanically minded, so I daren't risk getting inside there, as I know I'll do something wrong...

I think I'm just going to wear it out until the new laundry is built, and we'll probably get a Miele then. I don't want to replace all these parts and find out that exactly the same needs replacing in 2 years time. Would be cheaper to train my mum to use a washing machine properly, but in 4 years she still hasn't changed...

Jon

 

[the7]

Plastic Outer Tub

This is one main drawback of "plastic" outer tub because the bearing is moulded in. It is needed to replace the tub half and you could not replace it with an upgraded bearing.

The washer with metal outer tub is more perferable due to the metal strengh and upgraded bearing could be used if the old one fails.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Actually that isn't the drawback with all plastic tubs - our past 2 Hotpoint made washers has plastic tubs with interchangeable bearings. But yes I do totally agree with you regarding metal tubs being stronger, however I have not had any trouble at all with the strength of plastic tubs. But then, metal tubs are also prone to rusting etc, or being ripped open by a coin. So both types of tub have their pros and cons.

I think my mum's next machine will definitely be a Miele - she loves mine and actually said to me the other day that her next washer would definitely be a Miele, not only cos it washes so well & quickly but also as she was very impressed by the build quality.

Will keep you guys updated on the Bosch...

Take care all,

Jon

 

[lavamat_jon]

Warranty

Chris,

Unfortunately our Bosch is 4 months out of the 2 year warranty period... :-(

Jon

 

[foraloysius]

I think you should call Bosch anyway, under European consumer laws everything you buy should have a reasonable life. A broken bearing is too soon on a washer that age. Also contact the dealer, perhaps he can do something. Perhaps not all of the expenses are covered but at least part of it. Get the information from Bosch on this and then decide what to do.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Hmmm, I think I will. And contacting the dealer - well I doubt Comet will be very helpful in that respect - I don't think after sales service is in their business plan.

To be honest I think it's best just to use it until we get the extension done. The kitchen is being ripped out in less than a month, a new laundry being built after that, so it might just be worth it to get a new washer (i.e. Miele) then and be over and done with it.

At least there's still 2 "reserve" machines upstairs .

Jon

 

[the7]

Miele washer has a metal (SS) outer tub as well as a SS inner tub.

 

[lavamat_jon]

The7,

I know . I have a Miele in my bedroom, very good machine it is too. (BTW I'm Jon (aquarius2101) from the THS laundry forum).

Jon

 

[pulsatron]

So Bosch strikes again!

Hi Jon,
sorry to hear about your problems with your Bosch, if it is any consolation I too had big problems with my Bosch Maxx which I have already posted on here earlier my main gripe with them was their after-sales service which was abysmal.
I wouls not be too quick to blame your Mother for this either, after all we only wash every 2nd day and not huge loads either and ours could not take it, I was only lucky that it was just inside the 2 year warranty period so I did not have to pay for it to be fixed.
I say boycott Bosch.
Cheers Steve.

 

[toggleswitch]

Quote: Unfortunately our Bosch is 4 months out of the 2 year warranty period... :-(

OMG I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!

 

[lavamat_jon]

Steve (pulsatron);

Yup, I remember you had problems with your Bosch too. What's worse is I know that I defended Bosch machines and insisted you just had a lemon... but now I'm not so sure.

In all fairness the Bosch has done about 1500 loads within 2.5 years, and reliability wise I would put it as more reliable than our old hotpoint which needed repairing every 5 minutes; but then the thing is it was economical to repair the Hotpoint as parts were so cheap - Bosch's price on their spare parts is absolutely abysmal.

Do you still have your Bosch? We're still giving ours a workout but as I mentioned before our kitchen is being ripped out in a month's time or so, and I think it's just best to wear it out til then and get mum to buy a new washer for the utility room. That said there is always 2 "relief" washers upstairs, so at least we're not living without a washer if the worse happens

Steve (toggle);

I hate it when that happens too! It's even worse when it's on an appliance you expect to give you many trouble free years, I can say I am well and truly p!$$ed off - and it's not even my washer!

Jon :-/

 

[pulsatron]

still have the Bosch

Hello Jon,
Yes I still have got the Bosch, I guess I really should stop whinging about it, as it seems to work okay for the moment, but it was just so annoying to be totally ignored by their Customer Service Office here in Oz and the fact it took 5 weeks to get it fixed.
That being said though I have noticed it starting to make unusual noises while spinning as if it is actually straining to get the job done, Oh Well if it dies it dies at least I have still got the Twin-Tub.
Cheers Steve.

 

[newwave1]

hey Jon!
wash-in tommorrow well ur bosch doesnt really reflect the quality of their 80s era washers does it..tht goes 4 most manufacturers huh. wonder if yours was actually made or germany or spain like most of them now..hmm...there very sneaky with the embeded bearings..i changed the bearings on our old hotpoint..why do they have to make a not so hard job impossible...money grabbin....ahem well anyhoo i say you ditch it & get A hoover nextra

see you tommorrow!

Darren

 

[lavamat_jon]

Yeah! The Nextras are pretty cool arent they? Dunno if you noticed but I couldnt stop playing with them in Currys .

My Bosch is actually made in Germany (giveaway is the blue insert in the drawer - Spanish ones have the white insert). Definitely agree they're not what they were compared to even their 90s machines, never mind their 80s machines! Fortunately my dryer is a 90s design and they are proven reliable... fingers crossed!

Maybe Mum will go with the Hoover Nextra especially seeming as they're half the price of the Mieles

Jon

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Bosch Croaking:

Hey! Jon, why don't you just Shoot your Bosch and out it out of it's Misery, then you can Recycle it at the "Crusher" and have it become someone's next wonderful "American-Made" Whirlpool Top-Load Washer...

Peace, Happy Croaking of the Bosch, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[toggleswitch]

Stevie,
LOL Mind your manners please! LOL LOL LOL.

Jon, dear, I am so sorry to here about your impending loss.

May I light some candles and some incense and reminsce (sp?) about how faithful a servant Ms. Bosch was while she was alive and healthy?

Seriously that SUX,and just our of warranty! I would try to call and BITCH BITCH BITCH, then write- the squeaky wheel gets the grease....