They're Here! My AEG Set Has Arrived

[launderess]

Danke MrWash

Love little "Hans der grosse", but the difference between the AEG and Miele in terms of build design and quality is interesting.

For instance have ordered new leveling legs to replace those damaged during shipment. http://shop.aeg.co.uk/product/4071374336/Washing+Machine+Foot

Apparently the things come as a kit and one has to take off the back of washer in order to get at the plastic support (and nut that holds it in place) which holds the screw in feet. Miele's feet simply screw into the base of the washer, simple as marmalade and kippers. Indeed the Miele is totally front serviceable. AEG's apparently are the other way; you have to go through the back as the front is all one piece.

 

[foraloysius]

Newer Miele's aren't totally front serviceable anymore. Apparently it was too expensive to build.

 

[launderess]

Really?

How very odd. One wonders why it is more expensive, I mean it is just a swing open cabinet.

 

[foraloysius]

I really don't know. Perhaps it is easier to manufacture on an automated production line.

 

[launderess]

Probably

Having opened and then shut up our Miele can see how it could be a manual only job. Not to mention those fronts are heavy, not something you'd want swinging about on a production line.

To sad really as having to shove a washer away and back from a wall or within a cubby for repair isn't fun.

 

[whirlpolf]

Congratulations!

You shot one of the best modern machines there are (were) on the German market. As Louis in Groningen said: One of the last ones that were made in Nürnberg.

My best friend owns one like this, it has been going strong for the last 11 years flawlessly. Ok, the sounds got some (estimated) 20% louder ever since, but still: Once you open the room window for a small crack (hearing the street sounds), you won't here the machine, not even today. The gurgling of the water on the glass of the door is still louder than the humming of the recirculation pump itself. A regular breakfast conversation in a low voice is louder than this machine, which made it perfect to be used during the night here, when electricity is up to 40% cheaper in some towns. (Hence the 24 hrs delay button).

His machine is doing some 4-8 loads a week, some on 60°C (hot), but most of them on 40°C (warm) or 30°C (luke warm). The only thing it can't handle were dog blankets, most of the dog hair has to be taken off in the (matching) dryer, a hedge-hog type rubber dryer ball helping it along.

Me too, I have heard of some people having problems with it on some internet forums, but we have not encountered any of those ever.
Still today I love to get over to his place just in order to wash my motorbike repair rags in it (using the "stains" button and some oxygen bleach in the according dispenser) because they come out even better than boil-washed in one of my own older 1960s water hogs.

Even if its overall "feel" is somewhat more "plasticky" than that of a comparable Miele, I would always go for this last German made TOL AEG.
Good you have it, enjoy!

 

[launderess]

Thanks Whirlpolf

Am hoping after all is said and done have nabbed a bargain, however only time will tell.

Many of the cycles and or features will take some getting used to after trial and error. For instance the "Stain" cycle as one understands from the manual merely flushes whatever treatment is loaded into the dispenser into the drum. This seems odd to me since Persil and other TOL and even MOL modern German detergents are packed with enzymes and bleaches that start working in cold (85F) water all the way to nearly boiling. So why even in a cold fill machine wait until "the proper time" as the manual states?

Am probably *not* going to crank up the spin to 1800 on a regular basis. Well not until the theory is sorted about high spins leading to shortened bearing life.

At first differences in build quality between the AEG and Miele bothered me, but once one understands some of the methods behind the madness....

For instance the Miele has huge commercial washer shocks, which makes sense since it will spin all but the most severely unbalanced loads. OTHO the AEG has a very sophisticated OOB system and is designed to prevent such things from occurring in the first place. Or, should they happen take steps before the unit bashes itself to death. Thus the difference in shocks found in the Lavamat.

 

[donprohel]

"Stain" cycle (or "stain" option?)

As far as I know, the idea behind the "stain" option in AEG machines is that the stain additives do not allow the enzymes to do their job properly, hence the additive is added later in the wash phase when the water temperature is about 40°C (about 104F) and the enzymes are supposed to have finished their action.

The "stain" option cannot be used if the wash temperature is lower than 40°C (about 104F) and it increase the duration of the washing phase of about 14 minutes.

At least, this is what AEG say...

 

[mrboilwash]

About 10-11 years ago I had a way more BOL AEG but still similar to this one (timeframe wise) for a while but returned it to the appliance shop due to too many problems and finally bought a Miele. I loved the way it handled OOB loads, it could even distribute a single sweater for a spin in no time.

I think another reason for the stain cycle was to save on chemicals. There even was a "Baukastenwaschmittel" on the market for some time in Germany. A niche product consisting of three components (detergent, water softener and bleach) called Skip. The idea was you don`t need to increase the amount of detergent in hard water if you use the seperate water softener.

The AEG`s even went a step further, by adding different components at the perfect time for even greater savings. You can add a seperate powdered water softener over the pre wash compartement at the commence of any cycle without pre wash and the bleach or "Fleckensalz" in the stain cycle after the enzymes did their job.

Don`t get me wrong on this one but I`ve always considered those AEG`s as upscale Swedish Electrolux products merely assembled in a dying German factory.

 

[launderess]

...assembled in a dying German factory

What is it?

Have read many odd comments referring to the now shuttered AEG factory in Germany where these units were produced. What was it so evil that happened to AEG towards the end and or did Electrolux do to deserve such harshness?

 

[mrboilwash]

All I`m saying is I don`t consider it as "German Engineering" what Germans are so proud of.

No harshness against Electrolux nor saying it`s a bad machine.