Washing Machine Recommendation - Bosch Vs. Miele

Moving into a new place and need to buy a new washing machine which we hope to last us a decent amount of time

Currently tossing up between a Bosch & Miele at differing price points:
Bosch Series 8 (German made) 10kg at ~$1500 post promo/gift card: - https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/product/bosch-series-8-1…
Miele 8kg at ~$2050 post installation: - https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/product/miele-8kg-front-…

From what I can gather, seems like Miele are a better brand/product, but want to understand if its worth the ~500-600 premium to the top of the line Bosch from a quality / reliability perspective.

Additionally, when we went to Harvey Norman, they were really selling the Asko with the stainless steel rim (to avoid mould etc. on the rubber seal) which my wife liked - any ideas on whether this feature is actually valuable / important or more of a gimmick?

Edit: added a poll option

Poll Options

  • 187
    Bosch Series 8
  • 34
    Miele
  • 3
    Asko
  • 24
    Other

Comments

  • +32

    Just listen to your wife :)

    • +9

      Always a safe option :)

    • -6

      I think asking your mummy too is also good idea. In that way you can back to whatever it was you were doing with your Lego bricks.

  • +12

    Additionally, when we went to Harvey Norman,

    LOL!!! Have fun getting ripped off!!!

    I'll see you back here in 3 years with a "Product Care" story…..

    • +21

      Uh… not sure if that was supposed to be a joke, but you get mould growth on the rubber seals. It occurs tucked away in crevices that are not immediately visible.

      • +7

        Leave you washing machine door open after it's finished a cycle to dry out. Closing the door after a cycle and not letting the excess water evaporate will probably be the cause of your mould.

        • -1

          This must be why I've never seen mould in my machine.

          To the neggers of my first comment: keeping the lid/door open isn't an expensive gimmick.

        • +3

          Leaving the door open is a must, but I still get mould in the crevice.

        • +3

          Leave you washing machine door open after it's finished a cycle to dry out.

          We always have. To prevent mould growth you've got to bend back the rubber seals and use a towel or microfibre cloth to get the remaining water out of the crevices. The water is hidden.

          (Seems like I'm repeating myself here, but hey…)

          • @rumblytangara:

            Seems like I'm repeating myself here
            Yeah, it seems like you are.

            Oh what the heck, I'll join in the repetition fun.

            I've still never had any problem with mould inside any washing machine I have ever used. If it was or is in there hiding away in some secret crevice, it wasn't and isn't causing any issues. I suspect it's not even there because I'm not a grotty sod. If it makes any difference, I have only ever had top loaders.

            Bonus fun fact: mould is almost everywhere on this planet, especially in the air.

          • +1

            @rumblytangara: What if you get stuck in the machine when cleaning inside 😈

        • We leave the door open on our Bosch seri 8 and the seal always has water in it. About an inch.

          No mould (we do wash daily) but it seems this machine likes to gather water there.

        • +1

          Yes, You can get one of these to stop bumping it shut, works wonders.

          A year or two ago my GFs machine stunk so bad as she'd always shut the door on this 8 year old Hisense, it was so bad that if you left a wash in there for 2 minutes after it was done it would stink. I decided to run pool shock through it on a hot wash for a couple hours as a last resort, a bit crazy but it was either that works or we buy a new machine, did an amazing job, even got all the mould stains out of the rubber, did another rinse then a vinegar hot wash to remove limescale and any minerals on the element etc or in the lip drain channels, I gave it an extra top up of water each time too to raise the level, had the laundry exhaust fan on the whole time too. If your machines holding water in the lip, its probably not draining properly, should have seen the mineral stone and crud that came out of ours.

          Machines like new now, we haven't had anymore problems as we now use that tool to keep the door ajar, once its been a day or so you can take it off, we also run one of these tablets through the machine with an old towel every month or so. We don't run any fabric softeners as they usually just kill washing machines, and we just use liquid detergent.

          But I highly recommend getting that door ajar tool and running the tablets if you want longevity.

  • +4

    If you plan on buying a Miele, buy discounted David Jones gift cards. Miele also has outlet stores in most states.

    My 12-year-old Miele washing machine is holding up reasonably well, except the seal around the front door can be weepy at times, and one of the buttons on the control panel went walkabout years ago.

    • The miele outlet stores can be a good deal. My washing machine and dryer were 40% off as I recall (ex showroom floor stock) and came with a new warranty.

  • +2

    I did fair bit of research on many machines few weeks ago, settled on a F&P 11kg WH1160S1 for $990 floor stock one which had largest size drum for the weight capacity and couldnt find many negative reviews. So far its been heaps better than our previous LG. I looked closely at asko after loving our dishwasher but found many concerning negative reviews that turned us off, it still does have a rubber seal just not as big as other brands so less of an issue potentially with mould but as long as you leave the door open to air out we never have any issues anyway. Miele was much too small for our needs washing quilts etc.

    • My brother runs an appliance rental company and he only uses F&P as they're reliable and repairable

      • +1

        They are ALL repairable, some are a greater hassle or more expensive for parts than others, thing I dislike about F&P is parts like pumps are proprietary, can't go buy an aftermarket pump for $20, have to pay upwards of $100, spent ages adapting mine to take a standard pump as there was NOO way I was forking out that kind of money on the old thing!

    • +2

      FP now owned by Haier

      • -2

        Aus now owned by CCP ;)

        And I welcome our new… blah blah blah

    • +1

      I am using this exact model as well. Got it from JB HI FI with this deal for $ 809 + delivery. Initially I was looking for 10 KG washer and was eyeing on a LG. But after checking the LG in the store, the drum looked smaller and according to user manual not all load could use 10 KG limit, also the wash time was longer.

      So I started looking at F&P 10kg model and was waiting for good deal. I did miss out on a good deal form Bing lee and then few days later the JB HI FI deal popped up.
      This time I did not hesitate, the price was similar as the 10 KG model but I was getting more bang for my buck with 11KG load and auto-dose. This is one of the best purchase I have made in recent time. The auto-dose feature is amazing and at 1400 rpm it dries out cloths so well, most of laundry is fully dry (Line drying in shade) by end of the day.

      There is also different washing programs especially Quick mode which I find very handy for small load and quick washes. You can even get it to run quicker (15 mins ) by select Quick > speed.

      Very happy with it so far. Hopefully it will continue to serve well as the time passes. I have never used Bosch or Miele, but I would suggest to OP to keep F&P series 9 in the list too. It could be cheaper with potentially offering similar performance.

  • +5

    I have a german made Bosch, it's great. Especially love the i-Dos feature.. dump a few litres of liquid into it and not think about it until it arks up about it.

    Have also witnessed reliable Miele washing machines.

    When it comes to Asko I have only witnessed reliable dishwashers, can't comment on washing machines.

    • +8

      Purchased an ASKO washing machine a few years ago based upon reputation, reviews and perceived quality (with a price to match)…..a couple of days outside the warranty period I got to know the local ASKO repair technician who became a regular visitor, with broken displays, circuit boards, motors…… I have now moved on and chalked this experience up to the price of getting educated. 🤔

      • +3

        Likewise I’m not buying an ASKO ever again. Current Miele is doing great and has lasted longer than ASKO did before its first required repair

      • Agreed, was bitten by an Asko washing machine mid 2000s - sold the same line "much better design of seal". It did seem solidly built so I bought it. It barely lasted 7 years - random behaviours like not drawing in enough water so the washing would be half dry the whole time. Heater half the time didn't heat the water, etc. It was blood noisy because of the design too (open crevice at the front).

        It got so bad in the end the machine got stuck on washing cycle, and had to manual select rinse cycle and do that 3 times. Was quoted a new control board at hundreds of dollars so cut my losses. Bought a 7.5kg Samsung for $500 which lasted about 8 years and nothing went wrong with it. Decided to move it on before the spider arm known issue became my issue and sold it for $230 on FB marketplace.

        Picked up a Bosch Serie 8 8kg machine about 2 years ago on FB marketplace in perfect condition - owner was moving to an apartment and already one built in. Not a mark on it, 2 years old for $500. Been so quiet and washing well so far. So that's another option if you want to save some money and go second hand.

        I'm not overly impressed by Miele to be honest. We've had a Miele dishwasher at work that's needed repairs 3 times in the last 5 years. They seem to just trade on their name now.

        I recently also bought a Bosch Serie 6 dishwasher on FB marketplace again around 2 years old for $600. Lady just wanted to upgrade to AEG. It's been perfect - so quiet as well. Sold the "Domain" one that came with the house for $250 couldn't believe it. Small price to jump in quality to a Bosch! Yes it's a gamble on FB marketplace but there are some gems out there.

        I always leave the door ajar between use with a front loader so never had the rubber gasket go moudly on me in any case, so the Asko design is not really much of an advantage to me anyway, and after my experience with owning one, will not touch that brand again.

      • Used to have a great Asko dishwasher. But now Asko is hinese owned (Hisense) and repair guy said the quality has down straight down.

    • love the i-Dos feature

      Is that like MS Dos but for Apple?

  • -2

    Front loaders used to have 5kg capacity but consumers know better, so now they get branded as 10kg; but have you ever weighed a load of washing? There's a Miele customer who got 40 years from their washer, mine needed its first repair after 32 years so I went with a cheap replacement, B stock from the outlet.

  • +1

    Bosch
    Had a Miele, broke down after 4 years and they didn't warranty.

    Got the el cheapo Bosch and its been great.

    • +4

      Should have gone down the ACL route. Whitegoods should last at least 5 years so irrelevant what the manufacturer warranty states as legally they have to fix it even if it’s after their manufacturer warranty. Only downside is you need to make a fuss about ACL to get them to fix it.

  • +4

    First Miele lasted 13 years without trouble, current one is 17 years. They are pricey but they tend to last.

  • +2

    We had an old Ariston brand that stopped mid-cycle a few months back.. we were looking between the Bosch and Miele as well before going to the store.

    Like yourself, sales staff promoted the Asko brand. I did like the idea of the Asko all steel rim, but not at 2x the price.
    The old Ariston did gather some mold (or black stains) around the rubber rim during the 15years it lasted that we couldn't remove.

    We ended up with the Bosch (german made) as it came to about 1450 with the 5year warranty (yes im aware that extended warranties are relatively garbage, but if I recall correctly, the machine was on sale for for 1290, we had delivery, installation, removal of old machine and the extended warranty come to around 1450, plus we got a 10% Gift card which was around $130 odd dollars for a future purchase, so net around $1320
    .
    We went o the Moore Park supercentre (Sydney) and went to Bing Lee, good guys and HN, basically asking them to better the offer we had. The issue for us was that we needed it yesterday (house with young kids and no machine)

    The reason we went with the Bosch is that the Miele and Asko where close to double that price, the drums was a little smaller, and the delivery time.

    From this experience, I think if you are ready to buy, the sales staff can perform miracles on the more 'common' machine brands.
    Miele and Asko pricing is dictated by the manufacturer. You wont get anything (or very little) off the ticketed price.

    Good Luck

  • +3

    Washing Machine Recommendation - Bosch Vs. Miele

    They both have a 2 year warranty…. Enough said really.

  • +2

    Choose German made=Bosch.

    • Be careful. Not all Bosch products are made in Germany.

      • I said 'German made'

        • +7

          Well you said ‘german made = bosch’
          Maybe ‘a german made bosch’ is what you are trying to say

    • yeah make sure you get the one made in Germany
      high end model tend to be made in Germany but not all
      I got one, touch wood 10 years and still going strong

    • My Polish made Bosch is 10 years old and doesn't skip a beat

  • -1

    Haier is cheap and cheerful.

  • I pick Bosch for my next one.

  • A question like this must have a poll

  • My 2009 Samsung 8kg front loader just started having problems, never had any issues prior to that.

    I ended up buying a replacement 9kg Samsung WW90T504DAW for $643.00 via Retravision. I was happy with the longevity of the old machine so went with Samsung again.

    Both machines fit all bedding from a king bed in one load.

    Whichever model you end up choosing check the reviews on productreview.

    While biased to people who have issues, you should be able to judge how many complaints there are for that model and what the manufacturers have done to rectify the issues.

    I do have a Bosch dishwasher which I've have no issues with for around 10 years. Never found value in Miele, and those people I know who have had Miele complain about the cost of repairs outside of warranty, but felt they should still pay for those repairs because of the cost of the appliance originally.

  • I recently went from a Bosch to a Miele and the thing that surprised me the most was how quiet the Miele is. I often forget it’s on.

  • +4

    Get an LG washing machine. We got ours years ago after checking out the Choice reviews. Has several allergy programs and has a killer feature which is the steam refresh program (great for shirts and wrinkly clothes). I haven't ironed a shirt since we bought it. Oh and it's super quiet.

    We used to have a Bosch, but we had issues with it with the motor and later on with the thing the drum is mounted to. It was quite loud too, especially after replacing the coals in the motor.

    Make sure the washing machine has a brushless motor whatever you get.

    • My 2015 LG still going strong. My parents would be 20+ years old, i bought an LG because of their experience.

      • Same here - 2018 and perfect.

        Parents have one from 2012 and i replaced the rubber door seal a year ago which is the only issue so far

        • My LG 8.5kg toploader is still absolutely fine as well, bought 2017, after 8 years it's still operating like new.

          • +3

            @Herbs: LG are underrated for fridges, washers and dishwashers

  • Replaced an AEG with a Bosch series 8 German 5+ yrs ago.
    It’s very very good. Quiet and stable on spin. Washes well. Takes bulky blankets etc. Love the “Super Quick” which does the job for us well in 30 minutes (or 15 mins if you want). We also use the iDose feature.
    Can’t fault it, and like above we got it with next day delivery, installation, and take away the old one. From one of the Winning brands. I forget the price, but think it was around the $1200.
    Personally I don’t think the Miele premium is worth it. Our Asko dishwasher is well over 20yrs, but “made in Sweden” back then.

  • Have had 0 issues with my Bosch washing machines.

    Had a Series 6 - 6.5kg. Lasted 12 years - 0 issues. Only got rid of it to replace with a bigger model.
    Now have had a Series 8 - 9kg. Going strong for 3 years - 0 issues.

    Would happily buy and recommend them.

  • +1

    Bosch series 8, but Miele is very good. Both German so can’t go wrong. As for the rubber vs stainless steel rim…. Avoid fabric softeners as they contribute to the build up, however using white cleaning vinegar keeps it at bay and never had a problem. Still use fabric softener from time to time, but white vinegar works a treat. This also applies where you put the powder and rinse stuff… no build up of mould, gunk etc.

  • +2

    Had my Asko for 20 years then replaced with another one - very happy. In Melbourne they have an outlet store in heatherton (online or in person) and I buy through there and save a bit.

  • German made Bosch.

  • Buy Meile if you want reliability & 20+ year life from it.

  • I scored a Aeg 8000 series for $800

    • from where?

  • +1

    Bought a small Miele washer in 2011 and sold it in 2023 for $300 nothing wrong with it but need to clean the water inlet often otherwise it will throw an error message and stop working. I would say people would prefer a second hand Miele vs other brands.

    Bought Bosch Series 8 in 2023 and has been good. Only thing is that those time remaining can be inaccurate and it would add more time as it needs. Sometimes when it says 3minutes remaining end up to be 15minutes long

  • +1

    No love for Haier? They own FP and other global brands

    • +2

      Good machine but it hasn't got a German badge and matching pricetag. Plenty of badge snobs on here.

      • Its for reasons.

        • +1

          High yield washing machine?

  • +1

    We use Bosch series 8 (German made) washing machines & dishwashers. No issues whatsoever with any of them.

  • Currently have an LG Direct Drive top loader which has been running fine for the last ~5 years.

    Before that had an old Simpson with the simple analog turn switch thing (rather than digital buttons). It worked great too and was only replaced because we got sucked into the "new technology". Wish I'd kept it.

    Anyway, I've had a few other Miele appliances and been underwhelmed. A dish washer that leaked out of the motor and a steam oven that corroded. Both after 2 years of use and irreparable. I'm sure the build quality is relatively good, but it's the complexity that kills them IMO.

  • I have had a Miele washing machine for 10yrs now and it has not missed a beat.

    However if you are considering purchasing and wanting it to be "German Made" know that it's only there top end models that are actually made in Germany.

    Lower end models are made in Czech Republic.
    (Still European made) if that bothers you.

    In saying that with all washing machines in general maintenance on these make them go a long way.
    e.g. cleaning the filters and try to clean the mould on the door seals.

  • LG or Miele

  • Bosch washer died 6 months ago. Replaced it with an Electrolux and it's been great. Or so the missus says. I don't even know what it looks like!

    • How long did it live for?

      • We got 4 years out of it. It had leaking problems in the first year too, and then when we moved 6 months ago it crapped itself and flooded the laundry. I wasn't prepared to get it fixed so we replaced it.

        • +1

          4 years is awful

          • @sumyungguy: 4 years with 2 issues. Hence why we didn't entertain the idea of another Bosch.

            • @stuffandthat: Which Bosch range?

              Serie 4, 6 or 8?

              regardless, 4 years is disappointing.

    • Was it the german made Bosch?

      • +1

        Shouldn't make a difference. I'd expect a $800 washing machine to not have any problems within the first 3 months and to last more than 4 years.

  • +2

    I have an Aldi washer and it has been great for the last 5 years. Paid only $200 as it was on special runout.

  • +1

    Beko Washing Machines, they are build for reliability, they are Turkey company. In UK, they are offered for 10 years warranty.
    But in Australia they are only offered with 5 year manufacturer warranty.

    • I highly doubt they are built for reliability.

      Nothing wrong with Beko, I think they offer great value for money, but I disagree they are built for reliability- they can't when they charge fairly low prices.

  • +2

    Miele, hands down! My wife decided for Miele 8 years ago and I wasn't 100% behind it at the time of purchase. It only took me what 10 odd washes to rally behind an (arguably) expensive brand. We now have a Miele stove, rangehood, dishwasher along with the washing machine plus dryer; they all in their own way save time in our busy life.

    • Bosch says: On average, the lifespan of a washing machine is 11 years. If your washing machine is more than eight years old, it is time to consider getting a new appliance as components like the drum, pump or motherboard may soon be in need of spare parts replacement. There's another manufacturer who tests washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and ovens to the equivalent of 20 years’ average use. Each to their own I suppose.

      • I am still using 20 years old hoover. Machine outside, under stairs, no cover. Still going strong.

  • +7

    I'm not in the market for a front loader - SWMBO likes our 25yo F&P top loader

    but I have been advised that whatever excellent quality things like Miele 'might' have been 20 years ago - now even 'German Made' can have internals made in the same factory in China - with a likely life of no more than 5 years -

    so buyer beware - what was top quality years ago may have gone downhill now - trust but verify …

  • I had the same dilemma a few months ago. I ended up purchasing an AEG. I have 3 boys and the machine cleans so well. I just looked at the size of the drum compared to the Miele equivalent at HN and it was a no brainer.

  • +1

    I bought F&P washing machine used $200 and haven’t had any issues. That was 4 years ago
    I’ll probably buy used again if I can get something for a similar price

    • +1

      F&P washing machines are definitely underrated. They're known for their smooth, quiet operation and exceptional cleaning power. It's fantastic I've had one for the past two years - no issues at all!

      Only regret I wish I would have gone with a 10kg capacity instead of 8kg.
      Larger families or those who do a lot of laundry often find the extra space incredibly helpful.

  • Neither. These European brands are all over engineering and a pain in the ass for basic daily usage

  • Neither … Top loaders FTW!
    :P

  • once you confirm best price via Google, see if E&S will price match. they did for me during a general post-xmas Bosch series 6 iDos model sale (a number of retailers dropped pricing considerably at that time). The benefit with E&S is that they include free delivery, installation and removal of the old machine at no extra cost.

  • I have a Bosch washing machine, Bosch dishwasher and a VW vehicle. No idea if they're made in Germany but all have been very reliable and I'm a fan of German engineering. Update: just checked. The dishwasher is made in Turkey and the internet says my VW is made in Poland. No idea about my washing machine. It's very old, I can't find anything on the internet and I can't be bothered pulling out the machine right now to check the back.

  • Bought a LG front loader and so did a mate around the same time. His was done after 3 years with three kids and misused. Mine is going forever on my own.
    Circumstances are going to effect the life span of any machine.

  • +1

    Bosch have a reputation for reliability.
    Miele have a reputation for expensive repairs.

    The Miele will likely have more modern features and will probably look nicer.

    If you want a more objective way to make a choice, pick the model that has been on the market the longest, reliability is the opposite of 'latest model'

  • +1

    I have a Bosch Series 8 font loader. I have ongoing issues with the control touchscreen.

  • First Miele bought 1985 lasted 35 years, second bought 5 years ago.

  • I have a German made Bosch and it's going on 12 years. Yeah there's mould in the rubber but who cares - it doesn't touch the clothes or affect anything (to my knowledge). I want to upgrade to a 10kg but I love mine too much to risk an upgrade….this baby has been with me through thick and thin.

    Had a shitty top loader LG that lasted 12mths before that, and a Samsung that lasted 6mths before the LG.

    Bosch all the way.

    • what's the model of the Bosch?

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