Are these good machines?

Yes. Made in Germany Bosch/Siemens electronics. Plastic/metal parts made and assembled in North Carolina.

I have the washing machine,one trim level up,the 500 DLX for almost two years. I like them alot.Unlike most non-European brands the built-in heater engages on every cycle to give you the actual temperature specified. Sanitary Cycle heats up to 175 degrees.

Are Mieles vastly better or only marginally better?

IMO vastly. Are they ~$2700 better for the pair?

I bought the Bosch.

Is it still possible to source one?

See link below.

BTW Bosch has promised to have parts available for the next 10 years.

Here is a link that might be useful: WFVC544AUC $1078

dee has summed it up pretty well.

Should be noted that BSH has scrapped that line in U.S. which is why you're seeing sales.

I'd find the matching washer first, there's not going to be a run on 200 dark colored dryers anytime soon.

I've had the Bosch 500 for 3 or 4 years. Very happy with it.

I picked the Miele over Bosch. I found the details on the Bosch felt cheap compared with Miele. Miele is a much more solid unit (IMO).

Having said that, if I was saving a huge amount on the Bosch I "might" have been swayed.

As it was, I got a 10 year warranty upgrade (in Canada) on the Miele which made the upfront cost a little more palatable. The cost is much higher in Canada than in the US.

I do find the Miele an excellent machine. Some things you just can't appreciate until you own one. Of course, I can't speak to the Bosch.

Good luck!

Thanks to all who have replied.

I have no doubts that the Miele machines are better than the Bosch. Miele is by far my most trusted appliance brand and I do believe them to be the most solid built and reliable appliance maker on earth as well as the best performing, at least in the washing department (dish and laundry)

I don't even need laundry machines as I have a front load washer and dryer. I was going to replace these units when we get to the laundry room renovation, which is still a few years away, but my dryer kinda needs a service call now due to my haste in trying to "clean" out the venting (don't ask lol). So then I saw the Bosch dryer described above at a blowout price but no matching washing machine. I also LOVE the anthacite colour. I really like how it is a matt finish rather than the shiney finish's that seem all the rage. I wish Miele offered a couple of colour choices as well, as I am sure their colours would be equally tasteful.
I have tried many sources, without much luck. There is one source left that states on their website "in stock", and of course they are the most expensive. But with the dryer at $300 I'd still be coming in at about $1500 for the pair where it would have cost about $2800-3000 not long ago, or $4000 for Miele (CDN pricing) I have found floor models in a couple of sears outlets, but I'm not a floor model guy, specially since these are from sears usa and I am in Canada. I really don't mind taking a weekend trip somewhere to pick them up, as I am always game for a weekend away, or have them shipped to a virtual address in buffalo but being a floor model it may turn into more problems than its worth.

I have not given up 100% yet on this, but I have a feeling I may have to let it go. Too bad, as I so love that colour.

Paint ???

It's got to be a great dryer at $200 bucks!

I wouldn't do it.

This sounds like a lot of trouble for machines not in production/sold in NA anymore. While they may have parts available, how many service techs are going to know a thing about them as the years go on? Are they similar enough to every other front loader for it to matter? How hard will it be to find those parts? How long can you be without a washer if you ever need to wait for them?

I just placed a service call for my 5 year old 500? series washer. While the set looked cool when they were built in my old laundry room, they have been really noisy with a lot of vibration relatively since birth. I've had older relatives visiting and complaining about the noise all weekend, which prompted the call. There may or may not be anything wrong with it. If I had a money tree I would have replaced them during the sales last week.

guy - you might try Lowes ,they sold those units for a long time and may have one in their system if you can find a helpful associate that likes hunting on the computer.

already - if your unit vibrates excessively then it's not balanced/ installed correctly. The shipping struts have been removed yes ??? They will also vibrate the heck out of some 2nd floor laundrys that have less than stellar framing jobs because they spin at such a high speed. Front loaders are just plain noisy period. Your parts concern is vaild but Bosch will keep stuff for 7 years at least.

"Front loaders are just plain noisy period."

Disappointed to read this. Antss knows all kinds of stuff. Can't take that away. However, I've never been able to figure out why he makes such blatantly false statements along his way -- like this one.
.

I have a Maytag, so what do I know, but...

I have a wealthy acquaintance who has had lots of high-end washers in her life (including Bosch). She has a very expensive wardrobe with lots of Prada, Chanel, and so on. She said her Miele clothes washer is *AWESOME* and she stopped taking some of her clothes to the dry cleaner. She could not recommend it enough. She said she saves money (and more important to her: time) by washing more of her clothes at home and they come out FABULOUS. She could not say the same for Bosch.

I was always intending to buy a Bosch washer and dryer, but after her testimonial I am saving for the Miele even though my entire wardrobe (minus a few suits) probably costs less than the washer and dryer pair.

She uses Persil, for what it is worth.

Sorry to follow up my own post, but I know that in particular she likes the job the Miele does on her delicates. She used to send out all her lingerie to be hand-washed and she never does anymore even though she can clearly afford to.

asolo - you're just plain full of it and have an axe to grind!

Care to back up you statement ?

I've owned and currently have several front load washers including to pair of the above mentioned 500 series. Miele, Samsung, Fridgemore and and an Equator combo machine!

They all produce MORE NOISE than any topload washer I've had or heard for that matter. Perhaps you're just used to low quality cheap uprights and then got a Miele ?

Reason is the FL usually have a higher RPM motor that "whines" more and their spin cycles are waaaaay faster than a TL. Sometimes the counter balance mech will cause harmonics in a FL too. Uprights don't have these.

Now, if you've got some sort of readings with a dB meter over several types and brands that bear out your assertion, then I'll eat crow.

In the meantime - I stand by my comment that FL's are noisy. Most people find the high RPM spins cycles more annoying than a top loader's. Add in the very minimal wood framing standards in many homes around the country and Fl's can annoy many people.

Actually would prefer not to contend with you in any way, but you do make it difficult.

I and family have four FL's of various brands...all quieter than anything that's come before. Several friends have FL's of various brands...all quieter than anything that's come before. Several neighbors have FL's of various brands...all quieter than anything that's come before.

Sorry those of your experience are noisy. Those of my experience are not. Your blanket statement "Front loaders are just plain noisy period." is simply false.

And I don't care what you eat or refrain from eating.

I will second that FL are "in general" more noisy than TL.

They (FL) are also far more prone to premature bearing failures, mold/mildew issues and seal leaks.

I can't really imagine needing more than the 1100rpm that my current HE TL delivers in spin cycle, clothes come out damn near dry. In fact certain materials you could literally take right out of the washer and put them on.

I also think that the better HE TL are less prone to off balance issues than the majority of FL.

*takes flame retardant suit out of washer and puts it on*

FWIW.....

Consumer Reports latest washer ratings include a column limited to noise evaluation. Focusing on noise only, their ratings were........

Of the 87 FL's evaluated, 53 received 1/2-solid red circles for noise, meaning pretty good. 4 received solid red, meaning very good. 1 received a 1/2-black circle.

Of the 81 TL's evaluated, 23 received 1/2-solid red circles, no solid reds. 2 received 1/2-black circles. 2 received solid black.

I have my own ideas about CR's tests, but I think an isolated noise evaluation is likely much less subjective than some of their other opinions. And that is a LOT of washing machines.

just how did they arrive at their red circle ????

what kind of floor did they test them on?

what was the size of the room ?

how tall were the ceilings?

what did they measure the noise with ?

were they next to a wall?

who set up the parameters ?

who did the measures ?

It's all TOTALLY subjective. Now, you may choose to weigh their opinions more than mine - and that's fine. They are in the testing business and have a well crafted message in an easy to understand format.

That does not make them accurate or their opinion better than someone else's - especially the more focused and expensive a niche becomes.

If they were really on the ball they'd reveal their testing methods in more detail and re: the sound they'd tell you the actual dB readings and where those measurements were take at. To be really accurate they also include a range of frequencies at which readings were taken as a washer putting out say 100db at 30 Hz is going rattle most houses that haven't been damped and isolated for sound. The same energy at 32,000 Hz won;t really be audible to humans though. This assumes they take readings and are not just relying on Bob and Suzy's ears - but they won't say.

CR's tests often don't translate into real world useful info especially w/ regard to non mainstream and $$$$$$$ appliances.

OK, then. I will eagerly await my first issue of "antss reports" -- or anyone else's who even approaches evaluation of this many machines of both types or with as many separate variables considered or as often. Until then, I believe I'll trust my own ears and experience -- and CR's -- ahead of yours.

"I'll trust my own ears and experience "

Perhaps this is the point that I should tell you "make such blatantly false statements along (the) way -- like this one. " ???

It's fine for you to trust yourself and even CR but don't go around telling me that my observations are false because you disagree with them !!!

I'm will to bet I own and have owned more washing machines in the last 10 years than you have - so my baseline is fairly broad. Not as broad as CR's and I certainly don't do pseudo scientific testing BUT being close to the industry and the fact that my "tests" are not in a warehouse setting but in real American homes and apartments does have value. I also add in the experience my clients have with their gear too, as I do followups inquiring about the whole range of products we specify.

CR is a fine resource, it's not the gospel though. If it fills your spiritual need , don't let me stand in the way of your worship.

"I will eagerly await my first issue of "antss reports" "

don't hold your breath - you've been blacklisted and will not be receiving your issues.

"...don't go around telling me that my observations are false...."

I didn't do that, as you well know. You said: "Front loaders are just plain noisy period." That's a blanket statement. No mention of "experience" or "observations" from you in that -- which would have made the statement acceptable to me or anyone. Just a flat statement. I disagreed and refuted it based on my own stated experience and observations and added the "back up" you asked for.

"Spiritual needs"? "Worship"?

Ridiculous allusions. Your impropriety is increasing with each post. It's like arguing with a child.

I'm stopping here. Maybe you'll start another new thread for this one, too, like you did the last time you were caught out. Bye.

My laundry is in my basement so hard to say noise wise (plus, I've never owned a TL in this house).

My parents have their laundry room just off the kitchen and earlier this year replaced an old TL with a new LG FL. That LG is most definitely quieter than their old TL. Even in spin that things is SO quiet. When sitting in the kitchen you can barely hear it.

My Miele makes more noise than their LG but I notice it's noise from things like the pump.

""...don't go around telling me that my observations are false...." "

"I didn't do that, as you well know."

uh, you most certainly did: """"able to figure out why he makes such blatantly false statements along his way -- like this one. """""

just in case you've forgotten your own nonsense that I quoted in the last post.

Better get the ol eyes checked and possibly sched. a visit to a geriatric physician just to check your short term memory.

"Front loaders are just plain noisy period." That's a blanket statement. "

Yes, it is but that doesn't make it untrue.

Do they make noise ? - then THEY ARE NOISY !

I rest my case. And if you recall (probably have forgotten already) - YOU DIDN'T offer anything until I called YOU out.

"It's like arguing with a child. " - yes - you being the child - and so willing to take the bait too! Tisk tisk.

You obviously have an axe to grind with me and have taken shots at me twice now - so, I'm only happy to return the favor. If you'd quit seeking out confrontation then you'd probably feel better about yourself and your experience here. "I'm stopping here." * bet you can't * - you're obviously too obsessed.

Don't forget now.......

my service call was today. The dx was a failed strut? on one side, they are ordering a replacement and will try to do both sides. Will take a week for the part, and I'm in a large city.

The 'strut' is like a shock-absorber. They hold the tub to the frame.

Here is the deal. I had checked everywhere, and a new in box washing machine seemed to be pretty much impossible to find. Even floor models were few and far in between. I went to look at a floor model not too far away from where I live at an appliance liquidator, but it was so beat up that I would have assumed that it would have been used only for parts. The worst part is, they still wanted $1000 for it.

I had pretty much given up on the idea. One night my wife and I were going into Walmart and beside Walmart is a Future Shop store (chain store in Canada owned by Best Buy) which sells electronics and appliances. I know that they used to sell these models because during my search for this machine I found some posts back in the summer on Red Flag Deals when they were clearing them out. I thought maybe I should go in and check as teh last resort to see if there happens to be a floor model kicking around or possibly if they could see in their system if a floor model exists anywhere. As I am walking towards the appliances I am doing a scan of the machines on display and of course I do not see anything. Then all of the sudden, my wife stops, and I look at what she is looking at and I see an Anthracite Bosch machine sitting out in the end cap. At first glance I figured it was another dryer as teh dryers are easy to find, but upon closer look it was a washer! It appeared to be in good shape too. Price on it was marked at $899, which isn't a deal compared to what others were getting back in the summer, but when I can get the matching dryer for $296 brand new in the box it works out pretty good. The salesman wouldn't go down in price, but I bargained for a 5 year extended warranty which in the end we settled on a reduction of $150 on the price and then add back in $200 for extended warranty. So $949 was final price and $296 for the dryer.

Picked up the washer last week and the dryer on Sunday. Have them all hooked up and wow these really are nice machines. Way nicer than my old front loader, which never gave me any problems but didn't have internal heater and such. The only thing I am slightly disappointed in is the drain pump on the washer is louder than I figured it would have been, and that sort of scares me when it is a floor model. It isn't louder than my old front loader, I just would have expected it to be really quiet being a Bosch. The dryer is also louder than I thought it would be when it is cool, but as it warms up it gets quieter. According to the manual this is normal until the rollers heat up. Again being a Bosch I had higher expectations. The colour is a perfect match for our Montak Black honed slate floors that we are going to do in the laundry room.

I am glad I did a bit of leg work to find these machines. Ideally I wouldn't have bought a floor model as floor models scare me, and that is why I took the extended warranty which I would not have bothered with if it was new in the box. Hopefully I wasted my money on the extended warranty and never need to use it. Apparently earlier that day someone else was in the store and asked the sales guy if he could put the machine on hold but was told that they can not do so with floor models. Did I get lucky? Time will tell I suppose.