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Need new dishwasher - Bosch 800 series vs Kitchenaid vs Miele?

10 years ago

Our almost 5yo Frigidaire Professional dishwasher (the bane of my existence) finally bit the dust and I'm looking at replacing it with a Bosch (SHX7PT55UC for $1049.99) or a Kitchenaid (KDTM404ESS for 1099.99 or KDTM704ESS for $1299.99). The sales rep at the local appliance dealer gave me a lot of good information on both such as that the Kitchenaid has a heating element whereas the Bosch doesn't and therefore, there may be more condensation inside the machine if not unloaded right away. Bosch is quieter and I like the design of its cutlery rack over the Kitchenaid design. I've seen varied reviews on both brands in those models.

Basically, I want something that will get my dishes clean and dry. I don't necessarily want to have to rinse my dishes prior to loading but I generally don't load dishes with a ton of soil on them to begin with (I will quick rinse/scrub them if they are really caked on). I don't want to spend time drying them when unloading. I don't need a lot of fancy cycles/options. I just want a relatively quiet machine that gets the job done. My Frigidaire failed me big time in this area, but according to the salesman, it appears that the pump has been failing for quite a while and that may have led to my issues of dishes not being clean.

I also questioned him about Miele (they don't carry Miele) and although they are a good machine, he feels that they are overpriced for what they deliver and that I can get a comparable Bosch or Kitchenaid for a lot less money.

Would love to know thoughts, opinions, and experiences with any of these! Thanks!

Comments (28)

  • 10 years ago

    We recently got a Miele Futura Dimension at a great discount. I have to say, I am fan and won't go back. If there is a next time, we would pay full price.

    If I calculate all the time we have lost rewashing dishes, the initial investment is minor. Our last DW (came with the house) was a Blomberg (sort of a bosh?) and OMG we have never before this one wished a machine ill will.

    A house before that was a KA, which wasn't bad, but still not like Miele. Prior to the KA, I couldn't even tell you what brands we have had. All I know is this Miele is amazing. Ours has a water softener, and I put the salt in, so perhaps it is that added feature? Also, it has 3 spinners, so lots of water sloshing around in there. My quantum tabs totally dissolve every time, so that tells me water is getting all around in there.

    shead thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    Do you know the model number of your Miele? I'd love to look at it. Thanks!

  • 10 years ago

    Blomberg and Bosch are not related.

    Miele is the most highly thought of dishwasher here, so if you're willing to spend what it takes to get one (or can get one you like at a great deal), I'd say go for it. I have a Bosch 800 series and I like it a lot -- it cleans great, better than any other dishwasher I've ever owned (by the way, you're supposed to put the dishes in the dishwasher unrinsed, just scraped, that's how the current detergents "feed"), I like the 3rd rack, vs. a basket, it fits a lot, and I have no problem with things not drying (but I wash at night and empty the next afternoon). I would recommend you take some of your dishes with you to the store to test the configuration.

    shead thanked sjhockeyfan325
  • 10 years ago

    Wow! Thanks, Johnsoro25! I don't think we've ever had a comparison ceteris paribus of two dishwashers: same dishes, same detergent, same water.

  • 10 years ago

    The Miele we just got is a 5675. It was a floor display. Not this year's model. $650. Call around your local stores and ask if they have floor models for sale once you decide on a DW. Or, any appliance for that matter.

  • 10 years ago

    Miele Dimension for us. With the current state of detergents we do use Lemi Shine conditioner as a maintenance additive every 6 months.

  • 10 years ago

    We have both. I love the Miele and it would be my top choice, but the Bosch gets the dishes just as clean and is just as quiet. (We have Miele in primary home, Bosch in summer home). The Miele gets extra points for the overall make- just a really solid construction, the racks slide out very smoothly, and sounds weird, but the internal plastic just seems of higher quality. But long story short, you wouldn't go wrong with the Bosch.

  • 10 years ago

    "feels that they are overpriced for what they deliver"

    How would he know since they don't carry them and he doesn't own one ???

    " can get a comparable abc or xyz for a lot less money."

    When someone makes a statement like this I immediately start to question their motives and competence.

    This is Almost universally untrue and ,in my view, simply a sales ploy. It is very rare to find an equivalent anything for LESS money. It happens but not often, and certainly not in this case.

    What generally happens is that one finds something that will fit their needs/want for a lower price , but in that quest they give up something in the bargain. Something in which they are totally fine doing without but that's not the same thing as equivalent.




  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I have a miele, but Bosch makes a good dw too. Bosch didn't fit my dishes. Take some plates and bowls, glassware (silverware ) too if you special requirements and try them before you make a final choice. Kitchen aid is the only one with heated drying. Do you need/want that?

  • 10 years ago

    @xedos, actually this guy did sell Miele for a long time as did the other high-end appliance dealership in our area. They both carried them two years ago when we did our kitchen reno and were looking at other appliances. Both places spoke very highly of them then; however, they didn't sell enough of them in our area to justify the inventory and felt that Bosch makes a machine VERY similar for less money. I think what he really meant was that the price difference for the extra features was overpriced.

    In talking to both of them in the last couple of days, both acknowledge that Miele is a superior brand (only marginally) but that they both ALSO have very good experiences with Bosch and they sell a ton of them with very few complaints. So, at this point I am 99.9% sure that we are going with a Bosch 800 series. As long as my dishes are cleaned without the headache my other machine gave me, I'll be happy.

    The older I get, the less impressed I am with fancy bells and whistles. That's why I also just replaced my washing machine with a Speed Queen :)

  • 10 years ago

    @poppy214, that is a great idea about taking my dishes to test them out. As for the heated dry, a part of me is a little sad that Bosch doesn't have that, but my husband's aunt has had her Bosch for 8 years without nary a problem and she assures me that her dishes (with the exception of plastics) always come out dry without the heating element.

  • 10 years ago

    Do you wash stemware, large baking pans/sheets, big pots in the dishwasher? Don't forget those along with the dishware. I love the adjustable racks.

  • 10 years ago

    I hated my Bosch dishwasher because it didn't dry the dishes. Every time I unloaded it I had to have a dish towel to dry half the items. It was especially annoying because the silverware would get rust spots, easily taken off with a little elbow grease but why? FYI, I run my dishwasher at night and unload first thing in the morning so dishes don't sit around for extended time. I have a KA now and it is a good machine, the dishes are clean and dry. It isn't as quiet as the Bosch but it is quiet enough.

    shead thanked ottoandlillysmom
  • 10 years ago

    Mom- did you use rinse aid with that bosch and at the correct dosage for your water quality ?

  • 10 years ago

    Yes I did but thanks for the suggestion. After the first couple of uses, I called the appliance store AAA Appliances since they highly recommended this dishwasher. They sent a repairman out. He said it was working fine, I was using the correct detergent and Jet Dry. He told me it was due to the energy saving no heat drying feature. I searched online and found lots of hits from people complaining about the same thing, including this site so I'm not alone.

  • 10 years ago

    Miele dishwashers are built to last at least 20 years....Nothing compares to a Miele, in my opinion.

  • 10 years ago

    Since no dealer nearby carries Miele (so I couldn't look at them in person), I did go with the Bosch 800 series. My dishes fit in both the Bosch and KA fine except my baking sheets that I use almost daily wouldn't clear on the KA. Really hoping I won't be disappointed with a $1200 dishwasher :/

  • 10 years ago

    Thanks for all the feedback!!

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Miele dishwashers are built to last at least 20 years

    Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Miele, but this is marketing gobbledegook. Nobody cares what it was "built" to do, all most people want to know is how long it will actually last in their home. And the answer, of course, is that it will vary. Miele dishwashers, just like all other brands, can fail at the 1, 5, and 10 year points, but some of them also last well over 20 years. And what does that even mean, anyway? Is it supposed to go 20 years without breaking at all, or is 20 years just the point where it will supposedly no longer be economical to repair?

  • 10 years ago

    I'm looking strongly at Miele for DW and ovens, but agree that the built to last 20 years is hype. If they feel so strongly about it, then they should offer a full 20 year warranty. :)

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Most or all miele dealers carry no inventory ! So, being saddled with a non seller isn't really plausible.

    Mom , it's very surprising that your DISHES weren't dry if you used rinse aid. Things like tupperware lids, sippycup tops, and other plastic items with channels that collect water and have no mass - yes. But those things are often wet out of heated dry makes too. My MIL had a GE with a huge element in the bottom and all the grandkid's stuff was wet after a cycle in that too.

    Yes, Bosch has cheaper models, but feature for feature (which is hard to align) they are pretty much the same price. Now, factor in that Miele makes all of their units in Germany with astronomical wage scales, ships them here, and pays duty on them, makes me wonder if the Bosch stuff made in rural NC is a tad over priced in comparison ?

    Still fine machines - and yes, I have a couple of them as well as Mieles.

  • 10 years ago

    @xedos, what I mean is that no appliance dealer in my area carries Miele now. Therefore, I had no showroom to even go for viewing one in person :/

  • 10 years ago

    Shead,

    I don't know where you are located but some Best Buys carry Miele in their appliance department. My local Best Buy does although we have a Miele showroom nearby and several dealers.

    Good luck!

  • 10 years ago

    Very happy with Bosch after one year. It is so quiet, people don't believe it's running til I show them the red light on the floor. We do run it overnight, though. At the end of the cycle, it will still be dripping inside. In the morning, anything without puddle areas is dry. It takes a little getting used to after American dishwashers that essentially have a "bake" cycle at the end. But we use the air dry setting on our Kitchen Aid in the old house, too, so pretty used to waiting to unload.

  • 10 years ago

    Hmm, well at least I can feel good about supporting American workers :) Sounds like comparing Bosch to Miele is like comparing a Lexus to an Infinity. Different features but still a nice ride.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    homepro - are you certain about that ?

    Pacific Sales has started opening boutiques in some. BB stores like Magnolia did for high end audio.

    Pacific reps Thermador, JennAir, and Viking but I don't think they have any ties with Miele. And Miele certainly isn't a core brand for their cash and carry appliance business.

  • 10 years ago

    My local one has Mieles. I looked at the induction cooktops there. They were one of the ones that had the 30" on display everywhere else only had 36"

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