Thanks for the link. We started with the Waterproof System Activated problem and then a bit later the Fault Door Is Blocked began coming up as well. I was going to try to empty the pan of any water myself but the way this unit is in the cabinet makes getting at it rather tough.

Curious what you did to the hinge and latch. We're on our second hinge and third latch (and third gasket, second controller, second pump, ...). Door has sagged again and is now hitting at the very bottom of the latch. A bit more sag and we'll have to lift it up to get it to close.

I am beyond shocked to read this about Miele. As much as they cost, customers should not have to do a thing to them, nor should the machines ever deteriorate in any way. IMHO, they ought to run themselves. (Okay, that last comment was a joke. But not the rest.)

Yes, considering what these cost they should have lasted 20 years with no problems.

I think Miele is good with electric appliances. Anything that involves water or plumbing not so much. Their coffee maker, besides making quite poor tasting coffee (compared to Nespresso) is known for lots of problems.

We've a Miele combi/steam on the list for our new house and that it involves Miele and water makes me a bit nervous.

I've read so much on this forum and also heard first hand regarding the w4840 issues, but not so much on the european sized units. Hoping all has been sorted by now!

We've had great success with Speed Queen top loaders but they use more water and are an old fashioned machine. We have a dozen or so residential models used in a commercial setting. Some have been in use over 10 years, all day Monday-Friday and some on weekends. No service calls ever except I have one at home that was damaged when someone left nails in their pockets. They give an expected life of 25 years with specific usage on their website. The newer ones have an option of an eco wash but I have no idea how well that works. They are available at Mom and Pop dealers.

Imo Only:

I have an older Miele washer purchased in 2003, the smaller European unit that has continued to run with one replace of the cold water intake valve that was corroded do to the hard water in my city.

I saw the 4xxx series at my appliance store right next to the smaller 30xx eur style machine and the 4XXX series cost less than the 30xxx. It could have been a promotion, it could have been the way it was made. It was made to sell in the USA.

The 4xxx series is no longer made by Miele which to me says that it failed to live up to their standards or anyone else's, plus you could find other machines that offered more options, so from that my preference would be to buy only Miele units that are also sold in other markets.

You can still go to the Miele site in the UK and find the new W1 washer being sold with a 10 year warranty included in the price of $1,224. but it is not the jumbo size machine that sells the best in the USA market. The W1 machine is supposed to make an appearance in the USA sometime at the end of the year or beginning of 2018. I'll see what that looks like and how it might perform given we seem to have much stricter energy star requirements regarding electricity and water usage than the EU.

I had a chat at my local appliance store that sells Miele, Bosch, Sub Zero as well as Maytag, Whirlpool, and basic models. He tells me to expect a life expectancy of 7 years regardless of what brand you buy. I read an article a few years ago in Consumers Reports(not that I believe too much they say anymore), that stated the same thing, 7 years. I've talked to some of my neighbors who have told me that 7 years is Ok because after that something new and better will be available to buy. They want to continue to buy the new stuff.

So if many people are on board with the 7 year life expectancy thing, we can't expect any new appliance we buy to last much longer than that. Manufacturers can control the life of their equipment by using stronger components but there is no incentive to do that if the majority doesn't care.

SpeedQueen may be an exception but for a FL washer they fail to include an onboard heater in the unit. No heater is a fail for me.

So 7 years, that's what we can expect. Maybe if the same product is sold in other areas of the world we may get lucky.

7 years.

I have an LG pair that are nearly 10 years old now. Only service call was to ask about something that seemed to be poking the edge of the lint screen. The guy made a minor adjustment and gave us a new lint screen. That's the only issue I've had adn it was just a minot tweak.

I have a 12 year old Duet set that is running fine, no repairs. (knock on wood!)