Bosch Washing machine review: WAA24160: Overview

The first thing that struck me about the Bosch WAA24160 washing machine is that it looks and feels solid. It's a fair bit heavier than the Hoover and Hotpoint washing machines, yet it doesn't cost that much more. It's also quieter and more stable on spin.

Secondly, I was impressed with the clean and simple design. The program timer knob and all the option buttons are nice and chunky. The whole control panel has a slightly old-fashioned look to it. To me though, old-fashioned in washing machine terms equates to uncomplicated and reliable, so instead of putting me off, I found it reassuring.

There is a small display, which gives the projected time estimate for the completion of the wash. This display counts down to the finish so you can tell at a glance how long it is going to be before you can start washing the next load. I liked the way in which the time is adjusted when pressing any of the other option buttons so you can see what effect they will have on the time of the wash. Some of them increase the time and some decrease it. I did notice that many of the programs had long time periods which is probably because the GB model is cold fill only.

Cold fill washing machine

The Bosch WAA24160 is another cold fill only washing machine. There is no hot water valve. This is now a common trend with the quality washing machines. Eventually, all washing machines may follow suit.

Build quality

Taking off the lid, I was surprised that it weighed probably twice as much as a lid for washing machines like Hoover, Hotpoint, Whirlpool and Indesit etc. It's certainly a sign of better quality and this helps keep noise down.

The outer tub is plastic. This is increasingly common these days and only the most expensive washing machines are likely to have anything different. Plastic tubs are cheaper to produce and can't rust like vitreous enamel ones used to. However, they can be punctured by coins or other metal objects that should never get inside a washing machine in the first place but inevitably often do. I've written off many cheaper washing machines due to careless washing of clothes with coins in the pockets, so be warned.

Other parts

The Bosch WAA24160 has a very large door. The hinges are solid and the door catch is made of metal. The drum is no bigger than normal (11 lb/5 Kg) but the big door opening makes loading it much easier. The door gasket seal's lip comes over the front of the drum which should make losing socks very unlikely. The motor looks large and solid, with hard-wearing carbon brushes. Everything looked well made.

Criticism

The only criticism I have (other than the lack of a hot water valve issue) is that the water pump was as noisy as on the cheapest machines. No noisier than many others, but noisier than a quality machine should be. Looking underneath at the water pump, it's a commonly used pump that other manufacturers also fit. It's clearly part of the reason why Bosch washing machines are so competitively priced these days. Bosch have a high reputation, but the washing machines currently sold in the UK are decent, good, - but not really a "quality" washing machine anymore. They are simply too cheap to be a quality washing machine. I would place them just below or on a par with AEG and Zanussi, but above, Hoover, Hotpoint, Servis, Ariston, Indesit, Beko, Whirlpool, Candy etc

Summary

I'm reasonably impressed with this washing machine. It looks simple to use and very solidly made for the price. It uses micro chip technology but without getting carried away by having lots of fancy stuff we don't need or even understand. It should be quiet and stable on its more than adequate 1200 (top) speed spin. It's not the best quality money can buy, it's in the middle of the quality range. There are better quality washing machines out there, but this washing machine is not that much more expensive than a Hoover or Hotpoint, yet it's a better washing machine.

My only concern is that independent repairers can't get parts and technical information as easily for the German washing machines. This means if you can't find a local repairman who repairs Bosch washing machines, you may need to be prepared to use the manufacturer's service for any future maintenance.

2 year guarantee

Bosch washing machines should have a 2 year guarantee. As long as you register your Bosch washing machine (which is highly recommended) you will receive a further full 12 months guarantee for parts and labour. This makes Bosch definitely a much better buy than Hoover, Hotpoint, Servis, Ariston, Indesit, Beko, Whirlpool, Candy etc.

Important: Don't forget that the general build quality of any given make of washing machine is usually the same throughout their entire range so if you can't find this particular model, look for one similar within their range. Paying for the top model within a manufacturer's range will not normally get you better quality, it will get you faster spin speeds and extra features. Conversely, buying the basic model within a range, will not normally cause you to lose out in quality - only features. [ If I buy a more expensive washing machine do I actually get a better one? ]

Based on this premise, any other washing machine in the current Bosch range should fare as well in an inspection as the Bosch WAA24160 review (at least as far as build quality is concerned).