Quick Couple Of Questions

[sdm197]

Hi,

I must say that this website has been very helpful so far with all the info provided. I am in the process of replacing my Miele W698 Hydromatic machine, it unfortunately suffered from the same fault three times (temperature controller). My confidence in Miele has been rocked slightly, which is why I am looking at the ISE. I should point out that the Machine is now 13yrs old though. its first failure was 3yrs after purchase the second failure was only Jan last year, and now it has failed again.

Now to the point, does the Miele W4144WPS or the ISE have a steel outer drum? On your opening info about buying a new machine it is mentioned that this is a good feature.

Are any machines these days sold with hot fill? My mother says there are, but I have yet to see one.

All replies most welcome.

SDM197.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hello. If it only failed 3 times in 13 years that's still a decent record although if suffering the same fault that's understandably a bit annoying. In all honesty if your Miele is only 13 years old it could still potentially out last many new washing machines you bought today because they are designed to last at least 20 years. The ISE washing machine's strength is its potential reparability and reasonably priced spares which should mean it last longer than many of the more throwaway washing machines out there - but it's no match for the build quality of a Miele washing machine - few if any are. The ISE has the same type of outer tub that the vast majority of modern washing machines have and that's essentially plastic.

All Miele washing machines should have a stainless steel outer tub (drum). The only other washing machines I'm currently aware of with a stainless outer tub (or drum if you prefer) are some Asko's but although they are better quality than most, Miele are still better made.

Hot fill washing machines are virtually gone now. There could be the odd one left but after initial scepticism I don't think the lack of a hot valve is an issue these days. Washing machines have never used so little energy and never washed so efficiently and that is without a hot valve. There's a lot of misconception about the real value of a hot water valve on washing machines which I talked about here - Should I buy a cold fill washing machine or hot and cold fill?

If comparing a Miele with an ISE, Miele are more expensive but a very high quality build and the ISE is a more standard washing machine but with much better spares pricing and many more people available to carry out future repairs. There's also much more diy advice available for anyone wanting to do diy repairs on an ISE and the other advantage is that the ISE is supplied and repaired (even under warranty) by your local repairman which no other washing machine is.

As pointed out on my ISE washing machine review, the ISE is about the same price as a basic entry Miele but with the same (5 year) guarantee. However it has faster spin and a bigger drum wheras the Miele is simply a much better washing machine with fewer features.

[sdm197]

Hi thanks for the quick reply, both machines seem very good, I can pick up the Miele for £237 more than the ISE but at the moment you get a 10yr guarantee, so I suppose if you look at the build quality aspect that you have mentioned and the perceived value of the extra 5 yrs warranty over the ISE, the Miele is actually quite a good deal. I was as you put annoyed that it was the same part that had failed, But overall I was very happy with the machine.

SDM197

[deannatrois]

Thank u for making this post. I am in the same position, new kitchen about to be installed, Bosch washing machine (4 years old) is giving up on life and I need a new one.., preferably without paying out the earth but reliability and long term usage, and it HAS to be silver being my most important criteria. I looked at the white goods site and decided I needed to look at Miele washing machines.., because of the build quality and 10 year guarantee on the more expensive ones. However, the cost of it is gonna take up my entire budget for three different large items I wanted to buy (corner sofa, vented tumble dryer - creda one that is 10 years old needs to be retired, its very very suspect lol- and washing machine.

Still, I loved what I read about Miele washing machines so much that I am almost certainly gonna blow my whole budget on one (lol, typical of me I am going for the most expensive one - the W3923 which I can get with a bit of online shopping around for 1,170 less 8% Quidco money back discount). Altho the fact that I could get a reasonable car with the money does make me gulp a bit, but knowing its gonna last at least 10 years and that the cycle itself (even got flood protection built in which is a constant problem with my Bosch at the moment) will save me money knocks everything else out of the water.

I was really interested in the ISE machine, but well, i want something that will last as near forever as anything mechanical can, I do NOT want to be calling engineers every couple of years if I am lucky. Cheap repairs aren't necessarily cheap if there is something else available where hopefully there will not be such a high demand on an engineers time. Plus of course, the ISE is white, defo not something I want. The price is tempting, believe u me I am not someone who would normally contemplate spending so much on one appliance but at this moment in time I am prepared to, to reduce the repair merry go round as much as possible (plus altho I have a budget now, repairs aren't normally in my budget and i really do not want to pay as much as the cost of the machine again for a warranty with possibly problems getting anything done).I have read enuf of the repair nitemare section on the White goods site to make me wary of needing an engineers services lolol! No disrespect at all to the designers of the ISE machine, its just my personal choice - avoid the need for repairs as much as possible.., otherwise the ISE machine is a wonderful concept and one I would fully support if Miele did not exist.

So thank you for giving such an honest opinion on the ISE compared to a Miele.., and now its just a case of seeing if I can bear the pain of paying over £1000 at one time for a washing machine lolol. Will I survive the experience long enuf to use it lol?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

And thank you for making your own comprehensive post. The W 3923 is surely the best washing machine money can buy. I wish I could afford one 🙂 As far as I know it is the only silver washing machine Miele do but unlike all other silver washing machines it isn't silver because it's been painted silver, its silver because it's made of stainless steel. I have seen Miele's stainless steel washing machine and I can assure you it is awesome. None of the pictures in brochures or on the Internet come close to showing its beauty.

However, it has to be said that making a washing machine out of stainless steel is probably over the top - even for Miele. If you can afford it then you will certainly be able to impress your friends with it.

I hope you will post a new thread in the Miele Forum describing your experiences and opinions of the washing machine if you go ahead and buy it.

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