Their cost is the main disadvantage for most people. A higher quality washing machine needs more financial investment to purchase. They cost a lot more up front but they are supposed to be cheaper over the long run by lasting longer and breaking down less.
However, although a Miele should be far less likely to need repairs, repairs are relatively expensive. Major parts can be very expensive indeed. If buying a Miele try to find one with a long guarantee. Typically they are guaranteed for 2, 5 or 10 years.
Repairs & Servicing
Like all premium brands Miele have a protective attitude towards their appliances and image. They strongly believe that only themselves and their dealers should repair their appliances to ensure the high standard of service they deserve. This is pretty normal amongst all niche high quality products, but it means there are very few independent washing machine repairers who repair them.
There is a small percentage of independent repairers who may be willing to have a look at one depending on the fault. But most independents do not repair Miele appliances. They don’t have the computer laptop and diagnostic software, or access to technical information so they might be unable to diagnose or even calibrate the machine.
You will need to use Miele engineers or dealers for repairs
I used to take great issue with this. I still think it can be counter productive in various ways, not least by causing Miele repairs to be more expensive due to lack of competition. But Miele do make a uniquely exceptional quality washing machine compared to the rest. In today’s economic climate in particular this is extremely brave – and thank goodness someone still does.
Most manufacturers make massive compromises on the quality of their appliances in order to sell to the masses. Miele aren’t immune from the necessity to keep costs under control, and the inevitable compromises that can dictate. But they generally plough a solitary path down the “forever better” ethos. Like all high quality niche manufacturers they have to adopt certain ways of surviving and maintaining their brand image.
It has to be said also that most appliance manufacturers are now making their appliances more unrepairable by design, or by ludicrous spare parts prices, and by restricting technical information to independent repairers. So across the board appliances have become substantially less repairable than in the past. A counter point to this is that they are also generally very much cheaper to buy in real terms.
However, some of Miele spare parts can seem insanely expensive. A good example is I just bought a new Miele oven and we wanted an extra wire shelf. Miele wanted to charge £90 for it. I could buy an entire (albeit inferior quality) oven for just £119. I ended up buying a Neff wire shelf for just £23 which was more than good enough.
Longer guarantees
My advice would be that if investing in a Miele washing machine, you need to be prepared to use Miele engineers or dealers for any future repairs. It’s little different to how if you bought a Mercedes car you would expect servicing costs to be higher than for a Fiat. Most people shouldn’t encounter any serious breakdowns though, and Miele quality still can’t be beaten.
The minimum guarantee on a Miele appliance is 2 years, but many models have 5 year guarantees and some are guaranteed for 10 years. I have a Miele W3740 washing machine. I hasn’t given any trouble at all in over 11 years and still sounds like new to me. I would expect most people’s experience to be similar. Even high quality appliances can still break down, but if you buy a Miele model with a long guarantee you can get extra piece of mind.
Designed for equivalent of 20 years life
Miele have long since advertised their washing machines as designed to last 20 years. In relatively recent years they’ve had to amend it to, “tested for the equivalent of 20 years’ use”. They currently word it as follows –
During these tests appliances have to wash for 10,000 hours. This involves running approximately 5000 wash programmes. In terms of daily laundry this equates to about 5 programmes per week with an average run time of 2 hours for 20 years. ”
Anyone washing more than 7 times a week could use up the 20 year lifespan several years short. Miele engineers can tell how many wash cycles their washing machines have done by plugging in their laptops. Ultimately, their designed for slogan does not guarantee it will last 20 years.
Sadly, I’ve had so many reports of dissatisfied Miele owners whose Miele appliance has not lasted anywhere near 20 years that I feel it’s no longer safe to assume one will last like they used to, although it’s still possible. Sadly, the quality – although still superior to most others – appears to have dropped. Coupled with extremely high repair costs it seems there is much more risk involved in investing in a Miele appliance these days.
Unsurprisingly not too many retailers sell Miele appliances, and some only stock a small selection. This is partially because most retailers follow the same path as manufacturers in that they just want to sell appliances in vast quantities – which you can’t do with Miele.
I’ve recently realised that a lot of the parts are in fact of a very similar – if not same – build quality as ordinary washing machines. I discovered this when I was part of a Which? Investigation, and we completely stripped down 12 brand-new washing machines of different brands. We found parts like the pump, water valves, belt and others looked no different to any other brand. However, the motor, drum and bearings, casing, and some other parts are clearly still of higher build quality.
Miele build quality review
Having said all that, I believe Miele are still the best quality washing machine. I have another article looking at the build quality of Miele washing machines
Finally, my own experience
I have had a Miele W3740 for 17 and a half years. It has been the best washing machine we’ve ever had – by miles. It was as quiet at 17.5 years as a brand new washing machine. Over this time it broke down 3 times, and each time, it was caused by user error – and not really a failure at all. So technically it never broke down, The breakdowns were all caused by things being stuck in the pump filter and not using enough detergent causing a big buld up of limescale and gunge.
However, it did recently finally die. It went with a pop and bang, and gave off a pungent burning smell. I strongly suspected the motor. However, I could not find any spare parts at all anywhere on the internet. At least, no genuine spare parts (only cheap copies of a handful of parts).
At one spare parts website, I saw the following explanation –
“Miele have unfortunately changed their sales policy in UK and Europe. This applies to all online spare parts retailers. We can only sell Genuine Miele spare parts to repair engineers and not directly to the public. Unfortunately, we have had to remove thousands of parts from your view”
So, I contacted Miele themselves, who quoted over £500 for a new motor, but offered a fixed price repair which includes parts for £289. However, they also said that if the engineer says the washing machine is, “beyond economical repair” I could deduct the £289 from the cost of a new Miele washing machine from them, or alternatively they would refund just £170 (leaving a cost of £119).
The fixed price repair has restrictions on it, and I get a strong impression they would write off any machine needing expensive parts like a motor, PCB, drum bearings, leaving me with a cost of £119.
Ultimately this left my 17.5-year-old Miele W3740 not worth repairing, despite being designed and advertised for a life of 20 years. But it has still been the best washing machine we’ve ever had by far.
We bought a new Miele washing machine
I can say without fear of contradiction that the new Miele washing machine isn’t half as well-made as the W3470. Many parts that were made from stainless steel, or strong metal, are now made of plastic (including the main outer drum). It weighs much less than the old one.
Many parts (as mentioned earlier) look and feel no different to the same parts on “normal” washing machines. But other parts such as the cabinet, the drum and bearings, look to be of much better quality than on a “normal washing machine”. I still believe it to be superior to most other washing machines, yet I don’t have confidence that it will last 20 years. I hope and expect for at least 12 though.
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The drum bearing broke on our Miele washing machine 2 years before the 10-year guarantee ran out. The engineer told us we only did 1,005 washes, mostly on Express cycle and no hot washes. We were careful never to overload it. I think the engineer could tell from his diagnostic laptop. So he offered us half price off a new washing machine, based on their list price, which was a few hundred pounds more expensive than John Lewis. Alternatively, we could get it repaired and the new part would carry a 10-yr guarantee. After much deliberation (at half price it was still very expensive) we decided to get a new Miele. Our confidence in the brand is slightly dented but fingers crossed, this new machine will last longer than 1000 washes!
Yes it’s a shame that the bearing went, they are massive drum bearings compared to the other manufacturers. If it was still under guarantee though I’d have had it repaired. However, I can see how the offer of a new one at half price would be tempting as it’s not likely to come again. It was a pretty good offer. My own Miele washing machine must be at least 12 years old and it still sounds like a new one. I expect it to last up to another 10 years. If it did break down though, and was going to be very expensive to repair I would have to consider whether to buy a new one or not. I hope you are happy with your new one.
I recently switched from Miele to Hotpoint because it was a lot cheaper to run, but I remember when I first bought the Miele one that it was very hard to find one that wasn’t online (I like to see the product before I buy!)
I would say a major downside of the Miele is the price, which is one of the first points that you made. It’s incredibly difficult to jusitfy that cost to someone if the only benefit is that it will last for a long time. The Hotpoint one I bought to replace it hotpoint ultima is energy efficient so I’ll see a return on the investment in my energy bills.
Do you think I’ve made the right decision?
To be honest Francine I’d say the chances are a Mile would work out cheaper in the long run because it should last at least twice as long if not 3 times as long. But you have to invest the money upfront by paying twice as much.
My miele washing machine has broken down the engineer said suspension on drum snapped and short circuited the board..so I will need both fixed..could anyone tell me roughtly how much it’s going to cost. I’m in a delma as to keep or buy a new machine..
Hi Jan. Not sure why engineer would tell you what has gone wrong and what needs replacing but no price? It depends on exactly how much it will cost, and how old it is.
Hi Jan – we’ve just been quoted £297 for a new board for our 11 year old machine and unsure if we should replace or buy another Miele or Bosch or get fixed. But that price should give you a clue what to expect for some of it. I asked engineer to check bearings and drum, luckily good, and he said a drum replacement would be £1000! Absolutely crazy. Of course it’s out of warranty. Check to see if yours still has one?
When will somebody give results on the quality of the clothes and bedding that are washed. The trend of using less water and the ruff tumble action of the items in the machines causes pilling and massive creasing. I personally feel no consideration
is given to the increased electricity used in 2021 washing machines.
Regards Stella. Please comment would be appreciated.
Hello Stella. Some people do seem to have a problem with excessive filling and shedding of fibres though many modern clothes have quite restrictive wash labels that need to be carefully read and understood and adhered to otherwise damage to the clothes can occur. Some T-shirts say do not spin, I’ve even got a T-shirt on this morning which for some bizarre reason the wash label says do not use fabric softener. I’ve no idea why, and need to look into this. It also many of the wash labels say to wash only with similarly coloured items. I think the problem you describe may well at least be partially due to washing items on wash cycles and circumstances that the wash labels warn against. Also, many people wash items that should be washed on a gentle cycle, or a cycle with the one line underneath indicating gentle action on a normal wash cycle with a normal wash action instead.
Unfortunately, adhering to the ridiculous wash labels is very difficult these days. Most people never even look at the wash labels and could be forgiven for assuming you can just wash them on 40 degree cottons wash like we have washed most things for decades.
Having said all that, it is possible that modern washing machines may be contributing to the problem but I think all the afore mentioned should be ruled out first.
nothing is good about them…. they cost ridiculous money, break easily, and cost to much to fix/take forever for a tech to show up. in less than one month of use the washer/dryer we bought both broke, and even managed to throw themselves off balance 7 times! they leak, they don’t dry properly and the wait time for the tech is up to 90 days! minimum 30!