The two best ways you can prolong the life of any machine, from a Miele to a cheap Chinese import, are: -

Maintenance wash - every six weeks run it empty with some washing powder/tablets (not liquid or gel) in it on a 95C wash. Cleans all the grime and bacteria out and keeps the machine working correctly.

Don't overload - the rule of thumb (quite literally) is that you should be able to put your hand in and do a "thumbs up sign" in the empty space above the clothes. If you can't do this your machine is overloaded and will use more water and electric, not wash properly and knacker the bearings over time.

Apart from that I don't rate gels or liquids or eco detergents, use the recommended amount of a powder or tablet detergent. Check pockets carefully and if your machine is in the kitchen and it's plumbed directly into the sink waste, make sure it goes up first so the dirty sink water doesn't flow into the washing machine.


If it's a rattling noise it's unlikely to be bearings as they make a distinctive rumbling noise. You need to listen to hear where the noise is coming from but it's most likely something like a coin caught in the pump. For most machines the easiest way to check is to tip the machine backwards and place a bowl under the filter. Open the filter and have a good feel around with your finger, including behind the filter in the pump itself. Most likely you'll find about a quid in change and whatever else you have washed inadvertently!


LG machines are the best mid-price after Bosch but the hall sensor in the direct drive motor tends to go after about 7-8 years, it's covered by their ten year motor warranty but they take a long time to sort this out (weeks/months), which understandably isn't acceptable for most people so they pay to have it fixed instead. The actual part that goes is only £17 but sometimes the whole stator, including the hall sensor, go, so some lazy engineers just quote for the entire stator at about £80 because they don't want to risk doing the job twice (you can't test if it is just the hall sensor until the machine is reassembled).

Apart from that bearings are not as good as Bosch but still pretty decent and easier to change. They are otherwise very similar to Bosch except quieter and some have stupidly large drums and don't wash very well. Personally I would never buy a drum larger than 7kg as domestic size machines don't wash very well above this.

Bosch washing machines are still good except the really cheap "tactical" models. Go for one with a half moon shaped door handle rather than a square handle.

Washing machine manufacturers all rate their machines by the number of cycles they expect before failure on an average machine so they can cost their warranties (or, as is more common nowadays, contract the warranty work to Domestic and General). Fact is that Electrolux rate these machines to do 800 cycles before the first repair is needed. Yes, there will be people who have machines that last longer, and some less, but the average they are expected to last is three years if you use it five times a week. Seen loads of these and write off at least two a week AEGs and Zanussis with collapsed bearings that are 13, 14 and 15 months old. Sometimes Serviceforce, at their discretion, will do the labour for free if less than two years old but you still pay £200-ish for the complete tub assembly for the sake of bearings which cost less than £10. And it WILL happen again, and again, and again, because it's a stupid design.

Bosch machines are typically rated for circa 2,500 cycles - this is because they have better bearings, better electronics and a better design. I have seen a handful of Bosch bearing failures, they are a PITA to change but can be done for less than £100 all in.

If you own one of these machines and never overload it so the bearings last and are lucky enough to have no power surges/shorting components blowing up the board, then they would be okay machines. But the odds aren't great, and owning a machine for a year or since 2006 is nothing. A decent Bosch should last 12+ years of normal domestic use.

I sell load of Bosch washing machines but some are hard to get stocks of becaue the chains take them all in bulk basically indies get the left overs.

AEG were epic pre Electrolux as Odom says just badged Electrolux models now just the higher spec one's.

The sealed drums are a pain, remember when my engineers went out to one and Electrolux denied that had a sealed drop on the model, then they 'found' the technical bulletin to say it had, 3 weeks after I had got hold of it.

Like most repairs nowadays bearing and carbon changes that dont want you to do anymore is a straight motor and drum changes, quick easy get the engie in and out fast with no mess.

I heard somewhere I think Panasonic W/M will soon be coming out of Vestel factories in Turkey via assembly and spares sourced there to Panasonic spec's but tbh that doesnt hold up well if you seen any Arcelik (Beko) or Vestel made machines anything Turkish is a mess.

Like most of the chinese stuff, even Hoover basic dishwashers are chinese Midea models now.

I would always go for a Bosch mid to top range, if you can afford a Miele go for it. Lg are goodish now BUT if ia breaks down spares are shipped to UK from Holland which in Turn come from Korea.

The Koreans are not very good at getting your machines back working all of them are poor.

Too early to say what they will be like long term really, but they are expensive and have a habit of ripping the door seals which isn't covered by the warranty and will leave you with a flooded floor. Having said that haven't seen many other problems with them but this is probably also because they are very rare. Most independent repairers wouldn't have the door seals in stock and they are a really PITA to change, so expect to get charged accordingly. Build quality otherwise seems good, though.

If it was my money I would save some and go for a tried and tested Bosch.



Keep hold of it, it will needs bearings replaced soon but easy job to do and you will not find machines as well made as that without spending Miele money nowadays. As soon as you hear the rumbling from the bearings get them changed though, if you leave it too long they chew up the spider which is another £30 on top.

Does anyone know if AEG will accept a printout of the Curry's online "invoice"?

I've put invoice in quotes since it doesn't say invoice anywhere on it :/ just order details at the top. But it does detail the other things i'd expect on an invoice (apart from VAT number). I have emailed them asking for a Invoice, but I've never been enamoured with their customer service :disappointed:

thanks

odum, kankan101
thanks for feedback which bosch models would you recommend
n

Thank you odom and Kankan101
Thumbs up to you both

I sell load of Bosch washing machines but some are hard to get stocks of becaue the chains take them all in bulk basically indies get the left overs.

AEG were epic pre Electrolux as Odom says just badged Electrolux models now just the higher spec one's.

The sealed drums are a pain, remember when my engineers went out to one and Electrolux denied that had a sealed drop on the model, then they 'found' the technical bulletin to say it had, 3 weeks after I had got hold of it.

Like most repairs nowadays bearing and carbon changes that dont want you to do anymore is a straight motor and drum changes, quick easy get the engie in and out fast with no mess.

I heard somewhere I think Panasonic W/M will soon be coming out of Vestel factories in Turkey via assembly and spares sourced there to Panasonic spec's but tbh that doesnt hold up well if you seen any Arcelik (Beko) or Vestel made machines anything Turkish is a mess.

Like most of the chinese stuff, even Hoover basic dishwashers are chinese Midea models now.

I would always go for a Bosch mid to top range, if you can afford a Miele go for it. Lg are goodish now BUT if ia breaks down spares are shipped to UK from Holland which in Turn come from Korea.

The Koreans are not very good at getting your machines back working all of them are poor.

The two best ways you can prolong the life of any machine, from a Miele to a cheap Chinese import, are: -

Maintenance wash - every six weeks run it empty with some washing powder/tablets (not liquid or gel) in it on a 95C wash. Cleans all the grime and bacteria out and keeps the machine working correctly.

Don't overload - the rule of thumb (quite literally) is that you should be able to put your hand in and do a "thumbs up sign" in the empty space above the clothes. If you can't do this your machine is overloaded and will use more water and electric, not wash properly and knacker the bearings over time.

Apart from that I don't rate gels or liquids or eco detergents, use the recommended amount of a powder or tablet detergent. Check pockets carefully and if your machine is in the kitchen and it's plumbed directly into the sink waste, make sure it goes up first so the dirty sink water doesn't flow into the washing machine.


If it's a rattling noise it's unlikely to be bearings as they make a distinctive rumbling noise. You need to listen to hear where the noise is coming from but it's most likely something like a coin caught in the pump. For most machines the easiest way to check is to tip the machine backwards and place a bowl under the filter. Open the filter and have a good feel around with your finger, including behind the filter in the pump itself. Most likely you'll find about a quid in change and whatever else you have washed inadvertently!


LG machines are the best mid-price after Bosch but the hall sensor in the direct drive motor tends to go after about 7-8 years, it's covered by their ten year motor warranty but they take a long time to sort this out (weeks/months), which understandably isn't acceptable for most people so they pay to have it fixed instead. The actual part that goes is only £17 but sometimes the whole stator, including the hall sensor, go, so some lazy engineers just quote for the entire stator at about £80 because they don't want to risk doing the job twice (you can't test if it is just the hall sensor until the machine is reassembled).

Apart from that bearings are not as good as Bosch but still pretty decent and easier to change. They are otherwise very similar to Bosch except quieter and some have stupidly large drums and don't wash very well. Personally I would never buy a drum larger than 7kg as domestic size machines don't wash very well above this.

Hi odom,
might as well ask while im here!
How are LG machines? Been looking at the direct drive ones with steam fuction, difficult to find many reviews of them though....

ANy thoughts would be welcome.....

I had the misfortune to own an AEG L14850, PCB failed 3 times in 4 months and the last time they wouldn't replace blaming a leak from my sink for the failure which I could prove was not the case with photographic evidence. I had a battle with John Lewis and Aeg for weeks before they agreed a refund. The 350 quid Hoover I brought to replace it has lasted over 2 years without such issue

Hey odom! As a professional in this area, could you give us plebs some advice on ways to prolong the life of our washing machines? How do we know when it's overloaded? What's the best thing to avoid?

Thanks so much!

It's not expired!!! New stock comes in daily!!!

Except not everybody has a Costco card........... :confused:

Cold. Just buy any White or electrical product from Costco. Your Warranty is forever.

Hi Odom, informed views and advice always welcome. My washing machine - Zanussi, 2 years old - has recently started rattling on the spin cycle - would this be the bearings? It works fine at the moment but if I'm going to have to buy a new one I'd prefer to have some time to shop around before it does eventually stop working.

Thanks.

It's coming in and out of stock actually.

Odim - thanks for the comments. Much of what you say could be levelled at most machines though? And this is the Which best buy!! Cheap for a relatively good brand, features and reliability??

Ours came on Sunday. Seems to work perfectly. Quick on Daily mode. Drying really quick, much quicker than suggested in the manual. Less than an hour we've found on normal laundry. Ridiculously quiet too even at top spin speed - it seems to work..... Elegantly??!

Thanks for all the votes and as I say the stock comes in and out daily so don't expire, just keep an eye on Currys each day :smiley:

I think Odom should get a mention in the newsletter as being the washing machine guru, good work mate. Can't fault knowledge like that!

OUT OF Stock.

odum, how do you rate panasonic washing machines i have noticed they give away 5 year guarantee from time to time

I have a AEG lavamat and its still going strong since 1999 not the biggest drum by todays standards but an 1800 spin still outshines many if the modern ones.

Bosch washing machines are still good except the really cheap "tactical" models. Go for one with a half moon shaped door handle rather than a square handle.

Washing machine manufacturers all rate their machines by the number of cycles they expect before failure on an average machine so they can cost their warranties (or, as is more common nowadays, contract the warranty work to Domestic and General). Fact is that Electrolux rate these machines to do 800 cycles before the first repair is needed. Yes, there will be people who have machines that last longer, and some less, but the average they are expected to last is three years if you use it five times a week. Seen loads of these and write off at least two a week AEGs and Zanussis with collapsed bearings that are 13, 14 and 15 months old. Sometimes Serviceforce, at their discretion, will do the labour for free if less than two years old but you still pay £200-ish for the complete tub assembly for the sake of bearings which cost less than £10. And it WILL happen again, and again, and again, because it's a stupid design.

Bosch machines are typically rated for circa 2,500 cycles - this is because they have better bearings, better electronics and a better design. I have seen a handful of Bosch bearing failures, they are a PITA to change but can be done for less than £100 all in.

If you own one of these machines and never overload it so the bearings last and are lucky enough to have no power surges/shorting components blowing up the board, then they would be okay machines. But the odds aren't great, and owning a machine for a year or since 2006 is nothing. A decent Bosch should last 12+ years of normal domestic use.

Pretty good deal. You can usually pick up these in John Lewis outlet stores for low £400s but without any extended warranty and without the knowledge of what's happened to it before. I've had this AEG for just over a year now and it does the job.

I had a Zanussi Washer Dryer before this AEG and that never broke down in over 10 years, I only changed it cos the bearing was getting a little noisy and the kitchen was being redone.

I've had an AEG washer dryer since 2006.Still running like new and the dryer is very effective.

Indeed, are Bosch still any good?

Odin What are the makes and models of washing machines that you would recommend then?

For those of you saying how good your old AEG was, unfortunately although these machines have the same fascia they are totally different inside, as they are now owned by Electrolux. Old ones were German built and bombproof, new ones are Italian and basically Zanussis with a fancy badge on the front.

Problems with this machine (I am a washing machine engineer): -

- Sealed tub inside so when the bearings go, it's a whole new tub. If overloaded they can fail in as little as 18 months. Yes, you have a warranty to cover for it, but you will be without a washing machine for a fortnight whilst they replace it + have an engineer in your kitchen for 90 minutes sorting it. Electrolux use Serviceforce engineers = franchised private companies, so service is variable.

- Rubbish Electrolux electronics which burn out very easily. No company in the UK repairs new Elux boards so if it goes out of warranty it's circa £200 for a new one + labour + replacing whatever has caused the board to blow.

Having said that all washer dryers are pretty rubbish so at least you'll get five years out of this, albeit wearing dirty clothes while your machine is mended for some of those.

great machine, great price

out of stock sadly! good deal though!

Machine arrived on Friday as expected.

Did the first wash and surprisingly the silent system plus is not just a marketing gimmick, its only really audible outside the laundry cupboard when the pump goes on. Other then that you simply can't hear it :O Girlfriend was very impressed with the results of the first wash so looks like its a keeper :smiley:

Only issue I have is it got a wobble on at the end of the programme. I think I'll have to pull it out and level it more accurately (or perhaps place a board underneath as I have a laminate floor under it, so there may be some flex). I have to say the manual could be better, especially the installation instructions. And I'd prefer if you could adjust the rear feet from the front of the machine, because pulling it out to adjust them makes it a laborious process to level it. Surely most installations will not allow easy access to the rear feet for levelling.

Looks like the expected dispatch has changed:

"expected Dispatched within 2 to 4 weeks"

Mine is due on Friday, so either that expected dispatch is misleading or HUKD has had its normal effect on stock levels :smile:

Thanks for adding that, wonderful. Hope this has benefited others too... Have been tracking the price for months and the sudden AEG cashback made it a no-brainer :smiley:

AEG Cashback details - http://d3aensyvlglrq6.cloudfront.net/jl_assets/pdf/AEG_Cashback_Feb_Apr_2012.pdf

5 year warranty details - http://currys.pan.e-merchant.com/grafx/gb/uk/promotions/pdf/L16850_5year_warranty.pdf

Added both to description.

And thankyou, been waiting for a good deal on a washing machine.

sat555: You are a superstar! Thank you so much for getting the PDF links on here! Seems almost like a mistake that these two promotions are running concurrently... But they are :smiley::smiley:

sowotsdis - we need a dryer too but don't physically have space for one, hence a washer-dryer is the solution. Perhaps we are in "white goods poverty" compared to you?? I would have hoped your negativity would be quelled by this being the top-rated washer dryer by Which so it is relatively decent.

Ive had my AEG oko lavamat from the early nineties and it's still going strong. Have been waiting for it to pack in to replace it but we've not had a bit of bother out it.

Not true...

My last washer dryer lasted 7 years, The drying had stopped but I could still wash... So to say that if one part breaks the other does true is simply not correct!

Small loads are fine but they do state so on the machine, 5kg+5kg is fine for me.

Just got my new one with a 5 year warranty.

If i hadn't already purchased this would have been the buy for me.

HOT!

Washer dryers are :
totally inefficent at drying
ecologically damaging
expensive to run
take ages to dry even light clothing
create damp
only dry small loads
when the washer breaks down so does your dryer
when your dryer breaks down..............

I think you get the picture
need I continue?

Also TCB 1.5% :-)