Bosch Nexxt 100 washer questions?

My MIL and I were out today looking for a new washer and dryer set for her-- both of us agree her current toploader is truly loathsome. I have LG frontloaders and mostly like them quite well, but found a pair of Bosch at Lowe's that seem to be well put together. I really like my Bosch stove, but don't know anything about their washers. Anyone have any? The long cycle is much shorter than I'm used to with LG and the extraction cycle is only 800 rpm compared to the 1000+ I'm used to, but the drum diameters may produce the same G forces -- I'm just nervous that things may not come out of the washer as dry as I think they should.

If you wouldn't mind dropping me an email at kay(at)fern.com I'd be grateful and will post a summary -- my usenet access seems flakey right now.

And if you've got another favorite frontloader (or a "don't buy a XXYY brand") I'd also be grateful to hear about it.

Thanks

Kay Lancaster

Reply to
Kay Lancaster
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You may want to avoid the Maytag (made by Whirlpool now) since there have been so many problems with them. Mine was rebuilt in my home by a service tech at company expense, but not everyone has gotten equivalent service.

Reply to
Pogonip

Hmm, and I was going to say we've been delighted with ours since we had it last July time. 1800 spin speed, unbelievably quiet and an A+ eco rating.

When did you develop trouble with it and what was the problem, just so I can be on the look out for it?

Reply to
The Wanderer

Mine is a Neptune, and was one of the first ones they made. They had failed to vent the door, so when the serviceman came out, he replaced the door, the timer, and a number of other parts. The main problem that brought it to my attention was mold. He spent hours working on it, and told me that he put in about $600 worth of parts. He also told me to run it empty with Cascade about once a year.

Since the work was done, it takes a lot longer to wash a load.

Reply to
Pogonip

Ta for the heads up.

I think, I hope, they've moved on quite a bit. Ours is all stainless steel, and seems to be really well made - I did get the chance to get a good look around the machine when it was installed.

As an aside, when I was researching for a new WM and DW for the kitchen refit, all the negative comments about pretty much all the brands seemed to come from the US. Elsewhere in the world people were heaping praise on the various machines.

Reply to
The Wanderer

It seems like everyone follows the M$ model and releases new products before they've been debugged. ;-) Also, European appliances seem to be better made, and are more expensive than U.S. products. They also offer more features.

Reply to
Pogonip

I have a Kenmore Elite HE3 and I love every single thing about it. There is nothing it lacks for my needs. And we save a bundle in water costs, it uses 1/3 of the water of a top loader.

Karen in WI

Reply to
Karen

Don't buy Whirlpoo! My machine WASHES a treat, except for a nasty habit of eating socks, but their customer service stinks!

I had an AEG for about 12 years, and it was brilliant until it suffered terminal failure. I bought a Whirlpoo to replace it. It was installed at on a Friday at 3:00pm... By 6:00pm it had stopped working. I rang their helpline. They were not going to come out until the following WEDNESDAY, despite their literature claiming that they would send an engineer WITHIN 3 working days. They didn't count Saturday as a working day, despite their own helpline being manned from 8:00 am until 6:pm.

On the Saturday morning I rang the shop I bought it from and told them about this. @I can't have my customers treated like that! That's rubbish! Gimme half an hour to make a couple of calls and finish me coffee, and I'll be with you.' He was here before 8:30 am. THAT is customer service.

Six months later the whole thing BOILED a 30 degree wash for over two hours, ruining over £400 worth of undies and brat clothes. The outer casing was so hot that I needed oven gloves to turn it off and unplug it. The soap drawer was welded shut. It was akin to Dahli's dripping clocks in looks... Part of the paintwork of the metal casing was discoloured. The door seal ripped when we finally got it open. This thing had suffered a catastrophic failure and could easily have caused a house fire. Their own engineer came out, looked at it, and condemned it as 'unsafe' to repair.

I then started a two month argument, which ended in them replacing the whole thing (but NOT the clothes - I lost heart over that bit, I admit) after I told them I was sending the engineers report to the Trading Standards office when their office drone kept telling me they were going to repair it. They then REFUSED to transfer the extended warranty I'd paid for on the original machine to the new one. I eventually got that sorted, but...

Oh, and within six months of the new machine arriving, it had developed a crack in the door trim and one in the front of the top... And started to rust at one corner! And all the numbers on the temperature dial have smeared and slid off! DH takes a sharpie type pen to it when they get a bit faded.

The machine has a large crack in the drum, at the top round the water inlet from the soap drawer. They will not provide a part for replacement unless I pay their engineer to install it. Paying their engineer will cost more than a new machine. NO FECKING WAY, CHUM! BOAD!

I am saving for something with a 7kg load capacity, large porthole, and

1600+ rpm spin speed. I need a boil wash, and I'd love a 'hand' wash. Other than that, I'm not fussy as to make so long as it isn't Whirlpoo!
Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

DS bought a new Kenmore HE5t washer/dryer in December, saying it was our Christmas gift for the house. I love both of them, they're much quieter than the previous set. The cycle sound signal can be adjusted or turned off if desired. It came with a sample of the HE detergent suggested for ultimate cleaning power and since it's the same brand we've used for years, we like that. I like the dryer rack that can be used to dry sweaters as well as quilts, etc that shouldn't be tumble dried. Of course, I've used Kenmore washers/dryers for many, many years and have always been happy with them, but I couldn't dry some things in the old one. He thought both of us would enjoy using this one and we do; he does his share of the laundry, too. Emily

Reply to
Emily Bengston

We are also completely satisfied with our Kenmore HE3 washer...didn't need a new dryer when we bought the HE3 two years ago, since our

19-year-old Whirlpool dryer is still on the job. They don't look particularly handsome together, but that only bothered me about, oh, five minutes.

Speaking of Christmas gift for the house, on 12/26 DH brought home a new dog...another mistreated pit bull. Since no one needs four dogs to support (now we have four, again, all rescues) that was his excuse, that we hadn't bought anything for the house this Christmas. :) Clancy is a real sweetheart, and we are having some interesting experiences interacting with him, because he's stone deaf.

Doreen in Alabama

Reply to
Doreen

Poor Clancy! I always feel good seeing someone take a pet to care for, especially if it has special needs. We had pets, Shelties in particular, for so many years; but with DS working out of town so much, and I am not able to care for one properly anymore, we gave up on having any pet until DS retires; two neighbors have Shelties which they allow us to play with them sometimes. All my other DC have pets, horses, dogs, and birds, no cats yet. Emily

Reply to
Emily Bengston

Cats are low maintenance, and ideal for those of us a bit more advanced in age. They've always been ideal for me, though I've had dogs as well.

Reply to
Pogonip

Kay, I just bought the 500 version of this washer, the first of the month, and the matching dryer, as well. It replaced my Frigidaire front loader that died. I loved that machine, but it had to have so many repairs, it just was not worth fixing any more.

For what it's worth, here's my two cents on the Bosch, although I don't know the difference between the 100 and the 500. (I'm copying the list, for others who might be interested.)

The machine is very well made, and it offers a bunch of options that I like very much, including cold/warm/hot for both permanent press and cotton settings. It also has an "extra"sanitary cycle, plus a "kids" cycle that I may use once or twice, but I use cold for everything but linens and underwear, which is maybe one load a week. In addition to a lot of other cycles I'll rarely use, it has a "wool" cycle that is perfect for gently washing wool. I washed a load (10) of wool sweaters last week, using Eucalan, and it was a worry-free version of what I used to do with the old washer. It very gently tumbles the load just a couple of times, enough to wet the wool, lets it soak for 15 minutes or so, and then very gently spins the water out. Uses very little water. My sweaters looked very good, and I was pleased with the results. This cycle alone will save a fortune at the cleaners. I also used the "refresh" cycle once, when I just wanted to quickly wash something small; it takes about 25 minutes. That's another cool thing about this electronic washer--there is a display that shows roughly how much time is left in the cycle. It's not accurate to the second, but it's good to know about how much time is left.

One of the problems with my old washer was that the front door was easy to unseat. The Bosch door is canted backwards, and the handle is at the top, so it is not as fragile. Also, because the doorway is slanted, and because it uses so little water (5-15 gallons per load), you can open the door in the middle of a cycle without spilling water on the floor. I really like that feature. It holds a ton of clothes, too.

The wash results are good; it is just about the same as the old one, which I was very happy with. It does not seem to spin as much water out, though, which is good and bad. Good, because it's more gentle on the clothes; bad, because it may take slightly longer to dry. But it's just barely noticeable, so it's not the worst thing that can happen.

The other thing I don't care for so much, although I'm getting used to it, is the signal that lets you know the load/cycle is finished. It's LOUD, and insistent. My laundry room is between the kitchen and the family room, so it's not as necessary for me, but it does force me to get up and put the load in the dryer! In the past, I've forgotten. There is a way to turn it off, but it looks as though you have to make that decision every time you use it (I could be wrong; I'm famous for not reading manuals), but I've decided to let it boss me around for now.

The matching dryer replaces our 26-year old GE dryer that took me through raising two babies, bless its hard-working heart. But the Bosch is a dream. Lots of choices for drying cycles, a moisture sensor, and again, a signal. And a light inside! I've never had that, and I'm enjoying being able to see when I'm taking stuff out. I'm betting that my kids will no longer leave odds and ends here when they've done laundry on visits home.

Both the washer and the dryer continue to tumble the clothes until you open the door, which is a big improvement over sitting there getting wrinkled.

If anyone has more questions, let me know.

Reply to
Karen Maslowski

Karen, DH got tired of hearing me gripe about the nagging signal and shut it off on both of my machines. He did it once and it has stayed off. I know consulting the manual was involved. lol. Taria

Reply to
Taria

Do you like yours, Taria?

Thanks for the hint. If it could just be adjusted so it isn't as LOUD I would be happier with it.

Reply to
Karen Maslowski

Reply to
Taria

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