Need advice on dishwashers..

Well given this place is full of renovators I'm hoping I can get a bit of first hand advice based on practical experience from some of you.

I'm looking to spend around $800 for a dishwasher. Two options have caught my eye:

1) Westinghouse SB908WK (See http://www.westinghouse.com.au/produ.../model/SB908WK). Choice article seemed to recommend this one for the price. Can get for ~$690. [Edit:Potentially might go for the SB916WK model as I can't seem tell whether the 908 has drying capability). The 916 is ~$750]

2) Bosch SGS53E72AU (See http://www.boschappliances.com.au/co...category_id=48). This one however is slightly over budget at $880 and with extended warranty it's getting a bit out of hand.

Has anyone owned and installed either one and can tell me their practical experiences with it and how well they work as well as reliability.

The bosch is starting to get away from me in terms of budget and is close to $200 more so it's the least preferred given the additional cost and the good review operation wise of the Westinghouse. Is it really worth that much given I'll be taking 5 year extended warranty out no matter which unit I buy?

I plan to use the unit once a week as I'm currently single. Won't be pre-rinsing just scraping and placing in dishwasher until it's full and ready for a load. Don't care about energy or water efficiency. Won't be using it that much to justify the extra cost and given there is a litre of water difference in usage between a 2.5 star vs 4 star washer I'm not too bothered. I do however want something that will wash well without having to put it through twice given that dishes may be sitting there for up to 5 days. Also needs to dry reasonably. Need to check the 908WK can, doesn't seem to mention it now that I look, hmm.

Opinions anyone?


One final thing. I notice dishwashers come as integreated and non-integrated. Can the non integrated be installed so it looks like part of the kitchen just like the "integrated variety can?. Just want to know for future when I update the kitchen. At the moment it has to be non-integrated and staning along since the old kitchen has no place for it. Probably put it in the laundry for the time being..
TIA!

PS: No recommendations of F&P. Although I may appreciate your good experiences I've had nothing but trouble with the brand on a couple of appliances I've owned and I've seen their dishdraw reliability first hand at work :doh: Miele are also obviously out of budget no matter how good they are.

I have a bosch unit and if you can stretch the budget i personally think its the way to go.

5 yrs with not one problem.

Blanco, got one from Greys (Grays) auctions 5 years ago, fraction of new cost, no problems still going as new and craps all over locally made rubbish, and came with a 12 month warranty as it was a discontinued model not secondhand.
Try the auctions and save a fortune.

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Originally Posted by Iain

Try the auctions and save a fortune.

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I've tried auctions in the past. Been a bit of mixed bag really. Trouble is that dishwashers are some of the most unreliable appliances you can buy these days so I'd rather have a 5 year warranty behind me. I guess it all comes down to how much difference in price for the same good there is. Everytime I've gone it hasn't been that much of a diff or the good performs poorly based on user opinions online which is why it didn't sell in the first place at the shop. Sometime you are right you do get discontinues items that are decent but it's not that often.

Saying that I might stop into Greys and Laws see whats on offer and ask around about the average price things go for...

So anyone else have comments?.

I would have thought at least a few of you out there would have first hand experience with the given units.. Don't be shy. If the unit is crap I don't mind the feedback and if it's good and you are happy then that great too..

Seems bosch has one postive vote. I'll head back to the shops and have another look at the units. Will also visit the auctions and have a look whats on offer but not holding my breath but there could be the odd surprise.

I know it isn't th model you are looking at, but I have a Westinghouse Freestyle 920. I dislike it so much that I will be difficult to convince to buy another.

The difference in cost between the two units you are looking at is insignificant. I know, every dollar counts, but at a stretch now, you'll be much much happier in the long run if you get the right unit.

I have no idea if the Bosch is the right unit or not, just saying in time, that price difference is a minor consideration.

Dad used to repair dishwashers etc...don't think he has a high opinion of Westinghouse. Might be re-badged Simpson? Can't remember.

I think he has an Asko now, after leaving behind a near 20 year old Miele in the old house.

Bosch rarely, if ever, make rubbish.

If you are really on a budget, buy a base model Simpson. It'll be noisy, but at least you'll be able to get parts for it, and everyone can work on them. F&P are only good while they're working :) Throw away prospect if something goes bad outside of warranty. Most LG stuff comes with 3 year warranty, and we know people that have had good runs out of their dishwashers/washing machines/etc. In fact I have an LG fridge and an LG front loader - no problems so far.

Otherwise find the money to buy something decent. You will not regret it.

With Greys auctions they dispose of the last of the discontinued models, they are not warranty returns or secondhand units.
Blanco release a new model range and discount the last models to the retailers.
What are left over go to the auctions.
I find that a lot of builders attend and I never bid, just let the builders bid as there are probably a dozen or so of the same unit, when he wins he will specify how many he wants then you put your hand up for the left overs, as many as you want.
A builder may take 6 units leaving another four or five then the floor is open to whoever gets their hand up the quickest.
I did our whole kitchen in brand new Blanco and got change out of $2k, not bad for a dishwasher, wall oven, hot plate and sink.

Whatever type of machine you decide on, my suggestion would be to list your requirements and then match machine, price, warranty etc.
Water useage, pots, two drawers etc., would be part of my needs. Yours of course may differ. But when looking at something like this, I tend to list my requirements first.

My parents had a Bosch which did sterling service for a family of 6 for over 20 years, being used 2 or 3 times a day. It finally died and was replaced with something like a Hoover or Westinghouse. Mum and dad gave that one about 8 months before throwing it out in disgust and replacing it with an Asko which is still going strong, years down the track, and now dealing with extended family, partners and grandchildren.

Me personally, I have a Miele. I'm single, I use it once a week, sometimes once a fortnight. I never scrape anything, I just stick it in the machine. It's moved house twice and continues to motor along beautifully and silently. I never have re-wash dishes after taking them out of the Miele and I really mean never. It's fantastic. If you can save a couple of hundred extra for the Miele, I'd recommend it without hesitation.

The company that I work for used to have an industrial Fisher and Paykel dishdraw thing in the kitchen which kept breaking down. When they remodelled the kitche, they replaced it with an industrial Miele which has been problem-free.

Otherwise go for the Bosch.

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Originally Posted by SCC

My parents had a Bosch which did sterling service for a family of 6 for over 20 years, being used 2 or 3 times a day.
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Otherwise go for the Bosch.

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Yeh got a feeling might spend a bit more and get the bosch. Wonder if the extended warranty is even worth it given the raving reviews for bosch...

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Originally Posted by Gypsy

Whatever type of machine you decide on, my suggestion would be to list your requirements and then match machine, price, warranty etc.

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Trouble is I've never owned a dishwasher (nor any of my family) so it's tough to know what my requirements are past washing dishes, cups etc :D

One thing I do know is that I want it to wash well and be able to wash dishes that may have been sitting there for a few days while I get enough dishes together to make the wash worthwhile. I don't want to pre-rinse everything by hand manually. To me it's a waste of time..

I think it's like anything. Once you've owned one you realise whats important and what you are missing but until then it's tough to know what you don't know :)..

Don't buy an LG dishwasher ... utter cr&p. We've had nothing but trouble from ours. Get error messages on the machine that LG haven't heard of???

We also have an LG washing machine, but it has been really good ... go figure.

Hey, anyone want to buy an LG dishwasher ... one careful owner ... going cheap?:rolleyes:

We have a Westinghouse. We won't be buying another one. The wheels that hold in the top basket have broken several times. The door no longer opens straight - it has a downward angle that makes emptying the bottom basket a problem. The spray arm on the top basket can't be removed to clean it. I have asked Westinghouse about that and they say it won't ever need cleaning because the filter design means that no crud will ever get into it. They are wrong. To clean the thing out you have to remove the entire basket and try and manuover it in the bathtub or out in the backyard to clean it. Westinghouse, Electrolux and Simpson are all made by the same company and from what I have seen use similar designs. At least it is still running, which I guess is something. It is only a few years old though.

Peter

We have an Asko diskwasher that just keeps on working and working, was a lot more expensive than the cheaper Asian diswashers. I never rinse anything (have no idea where all the gunk goes).

My wife gets annoyed with the time it takes to wash as it has a bunch of eco friendly options. One thing you may have to consider is how long you are willing to wait for it to complete a cycle.

We have had a Bosch (can't see a model no) for a few years with no problems at all. It was recommended by the salesman as he had one himself.
Easy to install yourself