Love our 6 year old asko. The onboard electronics tells us that it has run more than 2000 times!
It is excellent. Make sure you use electrasol tabs.
Everything comes out crystal clear.

It's a nice product but it's value proposition is a bit hard to digest. It's not really any cheaper than the Miele, and not really better than the Bosch. They are also not as widely distributed as either and only offer DW's and Laundry. Snob appeal is very minimal.

So..............nothing really wrong with them but it's hard to move people off the couch.

Begs the question: if you're going to spend that much why wouldn't you just get a Miele?

I have an opportunity to purchase at Asko at distributor cost. It's an appealing offer but I don't want to compromise quality for price. The Miele is my second choice as I can also purchase it at dealer cost. However, I know a lot about Miele and Bosch, but nothing about Asko.

According to Consumer Reports Asko is one of the brands if not "The Brand" that needs the most repairs. Consumer Reports also has a section where their readers who have bought the Asko's add their experiences. It had about a 2 star rating out of 5 by the users. Again, pay the 5 dollars for a 1 month subscription and read it yourself, also do an online search or Asko reliability. Myself, I would follow the previous posters advice and buy the Miele.
I did 2 years ago and the Miele Optima has been trouble free.

Good Luck

Gary

I just purchased my second Asko dishwasher. I had my first one for 8 years, no problems. The first year was spent wrapped in plastic while I was partaking in a major remodel. Got a good deal on it and it was trouble free and did a great job. Also, got a great deal on my current Asko which should be installed next week. Purchased it for about 1/3 of the cost of new as it was a distributor model. I also have had an Asko washer and a dryer which held up well. I did have a dryer belt go and ended up selling them for a pretty good payback amount to someone who was SOOO excited to be purchasing an energy-efficient Asko appliance! Franly, the washer and dryer capacity was WAY too small, but it worked well. I, too, have read several articles panning Asko, but I would have no qualms about purchasing another one. They have a good warranty and seem well built. I am beginning to hear more people with issues with their Bosch dishwashers. I'm not sure if this just isn't a result of more being sold, now that they are available at almost all big-box stores. You will not find the Asko at these places. Now, having said all of this...if the Miele and the Asko were the same price, I would probably get the Miele. :) No offense, Asko.

My mother got one a couple years ago because it's the only one that fit without redoing a lot of the surroundings. She HATES it. I find it very hard to load--the racks are really weird. These may have improved...

We have owned ASKO appliances for 12 or so years now, while they have not been trouble-free, the extended warranty and a really good local repairman have made that aspect bearable. Along with the long warranty coverage!!!

I don't find the racks weird. In fact, I find that I'm able to load many more dishes into our ASKO dishwasher than the Maytag dishwasher that we have built into our butler's pantry.

And given the energy and water efficienty of the ASKO, we would buy ASKO again.

I am on my second Asko DW. First lasted 8 years- a little shorter than I would have liked. Second is top of line- very expensive- overpriced probably, but does an excellent job washing and is very energy efficient. I would buy again.

The new Askos with 3 racks looks really interesting and I am also considering them for my next kitchen.

I know CR has panned Asko but they also panned the FP dish drawers and I have never had an issue with mine in the nearly 5 years I've had them. I used to be a CR disciple but I've had my doubts about them. I do wonder if they have a self-selection bias in their surveys. So take it under advisement and always with a grain of salt.

Sorry to get off topic a bit...Question for you Asko owners: I just had my new "distributor model" Asko installed today. I wasn't there (spouse was) and the plumber connected it to the hot water line. My previous Asko was connected to the cold with no problems. I am concerned about etching. The manual says you can use either a hot or cold hook-up, but if the incoming water is at 120, that temp is already above what the china/delicate cycle is supposed to be at. On a couple of Miele threads, it was about 50/50 whether to use hot or cold. Any thoughts? I'm on a well and have softened water which is fairly high in Silica (which in itself isn't too kind to glassware, or stainless, or.....)

Otherwise, my wood paneled integrated door was all nice and balanced and the installer set it in place and THEN put on the handle. Well, the handle was apparently enough to whack it out of balance; when I went and opened it after he had left, BAM, door went right for the floor. My spouse later told me that the installer was going to take it back out and re-balance, but he(spouse) said it would be fine. (I don't think so.) So I am now left with a door that will fall if not held (installer/spousal issue) and hot water(plumber and come to think of it, also a spousal issue).

Still haven't used it. Tonight will be the first. Racks do seem more flimsy than my previously owned "Model-T" Asko.

Our asko only has the hot water connection. I run all my wedgwood through it. no problems with etching etc. make sure you use electrasol.

I dont use a delicate cycle, just the regular cycle with china, crystal, glass, stainless steel all thrown in together. everything come out squeaky clean.

We will use asko in the outdoor kitchen too.

Thanks Pharaoh,

Ran my new "gently used by distributor" one for the first time last night. Things came out pretty wet. Used just the normal cycle. I see I am going to have some issues finding the right balance between detergent and rinse-aid with my particular water. I use Trader Joe's powdered and Ecover Rinse Aid (both of which I used in my previous Asko and everything came out great and pretty much dry) The manual is pretty vague regarding rinse aid and detergent amounts for people with water issues, so I will need to experiment.

Another thing I have noticed, I have the integrated 3251XL (I believe, or is it the 3521XL), is that the bottom rack rollers don't "roll" very well; in fact only 1-2 of the 4 on each side seem to roll. It's more like dragging the rack out. Maybe because it had been sitting awhile since its last use. I'll have to see if things "loosen up" a bit after a few uses. It is under full warranty. Kind of a weird problem. Anyone else had this issue with a newish Asko?