This is all great advice. I figured out today (duh - late to the party, maybe?) that the Dimension Plus model also has the "auto open" feature - it's just not that well advertised (maybe they think people will downgrade from the Diamond?) The fully integrated one is about $1900 here at a local appliance store - that's high but really not that much her that the KA KUD60 or KUD70 models. I'm going to take in a bunch of dishes and give it a try. I've read that there's sort of an adjustment period for learning to load it. If our tall glasses fit (they are my lifeline,) then Miele we shall order! Is it best to order through a local store and have them install it? Or will service go through a Miele rep anyway (not the store?) I ask b/c my house is crawling with contractors and our plumber is great. There are some better prices on the internet but all my other appliances I have ordered locally because they will service them (family run appliance store - three generations.) BUT they don't service Miele so I'm not sure if it makes a difference? OK - so Bosch is out. KA is looking less likely. If the Miele fits, buy it?! (P.S. The Ferguson here in Baltimore, MD has a lower model - G 4thousand something for sale as a floor model for $895. Not sure if anyone wants that model but you should call if you do! As I said, I missed getting the floor sample Diamond by a matter of hours. UGH!

I have a new less than year old KitchenAid dishwasher that has been nothing but headaches. It is one of the better "30" series and cost over $1,000. Control board went out, wrong one sent numerous times, basically a 4 month nightmare. Then the top rack broke and had to be repaired. Broke several glasses in the process. We took the thing out and I have been hand washing dishes. They are at least clean now. I also have had a basic classic KitchenAid and it was O.K. but not thrilling. Dishwashers need water (wow, what a concept) and power to clean dishes. I am NOT impressed with ANY of the new dishwashers, or their reviews. I would not take one if you gave me one free. Some people have had fires, and deal with smells. I find it ridiculous that any of the Whirlpool family dishwashers tell you to use Afresh in their dishwashers to cover up odors. Instead of fixing the problem let's just use a chemical to hide it. How disgusting! I have bought a Hobart made KitchenAid KDS-19 in good shape to restore, and am going to buy another old Hobart KitchenAid that has been refurbished, as well as another one locally that is ready to install. I am going to have spares as I will not ever, and I mean ever, buy another new one unless something drastic changes with the junk available in this country now. The poor quality and regulations have ruined them as far as I am concerned. Our appliance dealer said he hated to sell dishwashers, but said KitchenAid did better than most. He told us Miele service was terrible, particularly in our area, and that he personnally found the KitchenAids to be better overall. This is a large high end appliance dealer in a major city. If the Miele owners get upset over that, sorry. Get yourself a nice vintage dishwasher. You can even get nice stainless panels made from quality stainless...not the junk that is on many of the appliances now.

Well the Miele is working again :) Thank goodness my hubby is handy. When he gets some extra time he will take the old pump apart and see what went wrong ( it had to be a seal). Giving some thought to why would the seal go so soon, I am considering using powder detergent, instead of the Finish Powerball tabs. I did notice the last time I picked them up from Costco, the tabs are more concentrated now. The box claims 8x more concentrated. I am wondering if this could possibly be an issue. Since I have whole house softener, I thought I would programme the rinse agent to 2, instead of the default to 3. I will start there, since I can't remember the days before tab detergents, anymore. I think I will give Miele support a call tomorrow. I have read and re-read how to use the built-in softener, but I am a tad unsure how it really works with a whole house softener. I have my machine hooked-up to soft cold water. I live in an area with terribly hard water. 60 plus grains. I truly doubt I should programme the machine for 60 grains because of the whole house softener. As anyone who has a whole house softener, there can be days when the water is less soft (just before regeneration). I have never had any glass nor crystal etch in my machine with either powder nor tabs. I am pleased the machine is once again working. I just now have to play with detergent and rinse agent to find a happy medium of sparkling without eating my machine seals.

I had a KA that I liked a lot new, but it got louder in the relatively short time we had it (a year?). Had another older one here when we moved in -- hated it. Replaced with Thermador (Bosch) when we reno'd the kitchen (it had been locked in place by a tile counter). We also added a 2nd DW, so I've had two of them and been very happy with them. I looked at Miele but liked the racking in Thermador and Bosch better for our dishes and I could get two of them for the cost of one Miele. I recently replaced one of the units (9 yrs old?) with a Bosch Benchmark. I'd been waiting for an excuse to replace that one -- we think something got sucked into the pump a long time ago, it didn't drain, but the repairman fiddled with it and got it to drain (warranty call) and it had been running very loudly ever since. I was told it was a user issue and they wouldn't replace the pump and I didn't push it. I just decided I would replace it sooner. And try one with the new third rack. I love how quiet the DW is and I love how well it cleans. Most of the time, it dries as well as the old one which is good or better than any other I've ever owned, but doesn't melt plastics, even on the bottom rack. What I'm still adjusting to is the changes in the racking -- the third rack and the difference in the tines. That happens with every new DW -- they just keep changing the layout of the racks. Sometimes it seems great and mostly I like it, but I still reserve the right to get frustrated when I have to think harder and move stuff around more than I care to. Not sure of the details of the model you are considering, but Bosch offers at least three different baskets plus the third rack. If you are used to carrying the basket with you to unload, you might care more about which basket you get more than someone who uses the third rack for flatware. We are using one half of the silverware basket most of the time for flatware and the third rack for utensils, prep bowls and smaller measuring cups. I probably need to try using only the third rack and see how that impacts loading the lower tack, but I haven't yet. I can't give you any reason not to buy the Bosch -- but do be prepared to be friestrated form time to time while you figure out the differences in how you need to use whatveer you chose.