We fit most everything we'd want to fit in our Miele Optima (2006-07 model; don't know if any interior specs have been changed with recent models?). I really love the cutlery tray up top (ours is one-piece, I believe the comparable model has a split rack now).

I know my mom HATES her Bosch DW. It is far from a top-of-the-line model, so I don't know how they compare. I know she really, really dislikes the rack set-up, and I think its cleaning ability is not the greatest. They purchased theirs at Sears a few years ago as part of a kitchen refresh, and probably didn't research DW's much, if at all.

I know there are plenty of Bosch lovers and haters on this forum, so I am sure some of them will weigh-in with info/opinions/advice for you. As for the Miele, I would buy another one hands down.

Buy the Miele. You won't regret it. We replaced an old DW with a Bosch and the front panel totally cracked within 4 years, plus, like you, things didn't fit that well. We got a Miele about a year ago, and it's wonderful.

Many of us on this forum no longer rely on Consumer Reports. They use their own criteria for comparing products and often don't take into account features that matter to real users. Treat them as one input, but not the entire answer.

I was all set to buy either the Miele or the Bosch *until* I took a basket of my dishes to the distributors' showrooms. I have a collection of, um, uniquely shaped dishes that I love. Neither of the dishwashers could accommodate my dishes. It seems they are designed for very standard, and only standard sizes and shapes. By happenstance, I was shown an Asko, which I hadn't had on my list to begin with. It was the winner. I especially like the adjustable width rack at the back of the bottom drawer, which will accommodate wide and non-angled bowls.

I will now be buying the Asko. Decision made, angst over!

HTH,

BUrntfingers

I get everything to fit. Dishes, pots, pans, platters, cookie sheets. When I bought dishes at auction it did 39 dinner plates in one load. The most I've ever done after a multi-course dinner party (formerly a whole day to clear) was 2 loads including wine glasses. We wash very little by hand. Soooo easy.

The layout in the Bosches are different or have evolved or something. My Bosch from 10 years ago had a wonderful layout and we could fit a ton of stuff. I had a mid-range model. My sister bought a current mid-range model and she can't fit half what I could. They changed the layout and it's miserable now.

I can fit a ton in my new Miele Dimension. 3rd rack on top is wonderful. I LOVE being able to put big bowls or pans on the bottom rack because there is no cutlery basket.

My 24 year old GE has very little flexibility, but still holds a variety of dishes better than my wife's Miele (don't know what model, ~10 years old). You can fit anything we want to in the Miele, just not much of it. Main problems are items such as deep cereal bowls, plastic dishes, etc.

I'm pretty much resigned, when I finish my remodel, to buying dishes which will stack well in whatever dishwasher my wife tells me to buy, rather than the other way around.

Well have convinced ourselves to get the Miele.
I've read all the postings.

I was getting tires on my car and in the Maul I looked in at Sears and Best Buy.

Then I went to Barons and looked at the Miele.

I have some questions but that is another thread.

Thanks cat_mom I could live with the Bosch but I wouldn't like it either.
sushipup we are getting a Miele. I like sushi too.
burntfingers good choice the Asko is a fine machine, a lot of people love them. It had a lot of appeal to me also.
rococogurl thanks for the comments, I have a feeling it will all work out for us.
dfpotterri I looked at the Boschs and their are differences.
But I just couldn't go for it. I really like the utensil tray.
attofarad our 21 year old kenmore worked better than we knew. We could just fix it, I'm thinking of fixing when the Miele comes in anyway. Just to it can be recycled.

Thanks all.

Our current dishes are oversized and deep - they fall over in the Miele set up.

Do Denby dishes fit well in a Miele dw? I like heavy plates - so the thin correlles are not an option. Advice?

Miele is not particularly flexible to accept thick heavy plates and bowls. I eventually tossed all but the Corelle, which fit great.

I also tweaked our glassware type for best fit and pitched most of the plastic, which don't do as well in a condensing dishwasher IMHO.

Silverware is another area to think through. Thick handled silverware, particularly spoons and forks, don't fit well in the lower end model baskets peripheral divider slots.

Laundryvet

Ilovepie, not sure if you're also looking at Bosch, but I wanted to tell you I have Denby dishes and the plates fit great in the Bosch (rear portion of the bottom rack - the tines on the front of the rack are too skinny)

We were looking at a Bosch - but ended up with Miele. We are a bit dismayed that everyone is suggesting correlle dishes.

How do fiestaware dishes fit in the miele? I intend to bring them to the showroom, but haven't had a chance yet. I'm planning on getting this model Miele Dishwasher

Did your dishes fit into the Miele dishwasher when you took them in?