You will likely get the same reports here as for DWs in general. I have Thermadors (2) -- made by Bosch, adn have been very happy with them. The Thermador runs a little less than the Bosch in the panel ready version. You might get one less seldom or never used cycle, but that was worth $100-150 for me.

A six-years-old dishwasher isn't old enough to need replacement unless perhaps the pump motor or some such component is dead. More likely it just needs to be cleaned up. Try running a dose or two of JetDry Dishwasher Cleaner. Or run a full cycle and add a 2 measured cups of white vinegar to the first fill and again to the main wash. Or a strong dose of LemiShine (a citric acid-based powder found with the dishwasher products are your local store). In an extreme case the pump or soft-food macerator may be clogged with debris such as loosened jar labels, bits of bone, toothpicks, etc., which will impede the pump from getting a full flow of water.

If you use those icky liquid detergents or gelpacks, switch to an enzyme-based POWDER or a tablet. Word is Finish Quantum Powerball tablets are very good.

I have tried the DW cleaner and also already use the Finish tabs. Everything comes out with an almost chalky residue on it. I will try the vinegar.

And even though the items on the top rack are more spotted and milky, they are still CLEANER than the items on the bottom rack (which also have food still gunked on them).

The hinge also screams so loud when you open the thing you can hear it upstairs! Tried various sprays to loosen the hinge and shut the thing up to no avail.

I do not like to be one of those people who gets rid of something that works perfectly well just to have "new"--but this is far from perfect! I guess a next step would be to get a repairman out?

So besides the Thermadors, no other recommendations?

MIELE!

We've had JennAir, KitchenAid, & Whirlpool. None comes close to our Miele dishwasher.

I just ordered a Bosch panel ready. I did a lot of reading and the general consensus is that Bosch and Miele are the two best dishwashers out there if you don't mind the fact that they have a filter that has to be cleaned and they may not dry plastics as well. Miele are a bit more expensive and in some cases may be harder to install, but are amazing. Miele also have a 3d rack designed for silverware that some people love and some people don't like as much. You really can't go wrong with either. Asko is also a decent brand. Expect to pay $1000 and up for any of these in cabinet front. For some you can spend $2000. There is little reason to spend really big bucks for Viking, Thermador, etc, though these may be fine dishwashers. Whirlpool, Kitchenaid, Kenmore and others also make fine dishwashers that are less expensive. I would focus on Bosch and Miele. You really won't go wrong with either.

baltymoron -- you missed the point about the Thermador. The Thermador is esentially a Bosch with a Thermador name plate, maybe one feature different and a lower price tag if you want the panle ready one.

I've had mine over 2 years and have had to clean outhte filter basket once. I have taken them out and rinsed the inner parts a few times, but no scooping out muck like a salesman had me thinking I would be doing. And they dry my plsatics as well or better than any other DW I've had -- GE, Whirlpool or KA -- and no coil below means plastics don't melt.

LASCATX-
If the Thermador is a Bosch and is cheaper than the Bosch, then it is probably great. I didn't know that. THermador is a great brand for ranges and such...but tends to be pretty expensive. Bosch sells 3 panel ready DWs that retail in the $900, $1200, and $1500 range. If you can get a thermador for less, it is probably a good deal. My point is that there are a lot of fine dws out there. Bosch and Miele are usually regarded as the best. If someone is rebranding either of these as their own, I would imagine that would be good as well but have no expertise on the subject.

We're looking at Blomberg. It's been on euro market for years and has good reviews. The only reason we are considering it is the price of the panel ready model; it is significantly less expensive than other brands. You can see it on AJ Madison's site.

Any chance it's not the DW but your water? I saw 'farmhouse" and thought you might have well water. Should that be the case, a good water conditioner might be the answer.

If you want a temporary panel for the dw, get one from Ikea. They sell a panel ready dw (but poor reviews) and thus have dw panels from their cabinet lines.

We have a now 1 year old Thermador.

Love:
Quietness
Cleaning (altho I am a pre-cleaner, I admit). Esp. tall wine glasses!

Dislike:
Interior rack feels cheap, goes off the track easily - just seems 'plasticy'
Configuration - I have a hard time especially with cereal/soup bowls & loading this dishwasher - seems I'm always moving things around & doesn't seem to hold nearly as much as our old KA - and this is larger!

We are getting a new one because our builder screwed up & ordered the non-custom paneled one & installed it hoping I'd be happy & be quiet. Wrong! Now I reallize I really don't like the Thermador & they are paying for a new custom front in a similar price range ($1200?). Having read my likes & dislikes, does anyone have any suggestions on what we'd be happier with?

Bump - any suggestions?

The reason dishwashers don't clean well anymore is because of the soap. 16 states in the U.S. have banned phosphates in soap. I know people who have taken apart their DWs and put them back together. The Weekly Standard recently published an article describing the whole political process that resulted in this ban. Without the phosphates, soap is less "slippery" and doesn't clean as well. I would recommend looking into changing your soap before you do anything else, that is if you can find a soap that contains phosphates.
One panel ready dishwasher that we cannot recommend is the Kitchen Aid double drawer. We have had it for less than two years, and the lower drawer no longer stays shut. We do not feel the interior holds as much as our previous and very old DW. And it too does not clean well.
Is it too much to ask that today's DWs do what they are supposed to do and that is get your dishes clean? It seems manufacturers have moved away from that single purpose.

I have a Miele that does a good job but have had to replace the drain intake valve two times. Once under extended warranty and once out of pocket. It happened again yesterday and they will replace the part but not the service call (they make you use their service people) which is going to be about $200. Not happy with this since I will have put $500 into this DW that works fine if not for a faulty part that is a chronic problem on this unit. Ready to get a new machine and NEVER get a Miele product again.

I'm sorry for your loss and the need to bring up a very old thread. Next machine, whichever manufacture you choose, keep that and other parts clean with a $2 packet of Lemiclean for Dishwashers twice a year. Walmart has it.

My Miele and my friend's continue to be flawless and really clean well.

Yours is likely an aberration or lack of maintenance.