I have a Bosch SHU6800 series that is about 5-6 years old. I bought it new. It has had some quirks. First, the motherboards back then had a weak solder junction that tended to fry the motherboard requiring replacement. It happened to ours twice. Once under warranty, the second time under parts-only warranty. I replaced it myself that time. The latest board has been in for about three years without failure so I'm thinking Bosch finally fixed the problem. If your machine counts down and hangs at 1 minute, think motherboard.
I also had a problem with the top rack not getting clean. I finally discovered the plastic tube in the back of the unit that delivers water to the top rack was split down the side seam. I replaced that and have had no subsequent problems.
As a minor matter, these Bosch machines do become slightly louder over time. Not sure if it's due to loosening screws or insulation failure with age. It isn't a major annoyance but I can now hear the pump/draining from about 20 feet away. It isn't too loud but it was inaudible when new. For best cleaning, I use Cascade Complete. All that said, I would buy another Bosch because it seems most all dishwashers have their issues and this one still cleans well after 5 years, and has great features. Hope this helps.

YES! Thank you for all that great info. Do you used Cascade Complete powder or liquid? I read powder is better is that right? We have VERY hard water here and I got terrible white powder (I guess minerals and calcium build up?) in my old one.

I realized the cheapest panel ready Bosch is $1100 and it's what I really want so now it's decision time. If I return it I will end up with a Whirlpool or Kenmore stainless steel that I know my kids will dent the first day it's installed. :( I just can't afford a panel ready and I kinda have my heart set on it. Hmmm??? HELP!

- where has it been the past 5 years? Even if it hasn't been out of the box, it has likely been jostled, shoved around, maybe sat in a damp floor, who knows. 5 years is a long time to be stored.

- what does it mean "it has not been registered"? If you mean no one sent in the little postcard that comes with the machine, that's pretty meaningless.

- parts will be very hard to obtain when it breaks. Obsolescence happens so quickly now, that manufacturers stop making parts for machines that are a little older.

- who is supplying the extended warranty? It's likely not the store, but some contracted company. Find out. Will they be around for the whole 5 years?

- the Bosch DWs from a few years ago had an issue with a design flaw where water pooled a tiny bit at the bottom, and created a smell. I have been around long enough on this Forum to remember the various complaining posts from Bosch DW owners back then! This machine may have that design flaw.

Sorry, I know you're on a budget, but I wouldn't do it. Buy a new one, and have peace of mind.

You could buy a Kitchenaid or Whirlpool more in line with your budget. They're roomier on the inside than the Bosches anyway.

akchicago, I think you're throwing up some points that are of no consequence. Five years sitting NIB unused is of no concern, other than a minor possibility of the pump seizing ... but the OP said she has run a load, so apparently it isn't. I bought a washing machine online in May of 2008 that I knew was a discontinued model. The S/N indicates manufacture in Dec of 2005. It runs perfectly fine. 'Unregistered' is meaningless? I registered the washer with Maytag, and got a notice a year later soliciting purchase of an extended warranty, advising the one-year factory warranty is soon to expire. Also, some manufacturers apparently track store stock by serial number. I had a problem with the GE refrigerator that came with my house. The previous owner didn't "register" any of the appliances, the registration cards are still with the owner's manuals. When I told GE the serial number, the customer rep told me when the refrigerator was purchased, and she was right based on when the house was built. What's the concern over what company services the extended warranty? Any machine bought from that dealer with an extended warranty would likely be serviced by the same company as the 5-year-old Bosch. And ALL dishwashers retain some water in the pump.

My only advice to the OP is that two people I know who bought Bosch (without an extended warranty) ended up replacing them in less than 4 years. Both cases, the pump/motor bearings went bad and repair costs were too high to justify doing it. One also had the racks deteriorating/rusting. Both said the machine cleaned very well and was very quiet.

If you have run a load and it is working fine, you have verified that Bosch will honor the warranty, you are getting a 5 year extended warranty, and what you really want new is beyond your budget, it sounds like it's worth a shot to me. I'm more willing to hand wash dishes while I wait for a service call than I am clothes. One thing that might change my willingness to try it would be if you have wood floors. Does that model have a water sensor/shutoff? If not, you could add one. Might be something to consider anyway.

You know (from what I read on your other post) that a builder ordered it and never took delivery, so it has probably sat in that same storage area the whole time. Maybe moved over or further back against the wall and out of the way, but not like it's been trucked around, maybe dropped and such. Sounds like a better bet that one that's been used and abused for years by an unknown family sold without any warranty -- which is what I got with the last couple of houses I've bought. ;-)

Do look at the terms of the extended warranty. At what point would they stop repairs or give you a replacement? Do they give you a replacement or an allowance towards a new unit and are there limitations or restrictions on the replacement (brand, style etc.). I would also see if the door panel sizes for the Bosch have changed over the years. If you do have to replace it, will the same panel fit a new one? Those are the type of issues that could make things more or less costly if you run into problems.

I suspected from the model number that it was top of the line at the time -- or possibly one model below. Yours is one above mine in cycles and features. If you decide that you aren't willing to risk problems with it, look at the Thermador. Mine was $150 less than the similar Bosch. Thermador runs more in stainless, but tends to run a bit lower in the panel ready.

Good luck either way. :-)

All good things to think about. Yes, the parts for this model are available right now and the ones that are not have been retrofitted to just require additional fittings. Also, we have had an online source for other appliances that are for "discontinued models". Not to say they will necessarily have them when I need them so I need to consider this.

The smell thing concerns me a little...I don't know how to figure out if I have that machine or not?

The lady at Bosch said it has never been bought for sure. She can tell by the serial #, she said there was not even a store call on it or a stock repair...whatever that means. She was confident it was not purchased. My husband checked it over pretty good and said it looked brand new to him. ???

We do have the 5 year extended warranty and I guess if they go out of business like dadoes said they won't be able to repair a whirllpool either.

I have to say my inclination now is to keep it. I bought my old crappy maytag and it only lasted 4 1/2 years for $400 so if this is prettier and quiet and does the job for 5 years I'm not sure I would be upset at that time if I had to buy another one. I think $550 is pretty cheap for any dishwasher out there right now and this one has so much to offer me, panel ready, 9 cycles, very quiet, good name for resale of my home. If the life of it is a littel less than, I think I can live with that. Hmmm...I think? I have 90 days to decide.

Thanks for all the feedback. This is what I need, things to think about bad or good. It's a hard decision.

I've never had an odor problem with mine and yes, a little water in the bottom is normal. Perhaps the ones with odor problems didn't run theirs often enough to cycle that standing water. Just a thought.

Oops, I forgot--Yes, I use Cascade Complete powder.

Thanks and again good info. lascatx, it does have a water shut off that says it's a saftey feature that stops the flow of incoming wter if water is detected in the base of the dishwasher. I also have tile floors. I need to look into the extended warranty a little more and read what it covers and what it dosen't. Good point! The panel is not an issue. My husband is Mr. Handy. He custom built our cabinets and is building the panel to attach so it will match our cabs. It didn't come with the parts to attach it so he is cnc machining some new ones. He can fix and make almost anything which is why I'm a little more comfortable getting an older one. He actually fixed my old dishwasher and I was so disapointed because I had already found this. He is so sweet he let me go ahead and get it. I really wanted a panel ready one for my new kitchen remodel. :)
gini2~ good to know you haven't had any issues and thanks for the powder info. I don't think with my two kids my dishwasher will have enough time to sit and get smelly. I am using that thing!

Thanks for all the great feedback and things to think about. It really helped in my decision making process. I really am thinking I'm going to keep it. At least for 90 days. :)j/k THANKS!

I'd keep it. At this point it's installed and running and they gave you an extended warranty - of course having anything repaired is a hassle whether you have to pay for it or not. These days buying a new model or a high end brand doesn't guarantte you anything. If you have problems in the first 90 days then you can change your mind but I think you got a really good deal. Worst case in 5 years you buy a new DW. You're way ahead of those people whose 2K Mieles break after 5 years.

Dadoes, I said the registration is meaningless in the context of whether the OP should keep the machine because (1) most people do NOT fill out the little postcard that comes with the machine, and (2) the manufacturers' main purpose for those postcards is to add your name/address to mailing lists, to sell your name/address to mailing lists, and to sell your name/address to companies who solicit extended warranties. It also serves to have a record in case there is a recall, but that is not the manufacturers main goal because most people don't fill them out. The manufacturer's warranty is not affected by whether you fill out the postcard or not. The postcard registration shouldn't be a determining factor in whether to keep the DW or not.

"Five years sitting NIB unused is of no concern". I feel differently. Those five years make me uncomfortable since the storage conditions are unknown, as are how often it was moved/jostled. That's just me, but the OP asked for opinions, and I gave mine.

As to the Bosch smell, I found several old threads on the Gardenweb. I am linking one that includes a post by "Svcmgr" who worked for Bosch as a regional service manager.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread about Bosch DW Smell

I live in Canada and I know that Bosch DWs were recalled due to a defect which caused a fire. My best friend has one and had 3 fires(minor) - but after the recall, DW seems fine. Please ensure that if it was the DW which was recalled, you have the 'fix' and you should be fine. They have a solid reputation.

AGAIN... GREAT info everyone.

londongirl - Thank you! I looked this up and thank goodness mine is not one of these models and made after the date. Here is the info on that...

"The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on January 15, 2009, announced the recall of about 467,500 Bosch and Siemens U.S.-made dishwashers due to the risk of a fire hazard from an overheating electrical component.
As of the recall date, manufacturer BSH Home Appliances has received 51 reports of incidents involving the recalled dishwashers, including 30 reports of fires that caused property damage. According to the CPSC, no injuries have been reported.
The recalled models ($550 to $1,100) were made from May 1999 through July 2005 and were sold at appliance and specialty retailers nationwide from May 1999 through December 2006.
Bosch (shown) model numbers begin with: SHE43C, SHE44C, SHE46C, SHE56C, SHU33, SHU42, SHU432, SHU43C, SHU53A

akchicago - Thanks for the link. It does seem like it's an installation thing with the hoses or sitting water so at least I know it's not a certain model. That was good info to show hubby and make sure he did the loop correctly. Thanks. I bookmarked it in my favorites.

weissman - I'm totally on the same page as you. I have been talking to my husbands best friend who is a contractor and I have decided to keep it. He was going to buy it from me if I didn't. :) I think I got a great deal and hopefully it won't disappoint. If it does then lesson learned and it's only money. :) I'm kinda of excited. I have a fancy dishwasher! Woo Hoo! :)

I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond to me. Thanks for all the great comment, opinions, and information. THANK YOU!!

No stay away from bosch they are good value but poor quality dishwasher are now made in turkey, go for siemens or miele.