The tray is removable and separates into 3 pieces (2 removable) on the Dimension and Diamond models.

All things being considered, you should compare more than just features on these two lines. Compare the rack quality and ease of moving the top rack up and down. Among other things Miele has a pass through water heater, water pressure shut off (for leaks), tub within a tub (for leaks), built in high loop and other quality features you will not find on the Kitchen Aid.
Not to say the Kitchen Aid is a bad dishwasher because it's not and at the 1000-1300 price ranges compares favorable with other American units. The question is, is Miele worth the extra 300-500. Compares the racks and answer that yourself.

You should not have any issues with the installation as long as the model currently installed is normal height and not ADA. Get out the tape and measure the height. Should be around 34" (not 31 or 32).

So helpful, Aprince, as I don't believe we have a showroom displaying Miele in town. Once I locate a showroom, I'll do the head-to-head as far as rack quality.

I'm also paranoid--after 2 floods--about my DW leaking, so Miele's 2 methods of preventing leaks is great for me.

As long as I can grab those cutlery trays and lift them out easily, the Miele would be worth the extra $$ for the better overall quality. I use the dishwasher more than any other appliance except the fridge.

And yes, my Kenmore is 34" high!

I've seen suggestions in the past of getting an extra cutlery tray and having a drawer made to fit. That way they can be switched out. That's a bit beyond my level of daily organization ability but it's been done here.

Re the retrofitting: the Miele is (antss please check me here) needs to be 5/8-inch narrower than the standard 24" opening. How do I know? The cabinet person "assumed" on the first reno and I have a 5/8" gap between the sink base and the door panel which makes the DW much more audible than it should be. I'll have it adjusted when/if they come back to do other things here in future. On our second reno it was measured correctly and the Miele was nearly silent.

I'd be sure to consult the specifications (download) and have copies for the cabinet people and contractor.

Madeline - funny you mention that. About 20 years ago Miele promoted doing just that and tried to sell people a second tray. Idea was you swap the empty tray in the drawer for the clean, full tray from the DW.

It took off like a lead balloon. Problem was $$$, the tray was sized for a 60cm drawer not 24" and one NEVER used all the cutlery in the drawer by the time the DW was otherwise full.

Here endeth the history lesson, now , back to your regularly scheduled program.

I remember an actual pic of a cutlery drawer but it was maybe back in 05 or 06 during the boom.

I was talking late 90's !

Well, sounds like a cool idea, but yes, inherently flawed ;)

I'm only a few weeks in, but still line up and load my silverware by type, starting from the corners. This makes unloading much easier and quicker. I can usually do it in one trip with handfulls, definitely two. I wouldn't walk my tray over and back, quicker to just grab the last stragglers. Unloading the dishwasher is much less of a chore than it used to be.

I have a a Miele Dimension Plus. I have had it just under a month now. I wasn't sure if the tray could be removed, so I just tried it. Yes, it can. However, it's not that simple to do. Two clips hold it in. You can press on the tabs or you can just pull of the clips. I am not sure I'd really like to do that when the tray is full of cutlery and I get the feeling the clips will break if you do it regularly. It seems like it can be removed for occasional use, but is not designed to be removed each and every time you do dishes. That's my opinion.

Oh, and I replaced my old GE with the Miele. I did not have to retrofit at all. You can measure if you are concerned. I was, but it proved to be lots of worry over nothing.

Hi Ready & Dimitrig,

Thanks for the info. I learned yesterday what Dimitrig confirmed--that the cutlery tray doesn't lift out really easily, like the KA cutlery tray.

I think the benefits of the Miele over the KA will outweigh this, I just have to figure out what my system will be. Something like Ready's, no doubt.

I'll drive to the nearest city next week to test out the Miele with some flatware.