I had a large 120 count of Cascade Action Packs, so those don't let you measure the amount of detergent used, as each pack is the same amount. I guess you could open them up and use less that way, but it would be a bit messy. I've only got two of them left, so will be going by the Miele store this week to buy their detergent tabs. There are 60 in a box, but each Miele tab has a line in the middle, so you can break it in half to use (which would give 120 loads). The person at the store gave us a couple tabs a while back to try out, and we only used half in the Normal and Pots/Pans cycle, and they worked fine. So to answer your question..... When I used the Express Wash with or without the Turbo mode, I also used the pre-measured Cascade Action Packs. When the Turbo mode was off, everything was clean. With the Turbo Mode On, it lowered the total time from 20 min to 15 min, but there was some bubbly detergent left the bottom of the unit. I think this is because there might have been too much to begin with for such a short cycle, as the Cascade packs are all the same size, and that the short wash and rinse cycle didn't have enough time to rinse all the detergent away. But when using the Normal and Pots/Pans cycle with or without the Turbo, it is fine when using the Cascade packs, as there is enough time for it to wash and rinse away at the end. Just to add, I've noticed that over the 3 months using the Diamante with the Cascade packs, that a few of my 10-year-old steak knives are starting to wear down around the three rivets on the center (the rivets look like they are breaking apart on the sides), and that my very old cast iron skillet looks like there are now a few rust spots on it. I'm not sure if this is because of the Cascade detergent being too harsh, or because I use the Pots/Pans cycle most of the time since we do a lot of cooking. Once I get the Miele detergent tabs, I'm going to just try the Normal and China/Crystal cycles to see if that cleans my cookware as good.

@fauguy - I live in NE Fort Lauderdale, zip code 33308. After testing the water from my kitchen tap with a Sofchek water hardness test strip I picked up at the shop where I purchased my Miele DW supplies (a vacuum shop at Commercial & 18th Ave.), I set my DW settings to 15 gpg. If I end up having a Miele tech out here at any point, I will ask them to recheck the water hardness. Our DW allows me to set the water hardness at the precise setting, as opposed to setting based on ranges. Unfortunately, I don't have much confidence in information obtained from my local water utility department; that's why I tested the water hardness myself. BTW, I spent time on the phone today with one of the founders of NY Minute, the company I booked based on your excellent recommendation. In my case, the installers left much to be desired. The lead installer spoke only broken English and communicating with him was a challenge. I put down layers of beach towels on the floor surrounding my dishwasher and the kitchen sink, yet the lead installer repeatedly ignored my requests to set his wrench, drill, etc. on the towels, and I repeatedly heard him dropping his tools onto the floor. As a result, I found multiple areas of damage (divets) in the marble flooring when they finished. Additionally, I just discovered that it appears I am missing two pieces of my dishwasher installation. Earlier today when I phoned Miele tech support to ask about how to tell when a cycle was complete, I learned that in addition to the audible setting (which had been disabled when our DW was installed) there should be a "prism" mounted to the underside of the granite counter, just above the Miele control panel on the DW, that serves to reflect the red indicator light that illuminates and flashes when a cycle has completed. According to the Miele tech, this prism is shipped in the box with the DW and comes with a corresponding stainless steel frame. Both pieces are to be attached by the installer. NY Minute's install team did not install, discuss, or leave me any such parts. Although my keyword search of the PDF manual does not indicate any matches for "prism," I discussed this with NYM today and also have a call in to the Miele Territory Manager who handles Miele issues for the dealer from whom we purchased our DW (FL Builder Appliances).

The Euro Miele manuals give the water and electric consumption for each program cycle. The USA manual doesn't but using the Euro example it seems that the dishwasher uses between 4 and 5 gallons of water(about 1 for rinse hold) depending on load and cycle and could use 6 if the load is very dirty because it will add extra rinses for very dirty loads, or times when the detergent is not completely rinsed away. So the Miele is not too bad with eco-friendliness but perhaps not as good as Asko DW. I can tell from opening the door during the wash and rinse that there is so very little water inside that it is scary-- to think that it could do anything with it -- but still it washes and rinses completely. Most fills last 34 seconds, but not always because this depends on the load size and because it doesn't use a timed fill it will draw water until it has enough so time could vary with water pressure changes due to what is going on elsewhere in the supply lines. The Miele brochure mentions that the parts are labeled so that they can be manually sorted by different materials for recycling at the end of their life...No mention of who is doing this sorting or if it can be done here in the U.S.A. We are going to sort DW parts? I doubt it. Maybe Miele employees do but everyone else? Yeah. Unless their repair people have to turn the parts back into the company..that's a possibility. If you have friends that have Asko's and you are intrigued by them then perhaps you should get one. Maybe if you don't you will always wonder "what If I had that Asko DW?" I mean we ARE talking Dishwashers not husbands and wives so you could buy one and if you don't like it wait a while and buy something else and just say you made a mistake..things didn't work out. Stuff happens.

I stand corrected! I did not see the models at the bottom of the page in the brochure, and I did not see that that the baskets were height adjustable although I did qualify that statement by the words "I think" because I wasn't sure. Yes it has passive drying Vs the cleanAir drying system which draws outside air into a chamber inbetween the DW walls and causes a temperature difference which aids in removing moisture from the dishes inside.. and that is the one thing out of all that I wanted to make sure you knew. Some folks complain about convection drying some don't. I think it is OK for almost every type of heavy constructed item but sometimes lightweight plastics have water spots on them. I really think it has something to do with the ingredients used to make the plastic item because some of them work just fine. So as long as you understand what you are getting...that was my point. I will let someone else who has more experience with custom panels answer your question. If you get a chance after you get your DW please let us know how things are going with it.