The differences include:

Max temp on 300 = 150F (KIDSCARE)
Max temp on 500 = 170F (XXTRASANITARY)

Max spin on 300 = 1000 rpm
Max spin on 500 = 1100 rpm

300 Seires = NO Quick Wash 25
500 Series = Quick Wash 25

Other note: 500 Series is Consumer Report #1 Quick Pick

I have the 500 but it seems that both machines are basically the same. The 300 doesn't have the sanitary but it has the kids care which is basically the same thing. I dont use the quick wash. It doesn't seems tha a FL can get clothes clean in only 25 minutes. If you are in such a hurry you can always jump to drain and the spin. And the spin speed I see no difference when I use the 800 rpm vs. 1100 rpm. I think after a certain point increases in spin speed make no difference.

bsh_chris, can you confirm that the quick wash 25 is only in hot temp on the 500? i cant say that everything i would want to wash in 25 min i would want to do in hot water. i'd prefer if i am limited to only one water temp for this cycle it would be the warm cycle. does this mean that the delicate and hand cycles also wash only in hot since you cannot select a water temp in those modes(per the manual i was reading online)

Here are the cycles and temperatures from the Bosch NExxt 500:

Cycle..................Temp *F

Cotton/Cold............... 60
Cotton/Warm............. 95
Cotton/Hot................125
Cotton/Temp Boost....150

Perm Press/Cold........ 60
Perm Press/Warm...... 95
Perm Press/Hot.........125

Quick Mix (25min).... 95
Active Wear.............. 85
Delicates................... 90
Hand Wash............... 75
Wool........................ 80
XX Sanitary.............155

hey thanks wblynch. your list is perfect. i had also just got done reading some older threads on the 500 within the last few minutes and found someone else say also that the quickwash 25 was at 95 degrees. Now just have to go out and get mine!

I would buy another Sears Kenmore. Chances are the spider arm problem has been addressed and you will have the reliability of a Sears Kenmore (Frigidaire), along with Sears Service availability. Your Sears Kenmore has been in production years longer than the Bosch NEXXT series. If you must have a Bosch, check Bosch service availability and response times in your area, first.

I am an ex-B/S/H/ (Bosch) Service Manager; even with an employee discount, I chose to purchase a Frigidaire Front Loader at regular retail price while I was still a Bosch employee.

I believe the xxtra sanitary on the 500 is 170 degress F*

Interesting. Around a year ago we had a post from a Frigidaire employee (at the Webster Iowa plant) that claimed their FL "has had a constant 27% service call rate". - DR

DR:

I suppose it depends on the model. Every manufacturer has their "problem" units. I have the model type similiar to griz4...never had one problem and it is used daily. Also, no internal heater to breakdown, which causes the Bosch washer to stall in mid-cycle, should a heater failure occur.

no internal heater to breakdown

The conventional wisdom of this forum is that the onboard heater is a important 'must have' feature of a modern FL. Some reasons are discussed in the forum FAQ, I won't repeat them here. While I agree that the presence of a heater means one more thing that might go wrong, the main reason to buy a FL instead of a TL is cleaning ability and flexibility, and a heater is a critical component of that. Even though I am a strong advicate of FLs (have lived with 3, of which the NeXXt is by far the best), I personally would recommend a good TL over a FL with no heater. - DR

no internal heater to breakdown

Usually, the heater in a washing machine is the least likely thing to break down from what I've seen.

Jon

The very effective, gentle, lint-free "lift and drop" wash action of the front loader is a vast improvement over the typical top loader. The addition of an internal heater is just another option to "step-up" the customer and make the product more profitable. Customers should justify the need for such an internal heater for their laundry cleaning requirements before spending the extra cash $$

just some of my opnions and observations as a current BSH employee. We have been making these washers since 2004 and we have made several rounds of improvement... all of which have seriously reduced our service rate. The heater in the washer and higher water temps provide washing results that can be proven in a lab and in normal use and is not simply an attempt to reap more profit. There are plenty of posts on these boards testifying to the amazing wash results tht higher temps bring in any brand. In addition, to the best of my knowledge all Kenmores that compete with Bosch washers (in price, capacity, etc.) are made by Whirlpool, except for the 3.1 cu. ft. $599 piece with no heater which is now on clearance.

Chris

You're absolutely right about the cleaning benefits of an internal heater. All I'm saying is that customer's should review their own day to day laundry cleaning requirements before spending those extra dollars $$.

Good to see you back at B/S/H/.

"I am an ex-B/S/H/ (Bosch) Service Manager; even with an employee discount, I chose to purchase a Frigidaire Front Loader at regular retail price while I was still a Bosch employee."
Guess that explains while you're an EX Bosch employee. At least you bought from the only other assembled-in-the-USA manufacturer Electrolux. When I shopped the Fridgidaire Affinity 2 months ago, the pretty looking machine had miserable quality hinges. Guess that's why BestBuy had it clearanced. Turned me off completely (bought the NEXXT 500 set and glad I did). To each his own.

speedmaster:

I'm surprised you didn't purchase the similar/twin Siemens version of the Bosch NEXXT washer/dryer set while you were at BestBuy...Or has BestBuy clearanced all Siemens Laundry Products?

I noticed Frigidaire is still an active product on the BestBuy website, but B/S/H/ washers and dishwashers are no longer available at BestBuy. I'm sure you will explain this away by saying the Siemens product did not appeal to the typical BestBuy customer, rather than admitting to any product performance problems.

There were no Siemens/Bosch products at BestBuy when I was there. I thought this was because of product (Siemens) unavailability rather than a decision to discontinue it. I had to go to Lowe's to see the complete Bosch lineup. Perhaps the retailer margins are far more lucrative with the Frigidaire's and LG's than with the Boschs'. It is interesting that the largest appliance retailer, Sears, does not carry Bosch laundry products. Scared of running off the Whirlpool trade??

Sears-owned "The Great Indoors" does sell Bosch. Maybe Sears considers them too upscale for their Sears stores?

Best Buy no longer sells Siemens appliances (though the company still appears on its website); this seems to have been part of a deal made with LG after LG's US marketing division decided to 'upscale' their line. Several people in this forum lucked out and bought Siemens washers from BB at great closeout prices.

As Tromm prices have jumped hundreds in 18 months solely as a marketing - not cost - decision, there is likely a higher profit margin than with the German brands. - DR

Where in the US can you buy Siemens laundry appliances

Possibly nowhere - BB had an exclusive deal with Siemens, even if it is not still in effect it is hard to change one's business model overnight. - DR

For now there is nowhere to buy Siemens... that's true... for now

Lowes and Best Buy still carry Siemens. Lowes is even sporting the Siemens shameless knockoff cherry version of the LG washer. I was in Best Buy today and you can see that same washer in a charcoal metallic grey.

Hay guys (sorry I have a teenage kid - I pick this kind of stuff up from him)

I'm looking to add a Bosch washer to my LR. Now that Best Buy (shudder) isn't the only vendor I'm putting them on my interest list. I'll post about my leaking Danby later, after it gets fixed. Second leak, FYI.

Somewhere during my insomniac surfing I saw a post that says the 300 heater does NOT maintain temp throughout the wash, but the 500 does. Of course now I can't find it so I'm asking for confirmation or not. Any other differences in these machines (across the whole Bosch line, not jus the 300/500) that one can't get from reading the online user guide/manual?

Also I can't seem to download the 300 user manual - I can get the 500, DLX, 700 and Platinum, go figure - so if someone has a link, couldja share please? I'll probably get a 500 (love dross's 'sweet spot') but I just want to look at the options. Gotta tell ya I'm spoiled with my Danby - flick of the dial and I can change temps for any cycle, no muss or fuss, and since its a dial I have infinite variations. I digress.

Also since I just seemed to miss one of their (many) rebates which ended 3/31, any idea when Bosch will roll the next one out?

Thanks. I'll update my Danby at the three year bday mark in late May.

The $100 rebate is not available if you purchase at Lowe's... it's on the rebate form.

Also, you have to pay in full by December 15th. So if you finance with your Lowe's card, you cannot get the rebate if it's not paid by December 15th.

I know this thread is pretty old...just wanted to clarify one thing:
Germany's three letter code is not GDR. GDR stands for the German Democratic Republic (EAST Germany) which doesn't exist anymore. (West) Germany has "always" been FRG (Federal Republic of Germany). Both Bosch and Bauknecht (now Whirlpool) are West German brands.