Miele 4800? 1215? other?

15 years ago

I am trying to decide between a Miele 4800 and a Miele 1215 washing machines. Both are the same price at a clearance warehouse (almost half the price of other top of the line machines).

I am almost an empty nester, usually sort my laundry, prefer flexibility instead of a million different programs, rarely use bleach. I am concerned about water consumption and energy savings. At the moment I have an old top loader that ticks me off because it doesn't get clothes clean. My laundry room is on the first (main) floor.

Miele 1215 :

high temperature heater with this 220 V machine: The European voltage allows a water temperature of 90 C rather than 70 C. Is this overkill for getting bedding,towels and white Tshirts white or is bleaching better?
delay start
only 6 kg capacity: My top loader probably has only a slightly larger capacity and I've put up with it for years. Do those of you with European size machines regret the smaller capacity? I guess I could develop the habit of washing smaller loads more often but I have a couple of dogs and it would be nice to be able to wash the queen-size futon cover, matress pads and pillows/duvets without going to a laundromat.
I would probably have to buy the dryer as well (doubling my cost) because of the electrical connections

Miele 4800:

the larger capacity would be nice (it must hold at least 50% more) but I wonder if I'd be making too many trade-offs in how well it functions and quality (i.e lower max water temp and). This machine has been made for the NA market. Not only do I think that it's been dumbed down but I'm nervous that the build quality is not there. I think that they've had to economize to bring the price down. It's also a new model and from what I have been reading here all the kinks haven't been ironed out. Do you think that the older machine is better?
It would end up being cheaper because I would only need the washer
bleach dispenser

Looking at what I've written it seems like I'm leaning towards the 1215 but when I look at it I keep thinking that it looks too small. What do you think 4800? 1215? any other manufacturer?Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you

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Comments (7)

jerrod6
15 years ago
I don't have any experience with the 4800. From what I've read the 4840 offers a bit more flexibility.

I do have experience with the smaller units. I have a 1986 which is 220V and is the model released before the 1215. They are similar. The big difference I hear between the 1215 and the 1986 is that the 1215 does not have a separate rinse or spin program so if you want to just rinse something or give it an extra rinse - you cannot.

I think there are instructions posted on this forum that explain a method for doing this, but a separate rinse/spin is not part a cycle offered on the 1215. This was a stupid decision made for this machine. I think the 1986 is a bit more flexible than the 1215 but the 1986 is also not being sold anymore.

The 48XX has returned the separate rinse and spin as options. The 48XX complies with the 2008 energy star requirements and the 1215 does not. The 1986 and 1215 use the heater in all cycles. From the posts here on this forum the 48XX does not.

There are posts on this forum talking about low water levels in the rinses in the 48XX and there is an explanation of how to get more water into the rinses. The method applies to the 4840 with the display screen. Not sure how you do it without the screen. The 48XX has more cycles than the 1215 or 1986; cycles for pillows, outerwear, beach towels, table linens....????? But I wash all of these things in my machine without these special cycles and everything is fine.

My experience with the smaller 220V 1986 machine:

I sort the loads into fabric type and color so the number of loads I have for the 1986 are identical to the number of loads I had for my top loader. Sometime there may be one extra white load because some fabrics cannot take near boiling temperatures so whites could get an additional sort by temperature.

If I use a near boiling temp the machine doesn't waste any time getting the water heated. The 1986 does not heat the water all at once it seems to do it in stages so the water gets a chance to heat up gradually but still the difference in time to heat the water for a maximum hot load and warm load is about 7 minutes. Bottom line is that it can heat the water fast and you don't have to get a long drawn out cycle waiting for water to heat.

I don't use chlorine bleach and don't need it to get things white and clean and I also don't really care about getting things sanitized in a washer since all of my stuff goes into the dryer anyway.
I do wash a queen size comforter, and bed clothes, pillows(only 2 at a time), down jackets, outer coats, with no problem. I pack the thing full and things come out clean.
I think it holds as much or maybe more than my TL since there is no agitator in the way. I know It cleans better than my previous TL.

The machine has a solid build. I figure it is just a slight modification of the washers Miele has been making for the European market the last few decades so how wrong could it go? On...
jasonapplspecialist
15 years ago
The Miele 4800 is the larger of the 2 machines. The benefit of going with the 4800 would help out with larger loads like bedding and other bulky loads. I would definately stick with the Miele brand. There are 5-10 and 20 year appliances out there and Miele is built to last 20 years. Check out the outer glass, door strikes, pump filters, braided hoses, smaller holes on the stainless drum, no plastic outter tub (reduces front load odors) and the list goes on. Miele is the best and you'll get what you pay for.
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jerrod6
15 years ago
Jason

I would like to pick your brain. Here are some questions I am wondering about, hope you can help.

What are your thoughts on the performance between the 48xx and the 1215 or 1986 since the 1215 and 1986 are 220V models and can quickly heat to almost 200F and the 48XX cannot?

Do you think the 1215 or 1986 is built better than the 48XX? Why did Miele not use the electric door lock on the newer 48XX machines but user manual shows the locks are on the 30XX models?

The 48XX does not have the SS outer tub - it is made of some other new material Miele has patented. Do you think this will make any difference?

What about how well each of the machines rinses - What are your thoughts about the fact that many folks think the newer washers(not just the Miele brand) don't use enough water to get the load well rinsed? what should they do?

Why don't the 48XX washers use the heaters in all cycles like the manual says it will...why did they change that?

Given the 48Xx washers are new do you think they are going to last as long as the smaller previous washers?

Miele introduced their new line of detergent which they sell to the residential market. It is made by the same company that makes their commercial detergents. Do you think it is better than PERSIL? Does it perform better in a Miele machine or is somehow made to work better with the water levels in the new models?
jasonapplspecialist
15 years ago
The 4800 series just has a larger internal capacity. Miele has gotten rid of the 220v models in the US. Just look at your laundry needs (size of family). The new outer tub is not plastic, which most companies use. Miele uses a product call Glaron K. It's a compsite that will not allow water to beed up on it which is the largest contributor to the mildew issue. The water heater issue is strictly for energy efficiency. Select the option when you need it. The rinsing is not an issue. All Miele products as I've been told are designed to last 20 years.
As for the soap I'll have to look into that. I was unaware of the change. But if Miele is changing it, it should be top notch.
jerrod6
15 years ago
Jason

I like the idea of not allowing water to bead up on the outer tub. I think Miele still sells PERSIL from their web site and of course you can get it from other places, but their site also has the Miele laundry products which is why I was wanting your opinion about them.

What model washer do you have?
davegvg
14 years ago
Ive had a 1215 and matching dryer for about 5 years now.

Its suffered one problem - a heating element which was repaired fairly quickly and I simply used no heat mode and a tiny bit more soap while waiting.

Aside form this issue the machine has been fantastic.

We have 4 people and 3 beds, and three dogs in my house with a LOT of area rugs and pool towels, and my GF goes through facecloths at an amazing pace. I sort my laundry into 4 different catagories, and I wish I had a bit more programmability, but overall Im very happy. We boat dirt bike, swim, garden, BBQ, and cook ALL the time and it keeps up.

2 ply queen comforter is about as big as you can go- no king not happening.

Been walking outside in your socks? No problem the very hot and sanitize settings blast the grungiest whites back into gleaming shape in one run. This mode can also annihilate some things - caution must be used.

Even though the machine has an ultra high spin speed- clothes dont magically pop out of the matching dryer in minutes despite going in quite dry. At the same time its a lot gentler than my old dryer and my clothes have really
noticeably been cleaner and lasted MUCH longer than even my old Sears frontloader I liked a lot.

The lack of separate spin is only infrequently annoying when something like a rug ends up out of balance enough to lower the final spin speed.

I switched to persil when I bough the Mieles and have converted an ex wife, current girflriend with 2 teenagers, and everyone whose ever stayed here. It last a long time, but its expensive and smells incredible.

I have a house full of their appliances and have been mostly very very pleased with them as a manufacturer.

Tough call- either way- you win!

Dave
deke
14 years ago
We have had our 1215 for almost 2 years. It is beuatiful and has been perfect. Until now. Just this week it appears the control board went on the fritz and the unit will not function. We have an extended warranty, but otherwise this part would cost $500. Keep that in mind. In addition, though we have a dealer nearby who does the service (and Miele USA is about 40 miles away), the service rep cannot get here for a week. I am about dead certain it is the board, but they won't bring one with them. They have to come out, do all the diagnostics I already did with the 800 Miele tech, then go back and order the part, get it shipped and schedule yet another visit. So, we will be out of a washer for maybe 12 days. Nice huh? How the heck does anyone live without a washer for 12 days? I guess we, proud owners of a shiny stainless steel $2000 washer will spend time at the laundry mat this weekend. I don't feel duped, but I am not happy. Part of the top line price should be top line service. What the heck do I know.

Oh, try calling Miele tech support and count the hold time - 20 minutes no matter what time of day. (800) 843-7231

Does this mean the Miele is junk? Mechanically I would say no way. We are the victims of circuitry and a electronics board that can be changed almost as easy as a light bulb. Yet, despite the big bucks, buying the best, buying the extra warranty, we will spend much more down time than the owner of a more common machine would have to in similar circumstances. You know, I might just go buy a cheapo top loader and put in the basement as a spare.

Miele 4800? 1215? other?

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jerrod6

jasonapplspecialist

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