There are many threads about dishwashers in the Appliance forum.

Summarizing what I've learned -- I'm looking at getting a panel ready dishwasher too --

Kitchenaid has many fans. Some people like it because it has a food grinder (no filters to clean) and it has a dry cycle.

Whirlpool and Kenmore Elite are also good.

But if you have inset cabinets and your cabinets are 24 inches deep -- standard depth-- the fully integrated Kitchenaid and other American models will stick out. You would need to have it recessed into the wall or you would have to build out your cabs to deeper than 24.

The European models are 22 and a fraction deep -- and a little less wide as well. So these will be truly flush if you have the situation described above. Asko, Bosch and Miele all have their fans but Miele seems to be the favorite.

Given all this I have pretty much decided on the Miele. The least expensive model that allows full integration is (I believe) the Inspira, so I am going with that. A little concerned that the tines are closer together. But most people who have Miele are very happy.

But even the least expensive Miele costs more than the American models.

I have a Miele, for about two months now. Love, love, love it! Have never said that about a DW before. Had an old Kitchenaid that I hated and several new Boschs that I thought were fine at the time. Don't know what to say other than Quiet, Everything is CLEAN -- had to rinse any leftover food off plates and utensils with other DWs, don't rinse now -- and love the cutlery tray. Looks beautiful integrated with my cabs. I just posted pics the other day -- Finished White Kitchen need backsplash help please -- if you'd like to see it, or rather see if you can find it ;-)
I bought a floor model for $999. I can't remember the model name but it is basic. I don't need/want any of the extra functions so it works great for me. Good luck.

Fagor gets good reviews and they have a dishwasher that appears comparable to the Miele Inspira and it is 500.00 less (799 at ajmadison for the panel ready version, and is fully integrated and won't stick out).

I haven't seen one yet but I am considering it as I need two fully integrated ones. Would pay 1000 more for the Miele if warranted but based on reviews the Fagor seems like a great dishwasher too.

You do know that even ikea has a paneled DW? The renlig. Just a whirlpool, but it's a good price and designed to take a 24" ikea door.

May be too downscale, but just thought I'd mention it, since they're hard to find in the stores, so popular.

Here is a link that might be useful: renlig

Our KD designed our kitchen with a paneled DW. I had never intended to have a paneled DW, in fact, was opposed to getting one for quite awhile during the design process (appliances should look like appliances, blah, blah...). I am very glad I capitulated and opted to have a paneled one after all (it looks nice and it means I have one less SS appliance to clean, too!).

The sink wall (where our DW is located) does look nice with the symmetry of the paneled DW and the trash can cab flanking the sink base cab.

I'm having this same struggle.

Here's what I've know:

The Whirlpool made Renlig has a vent on the top of the door. On IKEAfans, people who have the painted doors, ie Stat, have issues with the top of the panel getting damaged by the steam. Those with doors with a metal edge, like Rubrik haven't had this issue. Personally, this makes me nervous. My door will be painted maple.

Kitchenaid is made by Whirlpool. I've owned KA's in the past. The higher end Architect series SS models. The first one we installed in 2000 (1st house) was great. Consistent performance. The second one, installed in our 2nd house around 2005, was not as great. Even though it was the equivalent model, the finish on the racks weren't as good and the wash wasn't as consistent. We never had problems per se, but definitely the quality was slipping. The machine was around 1K and the same as the black Whirlpool Gold installed by the builder.

Our current dishwasher (4th house) is a bottom line black Whirlpool Quiet Partner II. It's not very old, maybe 3 or 4 years, installed by the previous owner of my house. The intial plan was to keep the dishwasher, after all, we could always upgrade later. It worked well enough and was quieter than the DW in the last house we owned (3rd house). However, in the last few months, the performance has gone WAY down, food particles left on dishes, the racks are wearing down and now rusting, etc. We've looked up this model and saw that Whirlpool has had a lot of problems with this in addition to a recent massive recall.

So, yeah, I've basically become anti-Whirlpool and all it's brands - Maytag, KitchenAid, Kenmoore, Jenn-Air, Amana, IKEA, Gladiator Garage Works, Inglis, Estate, Brastemp, Bauknecht, and Consul.

For me, the Meile costs more than my kitchen cabinets and granite combined, so it's not even a possiblity.

My Mom has a GE Profile installed in '05. Within the first year she had problems with the wheels breaking on the lower rack. Luckily her's was still under warranty, but still, that doesn't speak well of their quality.

I too have read about the Fagor models. The reviews I've read are very positive. So far, I haven't found a local dealer. I really want to see it in person before I commit. I've been thinking of asking on this board, but haven't gotten around to it.

Kathe

Here is a link that might be useful: Fagor Dishwashers

Here's the report from the higher end:

I have to have a heater because I don't have enough of the right kind of mass in my typical load for the convection dry of Euro models to work. I've heard good things about Kenmore Elite, but know nothing about it. I don't like the racks in the Whirlpool family. This left me very few choices.

I started with Viking. It's supposed to have a dryer. But what I thought was a coil in the bottom is a gasket, and the dryer is a blower. Everything about this dishwasher is fantastic. I love the racks, etc. But my dishes couldn't get dry. I'm not talking about a little bit of damp. I'm talking great big water drops all over everything. Viking were very cool about it, tried replacing the dryer parts, then took it back, no questions. It should work for anyone who can do a convection style like Miele, because, basically, it has an enhanced convection. This is one of the new units that Viking are making in house, that are very well designed indeed. They're trying to get their good name back.

I ended up with Monogram. The racks are okay, though most of the tines are too close together. There are some decent adjustments, and the upper rack works with my upper rack items (not true of Whirlpool family). With this one, the normal cycle is what gets it its conservation ratings, and is useless. Plastics cycle with added heat and heated dry get me something that works like a plain old dishwasher, though the dishes aren't as sparkly clean as my old mid-range, 15 year old Whirlpool (from before the annoying racks). It doesn't like set on gunk. The normal cycle with added heat and added dry will get the dishes sparkly, but really not the plastics, and even my flatware are plastic (acrylic handled fancy Italian stuff). I think one of the other cycles might "clean" better, but few of my dishes require a lot of cleaning. I require drying. This DW is fine but not brilliant.

A nice feature of the Monogram is that the door has a little gap before the counter. You can cover this with your panel if you don't like the look, but if you leave it, there's a display on the top edge that says how long the cycle will take, how long is left, which step it's on, and has a done light you can use to say all clean. It also comes with a little handle in the front which makes it easy to use between plumbing installation and panel installation.

Get a Miele, cry once.

I have a Bosch. The Bosch has a red light that shines onto the floor. When your cycle is done, the red light goes off. I find this to be a very cool feature. The paneling looks great too.

Blomberg has a fully integrated panel ready dw in the $700-800 range that I'm considering. I read good things about the Fagor, too, but have never seen one. My appliance guy swears by the Blomberg--he says dw's are what they do best, although I've read both good and bad reviews online. I bought the Blomberg washer dryer stack set about 6 months ago and its been fine--feature set comparable to the bosch but about 2/3 the cost. I'll probably go Blomberg for the dw as well as I, too, have become leary of the Whirlpool subs and dont' have the money for a Miele.

ahh thanks everyone! My husband will freak when he knows i want to trade dishwashers.. I already have to do that with the oven i bought! lol. $800 really isnt bad, especially considering what I am SAVING... right? lol

I have had Asko, Bosch, and Miele in the past 10 years. My favorite brand actually is Asko, then Miele and the least favorite is Bosch. Bosch had the least accomodating racks that did not fit my dishes well. Bosch left little dirty flecks more often than the other brands. Asko washes well and dries better than the Miele, in my persoonal experience.

The integrated panels are all essentially the same size. You make it to fit your toe kick height and cabinet height. Even if you do not get the DW, I would look at the specs of these Euro DWs and have a panel made and stored for future use. Unless you do it now, you will not match the stain/finish quite so easily later on....

If you or your DH is handy, installing a DW takes minimal effort. If you can afford to, have the plumber put a separate water line and drain to the DW from the back of the DW (ie dry wall) rather than through the side of the sink cabinet. You put in on the same shut off valve as the sink water. This make the sink cabinet less busy.

You also have the eletrician put in a standard electrical outlet which most DWs are coming with now rather than hardwiring as they used to. Currently, Miele uses a plug and Bosch uses hardwiring. If the DW comes with hardwiring, you can just wire in a plug to plug into the wall....

If you make these modifications, you and your DH, if you two are reasonably handy, can switch out the DW by yourselves without paying for installation.... So getting a new DW is less of an issue. When you have the panel already made, you can put off buying a new DW for year or two when your finances have recovered.

Thanks Kaismom - that's what I'll probably do. Between my husband, dad, and brother I have someone that can do all of the installing. The only thing we'll have to hire out is the electrician. I am very fortunate for that!! I might be able to convince them to plumb the dishwasher separately.. that makes sense to me!

I will look into Asko! thanks!

I have the KA 70 panel ready sitting in place now. The panel has been installed on the Dw but, DW not hooked up yet. Mine will be in the island so I was able to push it back so the panel doesn't stick out too far. ALTHO', I have a question..it looks like there is a vent on the right side of the door as well as on the top????
So, I can't push the DW back too far ??? Anyone have a new KA DW with this vent config??? Am I going to have issues with venting hot air onto my island post there at the corner???

Thank you so much for starting this thread. I have been on the hunt for a panel ready - and did not realize my inset cabinets were going to create a problem until I saw this thread. My cabinet maker could easily bump everything out by 3/4" if necessary - but my kitchen is small enough, so why lose the space? I'm just so relieved that I didn't learn this after the fact!

I've read a lot of conflicting things about the Bosch and can't afford the Miele, so I guess I will check out the dimensions on the Fagor and Blomberg models and see what will work.

Thanks everyone for the great info!