Thanks everybody - you're welcome and I'll post another report some time later in February about our Bosch dishwasher. robert laundry: The European market has very strict requirements as far as energy consumption goes. Every dishwasher (and most other major appliances) carry so called Energy Labels. In order for a dishwasher to achieve an A rating for energy use (very low) the temperatures have to be lowered. At the same time, however, the label also provides information about the DW's cleaning and drying performance. So while the temps have to be lowered - washing and drying times have to be extended in order to achieve an A rating for washing & drying. However, all this applies only to one specific cycle usually called Eco, Save Energy or similar. Other cycles are faster, though.

And the saga continues.... After the service tech came out last week and said the rattling sound from the non-return valve is "normal" and ordered me a new one, I called Miele service in NJ and talked to them about. The guy put me on hold for several minutes so he could ask other people there about it, and came back saying that it should not be doing this rattling sound. He said that once I get the new non-return valve the tech ordered, for me to go on in install it, but he scheduled me for a new service call next month with a different person (but still a Miele tech) as I told them that the guy that came out last week seemed to have a attitude. They are going to send this other tech another non-return valve and a pump for the unit, as he said the pump is really the only other moving part that is involved with the drainage. On Tuesday I recieved the new non-return valve that was ordered by the tech last week. I took the old one out, and use the turkey baster to suction all the water out, and used a towel to make sure it as all dry. Once again I got a flashlight and looked down there where the propeller blades are to make sure there was nothing "stuck" in the area, but like before there wasn't any particles there. I installed the new (now the 2nd) non-return valve and tried the dishwasher on the express cycle. It did 3 fills and drains, all with non rattling sound. About 2 hours later I tried it again, the first drain was silent, but the two following drains did make the rattling sound. That night I ran the Normal wash mode, and once again it was rattling on all 4 of the drains. Wednesday night I ran the Pots/Pans mode, and the first two drains it was silent, but the two final rinse drains it rattled. So as of now it's back to doing the same time it was before. I guess at this point all I can do is wait for the different Miele tech to come out in a few weeks and see what he thinks of it - if he says its "normal" or not. I still find it weird that from the end of April last year when the dishwasher was installed, until Feb of this year, it was silent, then started the rattling in the non-return valve. It's been replaced twice now, and it hasn't solved the issue. The only way for it not to rattle is to use the one where I removed the metal ball from, as it is silent when it drains. The only bad part is that the ball is not it place to prevent some drain water from returning back into the bottom sump area. At least I did purchase the 4-year extended Miele warranty ($250).

Also, with regards to enzymes-containing DW detergents; don't rinse your dishes prior to loading in the DW, just scrape them. The enzymes "feed" on the gunk on your dishes. If the dishes are too "clean," there's nothing on which to feed, and the enzymes can (and apparently will) build up on the walls of the DW, causing a fishy or other foul odor. We've used both CC and Miele tabs in our Miele Optima. FWIW, the DW smells just a bit fresher after running it when we use the tabs vs. CC powder.

Your repair guy is all over the map. On one hand he says maybe temperature or low water, then goes on to say the Gel has a tendency to clog....which would have nothing to do with low water level or temperature. However, he has mentioned the things I, too, would focus on....except for the gel part. What you've just described here is most likely an obstructed drain line....which is pretty common. You got it partially cleaned out with your DWMagic and vinegar so it seems like your problem's solved. I suspect it isn't and will come back....it usually does. Suggest you take a minute and do this: Disconnect your drain line from its connection point under the sink. Get a good look in the drain line end and into the discharge connection tube. This will take minutes and will tell you a lot. Stick your finger in there and examine whatever clings to it. Whatever that is is the stuff that will be accumulating again and eventually causing the obstruction that's slowing your drain and leaving junk all over your dishes. After that, on your next load do check the water level in the machine after the fill is complete. Fill-solenoid problems are pretty common and easy/cheap to fix if that's a component of the problem. I'll bet its fine, but there's another easy check. Low water is another culprit that will, indeed, leave crud all over your dishes. I think that's probably OK because of your description of good results after your magic/vinegar cleanout. That's why I'm suspecting the drain line instead. From your description, I have a hard time accepting the "bad gel" theory. However, powder works fine, too so use what you want. Of course I'm sitting here at cyber-distance and haven't seen what you've seen so I need to back off a notch. However, your description appears to me to be tell-tale.