Thank you for the info and the link!

My Jenn Aire has the 3rd rack for silverware. It is made up of two shelfs that you can easily lift out and carry to where every you want. I find this a better setup that the baskets which are sitting in a closet. My point being I would not discount a 3rd shelf DW.

I don't think you can go wrong with either the Miele or the Bosch. One of the Bosch Benchmarks was at the top of my list and I was just about to purchase it. Then I was offered too good of a deal on the Jenn Aire to pass up.

Personally I would stay away from KA. They often look very good. However their beauty is only skin deep.

I had a KA that I liked a lot new, but it got louder in the relatively short time we had it (a year?). Had another older one here when we moved in -- hated it. Replaced with Thermador (Bosch) when we reno'd the kitchen (it had been locked in place by a tile counter). We also added a 2nd DW, so I've had two of them and been very happy with them. I looked at Miele but liked the racking in Thermador and Bosch better for our dishes and I could get two of them for the cost of one Miele.

I recently replaced one of the units (9 yrs old?) with a Bosch Benchmark. I'd been waiting for an excuse to replace that one -- we think something got sucked into the pump a long time ago, it didn't drain, but the repairman fiddled with it and got it to drain (warranty call) and it had been running very loudly ever since. I was told it was a user issue and they wouldn't replace the pump and I didn't push it. I just decided I would replace it sooner. And try one with the new third rack.

I love how quiet the DW is and I love how well it cleans. Most of the time, it dries as well as the old one which is good or better than any other I've ever owned, but doesn't melt plastics, even on the bottom rack. What I'm still adjusting to is the changes in the racking -- the third rack and the difference in the tines. That happens with every new DW -- they just keep changing the layout of the racks. Sometimes it seems great and mostly I like it, but I still reserve the right to get frustrated when I have to think harder and move stuff around more than I care to.

Not sure of the details of the model you are considering, but Bosch offers at least three different baskets plus the third rack. If you are used to carrying the basket with you to unload, you might care more about which basket you get more than someone who uses the third rack for flatware. We are using one half of the silverware basket most of the time for flatware and the third rack for utensils, prep bowls and smaller measuring cups. I probably need to try using only the third rack and see how that impacts loading the lower tack, but I haven't yet.

I can't give you any reason not to buy the Bosch -- but do be prepared to be friestrated form time to time while you figure out the differences in how you need to use whatveer you chose.

I hear you on tines. That is one of my "big" complaints on my current DW. The tines could be arranged better.

I might be in the minority here but one of the items I strongly recommend with a DW are interior lights. The Jenn Air does not have them and to be honest it was not something I gave a thought to. Until I did not have them. To me they are great. They provide enough light so that when I go into the kitchen and want to put something in the DW I do not have to turn on the kitchen lights.

I spent last weekend shopping for appliances and thought I was set on Jenn Aire. I went to a different store the next day and was told that KA and Jenn Aire are now made by the same company and he proceeded to show me the exact same DW's, cooktops and fridges that did in fact look identical except for the name and the price. I found this article that mentions the same as what he was telling me.. KA, Jenn Aire and Whirpool made the same

My vote is Bosch btw for the dishwasher. We installed one a few years ago when we remodeled and it cleaned great and was super quiet.

Lascatx, first time ever, we melted something in the Bosch. I had made a big point to DH that there was no heater so no concern, but melt it did (a plastic water bottle). Any idea how/why?

Thank you everyone! I went back to Pirch today and bought the Bosch 800 series, with the controls on the top of the door. I had ignored it last time because their floor model has the controls in front, but you can pick your door style. After reading comments here and on the kitchens forum about people liking their 800 series I took another look at it. I used Pirch's price matching and got it for $807; the Benchmark series I had been considering was $1299. So... you saved me almost $500! Thank you! I'll try to remember to come back and post after I've had it a few months to let you know what I think.