I am not familiar with current model numbers but if your dryer is a condensing one, you should not be running it with doors closed, even if they are louvered. If it's vented than it probably doesn't matter. The condenser sheds a noticeable amount of heat and moisture which I wouldn't want confined in a small space. (Our condenser dryer is in the bathroom that my husband uses in the morning. If my laundry plans work out, I sometimes set the delay-start timer on a load to begin tumbling just before he awakes which warms the room very nicely for him.) I have nearly 20-y.o. Askos (washer and slightly younger cond. dryer) that I am happy with. There some things that I wash in the Asko in preference to the two Miele washers next to it. I think the delicate/wool cycles on the Asko are superior to Miele's. I wash full (to the top) loads in the Asko regularly - weighing at least the 11-lbs dry weight that they are rated for. I don't dry sheets in the dryer, preferring to hang them out. For all sizes of sheets (on rare occasions when rain messes up my outdoor drying) there is the potential for balling up if you have more than one tumbling at the same time. Other things tumbling with the sheets are fine, but big flat things remain a problem, particularly in my dryer which does not reverse tumble. This applies ONLY to the dryer. I can wash a couple of pairs of sheets (plus cases, shirt, towels, etc.) in the washing machine in one load. Parts can be ordered online, if necessary and repairs are easy to do. HTH, L.

This thread is surely far from its original intent. I posted my findings based on first-generation series of the W 48XX and T 98XX. Miele in now into the second-generation of this series and I have seen posts by Larsi regarding some front door/drum gasket issues, and there were some vibration concern by another; Larsi came to a resolution, and I do not know what happened to the person with the vibration issues. But to be fair to Miele the washer is a tad short of third-hundred pounds so floor construction will always be a consideration with that amount of weight. I recommend anyone buying Miele’s to purchase the extended warranty or wait until Miele is offering the extended warranty as an incentive to buy perk. Have Miele certified installers do your installation to avoid any fine-print issues (e.g., lightning strikes). From what I have learned Miele made these models for North America for several reasons: Competition was offering large capacity, and customers were inquiring about this and other features (e.g., bleach dispensing). They were losing sales to people who were turned-off or did not have access to 220V in their homes. There is no doubt that Miele stepping into this territory was stepping-out of their comfort level and their expertise with their existing products. However, I do believe Miele is making a concerted effort to better these products. Will the competition outpace Miele? That is yet to be seen. I do appreciate that Miele products are not “gimmicky.” Would anyone care to provide insights on the "quality" of the internals compared to their less expensive counterparts? This is tall order, and you really have to be at the machine while disassembling it to see how Miele has thought matters through. I can say that Miele uses highly-skilled labor to build these units as the different fasteners, and materials they secure require a deft hand. One clue to Miele’s comprehensiveness is that the back of these washers and dryers are finished similar the sides and front. In others words you can have your Miele washer dryer in the center of your room and the backs would be perfectly acceptable in an exhibition setting. On another note, the styling of these units is exceptional. It would take another long post to describe how well the styling on these units is thought-out. There are some very complex styling cues that all come together and make it look easy, but in reality that are very difficult to accomplish. Miele products remind me very much of Bang & Olufsen, and Apple.

[long post alert - but this question comes up enough that all the info should be in one place] lalitha - I'll answer your questions, but first, a few responses to recent posts: No, you don't have to "disclose" your 240V outlet. It is not a defect and does not violate building codes. I've used GE Advantium 240v over-the-cooktop high-speed oven/microwaves, despite that every other brand available runs on 120v. No prospective homebuyers have complained their food would be ready too fast. As for resale value, nobody is going to turn down a $325,000 home because they may have to hire an electrician for $180 to install a new outlet lest they decide to change an appliance. As suburbanmd noted, it would make sense to have a dedicated 120V/20A outlet in the washer area too, but there's a good chance there already is one. Also, if you're buying a 240V washer and dryer from the same manufacturer, you can use the commonplace 240V/30A outlet that most homes already have in the laundry room (usually used for the dryer). The smaller, more efficient European machines extract more water in the washer, so the dryer needs less power, and thus they usually run on 240V/15 amps rather than 240V/30 amps like most American dryers - half the electricity. For that reason, many dryers from the brands that sell 240V washers, including Bosch and Asko, include a fused 240V/15A outlet on the back of their dryers, which you can plug the washer (also 240V/15A) into. Then you plug the dryer into the existing 240V/30A dryer wall outlet, and now you have power for both machines. No electrician needed. However, having a separate 240v/15A wall outlet and circuit gives you the flexibility to use your 240v washer with any brand of dryer, each with their own wall outlet. Another approach, which Miele used, is a separate box with two fused 240V/15A outlets that plug into the common 240V/30A wall outlet. You plug the washer and dryer into the two outlets on the extension box, which has a 5' cord that runs to your wall outlet, and again provides power to both machines. Fagor sells these too. There are two types of 240V/30A outlets in wide use in the US - the older three-prong variety and the newer four-prong (with separate ground) type; you'll need to make sure your adapter box matches the outlet you have (or install a grounded outlet if necessary, not a bad idea anyway). Dryers in the US are usually sold without power cords for this reason - both types are common. There are many good reasons to go with a 240v washer. Hot water cleans better, but can also cause certain types of stains to "set" and become permanent or hard to remove if doused with hot water. The best way to clean, therefore, is to start with cold water (which won't cause stains to set) and heat it up as it's washing - which 240V machines do considerably faster. Asko and Fagor/Brandt washers don't even have a hot-water inlet. Bosch and older Mieles do, although both can be attached to a cold water feed only (via capping the hot water intake in the Bosch, or using a Y-shaped splitter hose with the Miele). Because of the long heating times needed to reach high temperatures in 120V washers, some of them "cheat" by starting with warm water, or by not reaching the temperature you set if it's taking too long (this has been discussed in other threads). Currently available 240v washers include everything made by Bosch, everything by Fagor including the aforementioned all-in-one washer/dryer, and all 24" wide Asko washers. Miele's only 240v machine is a very expensive semi-commercial model PW6065. Maximum temperatures are 205F for Asko, 195F for Fagor, and 190F for the Miele 240v machines that were discontinued a few years ago, although some are still available new. Bosch 240v washers, although foreign-market machines heat to 190+, only go to 161F on US machines. Whether temperatures higher than 160F are helpful has been the subject of much debate in these forums and elsewhere. Miele's instructions note that it can reduce elasticity and recemmends it only for very soiled cotton items. As for which used Miele I bought, I got a W1926, which dates from the late '90s. It has a wonderfully simple, direct control panel - no arcane buttons, lights, or LCD displays; no confusing cycle names like "kid's wear" or "outdoor/active" or "plaid flannel" that leave you guessing as to what the machine is actually going to do. Instead, just a few clear, consiee, properly labelled controls: one dial to set temperature (tap cold to 190F, in seven increments), one dial for spin speed (up to 1200 rpm), a few buttons for options like extra-water rinse, extra-gentle, or high-speed wash; and only four cycles to choose from. It's like comparing a cheap camera with a "sports mode" or "portrait mode" to a pro-grade SLR that assumes you're smart and knowledgable enough to actually set a shutter speed or lens aperture. The W1918 is similar but 4" shorter front to back, with correspondingly smaller capacity but will fit completely under a standard countertop or in shallow closets, and also can spin up to an even faster 1600rpm since the filled tub weighs less. Newer 240v Mieles include the W1966 and 1986; I think the latest that ran on 240V were the W1912/1914/1915 but there may be others - basically everything before the 3000 series. These had somewhat dumbed-down controls, but also added new features like a tub light. User manuals for their machines going back decades can be found here on Miele's website But enough proselytizing from me about how great 240V Mieles are/were. I'm just some random guy on the internet, and what do I know? Instead, read this similar opinion from a notable, sadly departed historical figure whose opinion may, indeed should, carry more weight. "We ended up opting for these Miele appliances .... They are really wonderfully made and one of the few products we’ve bought over the last few years that we’re all really happy about. These guys really thought the process through. They did such a great job designing these washers and dryers. I got more thrill out of them than I have out of any piece of high tech in years." Really, when the guy who brought forth the iPhone and iPad thinks a washing machine is cooler than any gadget he's used in years, I figured it must be darned impressive. And it is.

Are you on a concrete slab. That is best for front loaders. If you are not, you need to be sure your joist system is beefed up, and placing the set along a load bearing wall is recommended for Miele. There is a lot of energy to spin these puppies. Also the new Miele sets are condensing dryers now. Don't need venting. The Electorlux compact is a condensing dryer too. People like condensing dryers. They are reportedly gentler on the clothes. They can add warmth to the room, but I don't know how much. they will need to be set up to drain into the drain, or emptied by hand. Most get it set up to auto drain along with the washer.