I too have had my share of Thermador Freezor issues... We installed both the 30/24 units plugged in and...... the freezor didn't work right. It would beep at us at odd hours, (like it wasn't cold enough) no ice would come out, and it made a weird grinding noise. Repair guy comes out (very nice) runs some test & orders a new Mother board. Item backordered ~ wait.... Item gets installed ~ repair guy leaves.... I call back repair guy 15min later freezor still beeping. He comes back runs more test & orders a New Ice Maker, Ambiant Sensor, a gasket for the grinding noise. Wait for items to come in... Now all is good :) I waited a total of 2 months from first complaint. I sent 2 emails complaining to Thermador with no responce. Placed 1 call with nothing more than... huh... huh... huh... type response. So I called the place I bought it from, they got me in touch with the Customer Service guy for my area. He was nice and helpful...but I don't feel he went out of his way to make sure things got done. In the end I asked for a free filter for my troubles... and he sent ONE, yup just 1. But I DO really like the units. Icemakers are the biggest issue in any freezor.... My DH installed these himself ~ Good luck, Michelle

For resale the only brand the makes a difference is Sub-Zero. Many people strongly prefer SZ to other built-ins. Look at resale value on craigslist of SZ vs other built in fridges and compare that to resale value of Wolf ranges/ovens to other pro-style ranges/ovens. If your neighborhood has mostly built-in fridges then not have one will ding your value a bit. I guess you are saying SZ has old tech becuase it does not use a variable speed compressor? Thermador 48" built-in uses 580kw/year while SZ 48" built-in uses 676 kw/year for a difference of about $3 per year. Does it offer same or better performance?SZ has some very nice tech features including a very advanced air purification system. If you have one eye on resale get the SZ with the big shiny grill on top not a paneled one. For the rest get what you really want to use. Resale between different brands of pro-style ranges,ovens,and dishwashers means close to squat IMO.If you ask potential buyers they may say they prefer Wolf because that is probably the only brand they know but are they willing to pay extra dollars for it? IMO the answer is no. I am even more certain that high end home buyers are not willing to pay a premium for Thermador. If you think VAH magic lungs are easy to clean make sure you have an appliance salesman give you a demonstration on how to clean then have him show you how you clean a tradional rangehood. I would not buy a VAH.

They're very different companies. In general, Thermador makes quality appliances, but the German company expects the local stores and distributors to handle the customer service, so it's a mixed bag depending on where you live and whom you buy from. SubZero/Wolf are American, and while they don't have a spotless reputation, in general they're considered to have excellent customer service. The have local licensed service companies whom they've trained and certified to do the work. The whole package issue is a tough one. There's no one appliance maker that makes all excellent appliances, though perhaps Miele comes close. Additionally, while the oven from one might suit you best, the fridge from another might also suit you best. Matching appliances are usually a sign that either the builder bought them by the truckload, the designer got a kickback, erm, sponsorship, or the buyer either is obsessed with matchiness or was seduced by a "deal". If you're buying a whole suite of appliances from a good independent appliance dealer, you can get about the same kind of discount as a maker's package, either through a builder/designer discount (they may require your contractor to give his license number) or through direct negotiation. They may not be able to discount choices with a contracted price floor, but they can give you a free dishwasher, free delivery and installation, etc., and thereby give you a great deal. SZ/W doesn't make dishwashers. Theirs are made by Asko. Some people love Askos. Some really hate them. Thermador DWs are the same innards as the lower priced units from their sister company, Bosch, done up in a Thermador dress. Bosch are generally the second most liked DW's after Miele as far as I can tell. Both are European, so will not have a heated dry. They require an interaction between rinse aid (makes the water drip instead of clinging in a drop) and the heat retained in your dishes. The heavier your dishes, flatware and pots are, the better your load will dry. CS is a poor source for information on med-high and high end products. Their goal is the most performance for the least money, not overall best performance, and they also are more concentrated on brands which ship the most units. Why not pick the ones you like best from each company and be happy with all your choices?

I'm sorry to hear about your negative experiences! I have no experience with Thermador, but wanted to suggest that you try contacting the appliance store you purchased through. They may have better luck getting a response from Thermador because they probably have much more purchasing power than a single consumer would have. If you haven't already tried this route, maybe it will net some results for you. Good luck!