I could certainly be wrong but from the sound of your post you sound like someone who has "aspired" to have a SubZero fridge not necessarily for a functional reason but to have the brand. It sounds as if you're going all out - two Miele dishwashers, etc. - so why not just go for the SZ? If you think about all the people who have been keeping their food chilled without investing in SZ, there has to be something people "value" about SZ other than it's functional ability to keep food chilled or frozen that would make them pay the premimum price. Could be appearance, appeal of saying you have the brand, etc. In any case if you want one and want to spend the $ go for it. It seems you can count on repairs with any brand these days - kind of like luxury auto brands. Just because you spend alot doesn't mean it will be trouble free.

Thanks for all the comments!! Re price, the models I'm looking at are comparable to SubZero and Gaggenau. Turns out there's a new Miele showroom, so I went there today, but they didn't have the 30" freezer. What I did learn (as those of you who have them know) is that the fridge door holders come out of their rims like the wire ones in the freezer do. Also, that the shelves (the rims) remove by sliding them to the top. This rail system is very secure, but that's why the pieces come out--so you can clean easily without removing all of them. Tommy, thanks for the custserv review! Thanks, Lucypwd, for the answer about the deli drawer. I've been very confused about that. The "floating" drawer seems to be in the 36" over under, where it's small and slides back and forth under a shelf. David, I don't know of my own experience, but all of the literature calls the lights halogens, and the guy at the showroom called them "appliance halogens". Maybe they really are LEDs, but that's not what they say. I also found out that the columns are identical in every size, just wider. Has anyone seen the 30" freezer? Does the icemaker extend all the way across? Or is there some kind of storage next to it? Canuck, I guess you might not have had your SZ for long enough to really know, but have you noticed the ethylene filter working? One more good I learned is that, according to the rep, the kit for installing the units next to each other is a heat shield, and works no matter which direction they open. (SZ have to open armoire style.) They also told me that having a Miele certified installer do the installation doubles the warranty. Re construction, the rep said that while the box, compressors, and other big parts are made in the Turkay plant, the electronics are made by Miele in Germany. He said that they spent 7 years developing the American style refrigerators. That sounds like so much marketing but is probably pretty true. I'm pretty convinced to go with the 30" and 30". I can stand dealing with the kind of issues Lucy is having, if necessary (I was in the showroom for the better part of an hour, and they had three fridges and two freezers running, and all were practically silent, so I'm hoping your tech can fix yours). And I like the sizes and fitments better than on any other units I've seen. More comments are surely welcome. :)

Back to the topic of the thread! I am also researching new fridge for an upcoming complete kitchen remodel. I had an Amana Kenmore side by side refrig that was a 25 yo work horse when we moved into this house. It did not fit the space allocated and was an almond color that did not go with the other ss appliances. It was relegated to the garage. We bought a new GE Profile ss side by side and that was a huge mistake! It lasted 6 years then froze all the produce every third day requiring me to use my hair dryer to thaw out the back wall of the vegetable bins, a real PINTA! I replaced that with my sister in laws 25 yo Sub zero that she was replacing when she remodeled. I refinished the panels on the doors to match the color of my kitchen and we had to have a repair of the ice maker, about $500. It has been 4 years and that SZ is still running great, very solid. The Amana in the garage has been very loud and we know it is an energy guzzler too, but it was well made never had a repair! We replaced the Amana in the garage with a Samsung FD and it is fine for parties and large trays. Now I do not know what to do about replacing the old sub zero. I really love the side by side and the large space, it is a 48", and I use every inch of it as well as the garage refrig and there are only 2 of us! I buy in bulk, store drinks and freeze vegetables from the garden. The new sub zero same size built in does not have the newer lighting. The interior has more plastic, I like the coated metal baskets on the older model. The integrated SZ has better lighting but is way more expensive. The Thermador is nice, better lighting than SZ BI, plastic bins same as SZ but with a fake metal finish on the edges not sure how that will wear. The Thermador integrated columns same price almost as SZ BI. NO water in refrig NO door dispensers for me. If I buy new SZ BI I can canabolize the interior shelves and baskets and use in new fridge I think. That won't help the lighting but I can live with that if new model functions for 25 plus years! The Thermador is nice but if the issues others have reported regarding noise, leaking, reliability etc are more than just reported on GW that would be an expensive mistake. Anyone bought a subzero in the last few years and have you had problems? How about the Thermador how does the finish on the shelf edges and freezer racks hold up? Maintenance issues on either? Thanks

I have the exact same problem - and I have been going back and forth with sub zero customer service for months. They do their best like help find a tech and give a small manufacturer credit for the service call (though I still pay the lions share). They try to stand behind their products but it’s a C at best. Caveat being that I suspect a lot of it is in installers and dealers fault for which sub-zero can’t necessarily take all the blame. But honestly at the end of the day; I’m stuck with a 5500 unit that has now had a few expensive $$ service calls which can be heard throughout an open plan house AND even from outside the front door. The techs always say the same thing when they come to the house - that’s how it’s supposed to sound. I get between 52-58db at 10‘ distance from the unit. I have 2 friends with these units and they are silent so I guess I got unlucky - just wish sub zero would even sell me one at their cost - I’d pay for the install. I’d say buyer beware/find a really good dealer before taking the plunge. My sub zero fridge is silent (though has trouble with the air filter system) and my wolf stove’s control module failed after about 150 uses. So I haven’t had great luck with them.