Probably, the most important lesson (for someone who wants to fix their washing machine ASAP) that I learned from that was that there are non-userserviceable error codes and you need to perform an undocumented procedure on your machine to get those codes. I wrote about it in more detail here: https://andri.yngvason.is/repairing-the-washing-machine.html
I would have loved to have an open source diagnostics dongle for my AEG. Maybe next time I'll try and make one. :)
Which translates to: unpack, switch on, doesnt work.
She owned a couple of AEG devices and all broke immediately except the oven. AEG ovens and stove tops seem to be mostly OK for whatever reason.
I had an old suv that would throw errors about the suspension.
Turns out there are lots of systems on a car that you can't diagnose with standard OBD2 readers. Same with transmission, etc.
As a matter of fact, don't know why all of this isn't easily available to the owner, not just a code, but a full message.
It's either the current or previous generation.
I'd imagine someone more familiar with electronics possibly could have figured out what specific component was wrong and replaced only that for an even smaller fraction of the cost.
The PCB had already been replaced twice during the warranty period. Googled the major components and they were $3 - $5 a piece, just a couple of half bridge rectifiers, resistors and diodes.
Didn't want to risk a fire from a DIY job, which would have definitely voided my insurance, so I spent $400 on a new central vacuum unit (from a different brand).
If you can get a new board for 40$, that's probably the best course of action.
We just had a ~8 year old washer start dying with an error code, with digging it turned out it was the hall effect sensor on the drum motor that needed replacing. Cost $12 and change and was over nighted from Amazon.
What would have been nice if we got a detailed diagnostic code and not just "FE" on the front panel.
Never needed to touch the controller board, so my experience is different.
Someone will take a machine apart and list all of the pieces individually. It’s a fraction of the price of a new one. It’s a used part so it’s a gamble, but they can be so cheap I just buy two and have a spare.
I’ve read so many horror stories. I don’t think I could consider any other brand.
No one would make cost-engineered stuff that fails just outside the warranty if people didn't buy it.
https://ir.alliancelaundry.com/news-events/press-releases/de...
Once a company goes public they tend to focus more on earnings per quarter, causing decision making to be more short-term.
Not great when, as a consumer, you hope to get a product that will last 20+ years.
The SQs were very noisy, not super reliable, and didn't seem to clean that well. The SQs that built their reputation were the old top loaders with minimal electronics. Plenty of really obnoxious problems with the current TR series, dunno if the current TCs are as good as the old ones… and I still couldn't imagine living with one of those in my home.
The Electrolux front loader that I've got now has all the benefits of a front loader and does a good job cleaning. If I hadn't been burned by LG I'd probably consider one of their front loaders that everyone seems to fawn over.
Now we have a Miele, as we do have their laundry machine and fridge already. The laundry machine is soon 20 years old, been doing laundry around 5-6 times every week and works still like new. The fridge is supposedly built by Liebherr. It feels really high quality: the door handle feels nice and locks the door properly. There are multiple different temperature areas that hold the temperature quite steady.
The dishwashers have certain tiers. I don't know if it makes sense to pay for the TwinDos detergent system: you can wash dishes without filling detergent. The detergent is proprietary and quite expensive. Sadly if you want to connect the dishwasher to your home assistant, that feature is only in the most expensive models. The door that opens automatically when the program is done is great though. You can do the eco program which is quite slow, but it spends the last hours just the door open, and in the morning you have clean and dry dishes with minimal water and energy use.
I paid $1,100 for my Bosch 500 series dishwasher a couple years ago. The current generation looks like it's on sale for as low as $800. Yale Appliance shows Miele dishwashers currently starting at $1,400. With that kind of premium it should feel better. And, yes, the Bosch feels super cheap.
Miele washing machines start at $1,600 about twice what an entry level LG would cost. While I would never buy an LG, they are generally well regarded in terms of actual washing performance.
Here in the UK the customer service has been amazing. The company we bought from (AO.com) installed it incorrectly (the water pipe plug wasn’t removed) they told us to get stuffed. We called Miele. They sent someone to us the next day and fixed it free of charge
I think you mean "included in price", and for double the price they can sure afford it.
Reverse Engineering the Miele Diagnostic Interface - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45953572
Reverse Engineering the Miele Diagnostic Interface - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44593975 - July 2025 (4 comments)
Did you know that with a strong enough LED pointed through a window into the living room they could also disrupt TVs by changing the channel or even turning them off remotely!
They used to use a PalmPilot (and a WinMo) app. Nowadays it can be done with a PC with a weird NFC-based interface they’ve built with a wand you hold in front of the control panel in a specific location.
When after some time the water pump on my 2014 Miele dishwasher gave up the ghost, I had a look at their parts catalogue. I had mixed feelings.
On one hand, they still produce parts for things they sold in 2008, maybe even earlier, I was looking for a pump. Very repair-friendly, very anti-ewaste. Kudos.
On the other hand, for the price they have of that pump and labor, I could buy a perfectly serviceable new midrange Bosch thing. Which I, after a short inner struggle, did. After all, the pump may have been the tip of an iceberg of more costly repairs. It's a real Apple or Porsche of home appliances — it costs a lot when you buy it, and then it keeps costing you later.
But maybe this knowledge is going to be handy with the Miele fridge I still have...
There's a piece of wisdom about cars and appliances that unless there's some egregious defect that turns it into infinite money sink, the least costly (and in fact the most environmentally friendly) option is to run the one you currently have until it disintegrates. Because the price of a new one is usually like your electrical bill for the current one over multiple years, adjusted for inflation and price hikes.
There are of course exceptions, but rules of thumb are never 100%.
The thermostat is dying, so I picked up one of those thermostat plugs with a probe on a wire. Gonna keep it as long as I can. (Plus it's the perfect size for its space, and they don't make that size any more.)
Plus (X / 1.5) * (1 - S), where S is probability of successful repair.
Plus the repair cost of the next thing to go if many parts are reaching the end of the design life (= warranty * 1.1)
Stellar Work!
One of my largest local retailers cut back on Miele in general, they had a high return rate. Miele makes a number of great products, but their customer service is so so so so so bad. Stuff like this is great to see.
I love reverse engineering efforts, and like to partake myself from time to time, so I'm very happy to see this; but, for a fraction of an infra-red-wave period I thought Miele had decided to be cool and open source some diagnostic tools for everyone to benefit.
If I'm not mistaken, they were the first (and only?) to open source 3d models for vacuum cleaner accessories.
In contrast I had a great experience repairing a Smeg stove and buying all the necessary parts directly from them, so it’s not like it’s impossible.
False on both counts.
Both Apple and Miele offer Self Service Repair.
Specifically in the case of Miele (since its the subject of this thread), you can buy spares directly from Miele. They openly show exploded parts diagrams on their website, and if you can't find it, you can call their parts sales number.
With the caveat that the prices are ridiculously high to encourage you to just buy a new one. My brand new Miele C3 vacuum cost 300 EUR and I just checked the official spare parts store you mentioned. Replacement handle is 90 EUR (not including the telescopic pipe, that's another 80 EUR, or hose, that's another 40 EUR), cable reel is 100 EUR, new motor is also 100 EUR, top plastic cover (which can't cost more than 5 EUR manufactured and delivered) costs 50 EUR, and so on.
The instant they stop selling a model, all the documentation is thoroughly whisked away and inaccessible to customers or anyone a customer can reach.
And they never gave me that kind of documentation so it’s not even something I “should have” saved myself.