Bosch Home Appliances Serie 8 WTX88M20AU
VerifiedMPN: WTX88M20AU25 reviews
I hate this dryer! I had a Samsung $500 one before it leaves it for dead! Cycles are way too long, still doesn't dry properly, 40min one is useless, spins only one way and sheets get it a in ball. Samsung leaves it for dead and even spins both ways to stop sheets getting into a ball. Probably going to bin this one (yes even though costs a lot of $… Read more
to buy) and buy a Samsung again.
UPDATED: Bosch replied to this thread and asked me contact their support centre which I did. Discussed the issue with them and they said they will send a tech out to investigate the product. All in all, the tech came out and said there is no fault with it, charged me a stupid amount of money for the call out and said that is how the dryer is and that is how the product works. What a joke! Garbage product, I do not recommend it. Buy a Samsung for $500 as it functions way better than this junk of a product.
The most expensive machine on the market. Ours never worked very well. Glitchy, over-engineered digital options, items never properly dry. Then it packed up completely after 2 years. Apparently the warantee is 2 years. So thanks Bosch. I previously thought this was a premium brand. Edit: Bosch sent a service engineer for free. They then offered to replace the faulty machine for free. The only money we’ve paid is for delivery. Show details · 1
Have had this dryer for 15mths now. Paid just under 2k. Bought with the matching washer . The dryer is more of an ornament in my laundry as it’s useless and I refuse to use. It somehow twists the sheets/doona cover either with itself, or each other . If other things are in with it they also get twisted extremely tight, which means it does not… Read more
dry. I also like things to feel dry/warm this does not do the job at all. I had to buy another dryer (Westinghouse) which was under a quarter of the Bosch price. No issues, no twisting at all and things dry properly.
Very disappointed with this product. The sensor is not working so it always dries for the full time even though the clothes are dry. Also, no reverse tumble action so sheets and other bedding get rolled into a bundle and don't dry. I'm reverting to my old Simpson dryer to dry sheets, which defeats the purpose of buying a heat pump dryer! Would not recommend this product. Show details
This dryer is absolutely amazing if you take good care of it, it will take good care of you :)
Smelly water in condenser area – Bought series8 compressor dryer in 2023. Used top tray for first month and unit worked fine. Plumbed it up to under sink using a Y connector with washing machine on one side and dryer on the other. Started to notice laundry would get a damp smelly odour when shut up. Checked dryer condenser area and found lots of dirty smelly water. Not just a bit… Read more
of water, but lots and lots. Being a tech I searched for the problem and found when the washing machine pumped out through the Y connection under the sink there was enough pressure to push water up the dryer hose into the dryer even though the dryer is on top of the washing machine. Solution is to do away with the Y and keep discharge points seperate
Dont buy this, its not good for sheets - drum only spins one way – The only thing I love about this dryer is its a heat pump, I had no idea how much better my laundry room would be with a heat pump dryer and Im shocked by how much condensation it collects but.... drying a single sheet is labour intensive as you have to keep opening and unrolling the sheet to get it dry. Cant believe the manufacturer got this… Read more
most basic thing (reverse the drum roll every now and then) so wrong. In hindsight I would not have bought this model at all as I now have to suck it up for a couple of years before I can convince my husband that we buy a different one.
Don’t waste your money – I do not recommend ! For the price of this machine it’s an absolute shocker. It only spins one way therefore the sheets get tangled into one tight ball and then can’t dry the inside of the ball if sheets. As one review down below suggested ‘just to open it’ and untangle them.. um NO! I don’t have time to waste having to do this. The cycles also… Read more
just suddenly stop. I can put some clothes on a cotton dry and after 2 minutes it thinks it’s finished. I basically just use the towel setting and the minute setting because all others stop when they feel like it. Absolute waste of money.
Recommended - if you take the time to understand it first! – I went down a research rabbit hole prior to deciding on this dryer. And I’m glad I did. Most of the negative reviews appear to be from people who clearly didn’t understand how to operate it. To avoid becoming one of those people, please read on. 1. Heat pump dryers are…slow ---------------------------- Yes, they take time. If you’re the sort of… Read more
person who likes throw clothes in there and have them dry quickly, this isn’t the product for you.
2. It may need some help ----------------------- If you have sheets in there, they may get tangled. If you notice this happening, simply opening it and unravelling the sheets will help the drying process progress nicely. Throwing sheets in with other items can also prevent this from happening.
3. Use the right setting --------------------- Ensuring the dryer is set to maximum 'drying level' will mean they keep of tumbling until they’re nice and toasty.
4. Get it plumbed in (if you can) ----------------------------- As heat pumps extract water from your clothes to dry them, you'll end up with water to empty at the end of the cycle. If you don't have it plumbed in, you can empty the water from a little, easy to access container. However, if you're fortunate enough, like me, to be installing the appliance during renovations, it's definitely worth having your plumber connect it to your plumbing so that it's automatically expelled, with your washing machine water. Very handy!
5. There’s lots to like about this dryer ----------------------------------- I love that due to the high energy efficiency, I don’t feel guilty running it when there’s no solar coming from our panels. Plus, it’s so quiet that there are no issues with disturbing our sleeping children. Maintenance is also very simple, with the filter at the front in a double basket that catches lots of lint and makes it easy to empty.
The dryer treats our clothes well - and given it's so gentle, I've been known to throw things in there that are labelled with the dreaded 'no tumble dry' sign, without any issues. It has a nice internal light that makes it less likely to end up with rogue socks. And it’s a bonus that it looks so pretty alongside our matching Bosch washing machine.
I am pleased we invested in this dryer. It isn't cheap, but if your budget allows, I recommend it.
Just made my life easier – Easy to use and very efficient. I highly recommend this dryer. Show reply
This dryer is terrible. It does NOT dry – I have now got to my wits end with this dryer as I bought new linen sheets a few weeks ago. You cannot dry two sheets in there at once on the longest hottest setting. I have taken to drying them separately which is hardly energy efficient. I can only use the hottest setting for all other drying needs as well because other settings do not dry a… Read more
load. The worse part is that once something is partially dry and the setting is finished you can't put it in to dry further as the machine senses it's dry and doesn't work.
There is a 20 minute warm dry which you can attempt to try and use after the cycle hasn't dryed your clothes but you need to run it about three times.
I bought this because it was quiet and it had a high energy rating. It is, but the problem is it doesn't work as a dryer.
Life changing machine- just love it! – My only regret is not buying this machine years earlier! My previous dryers were vented with venting kits to an open window. Still there was moisture and damp in the laundry and always fluff all over the window sill, flyscreen and curtains etc, not cheap to run, static electricity in some items and a lot of filter cleaning. This new Bosch is my… Read more
dream machine. It is quieter and ridiculously cheap to run. The laundry window is now permanently locked and the laundry is perfectly clean and everywhere completely dry. I have set every cycle to maximum dryness and find that the towels, cotton and mixed cycles do the job for me. The machine senses and stops when the items are dry so often cycles stop earlier. The end signal beep can be turned down or off if it bothers you. There is very little fluff coming off the clothing compared to my old dryers so the clothes will last much longer and don’t need to clean the filter every time. Static electricity just doesn’t seem to happen anymore. I have bought the woollen basket at the best price from Appliances Online and find it is fabulous for delicates, joggers and items with loose toggles. Everything dries without being knocked about or damaged. It is an expensive machine but the low running cost means I can use it a lot more without concern. I have had no problem drying queen size bed sheets and quilt covers. I just very loosely fold them and put in with some pillow cases laid out on top and even a single quilt cover and sheets as well, similarly folded. Then they do not bunch or roll up at all. For this do not try urging a full 8 kilos with of sheets in, just a couple at a time.
This is a perfect machine – Well I've got no problem with this appliance so far it's been great people needs to stop over loading the machine and expect the machine to dry your load with out issues.
Find out how Bosch Home Appliances Serie 8 WTX88M20AU compares to other Heat Pump Clothes Dryers
Know better, choose better.
Very difficult to dry sheets – The dryer only spins in one direction. Sheets, doona covers will roll into a ball and not dry. You need to stop the machine seperate the sheets and go again. You need to do this every 20 minutes for at least 3hours. Bosch customer service knows this is an issue, they informed me it’s due to the machine only spinning in one direction. They needed… Read more
to do this to get a higher energy rating. This is definitely a do not buy machine. Huge fail, spending this much money on a machine that cannot do it’s job.
Great Product, – I just think this is the best product I have purchased with washing and drying cloths for 58 year of married life this is fantastic, just cant speak high enough of it. the cloths come out of the dryer beautifully, I am always looking forward to washing and drying cloths to see how good every thing looks. Love it Show details · 2
Save yourself the drama and wasted money – Had two faulty dryers delivered before receiving the third - main issue was banging drum due to flat spot on wheels - other issue VERY VERY NOISY. I thought it was the fan but it is actually as soon as true Dan stops (doesn’t run most of the time) a very loud buzzing is heard. It’s so bloody annoying!! Also, the lint/ dog hair is still all over… Read more
the drum, door and clothes at the end of the cycle. Not impressed at all and a very regretful purchase.
Heat pump dryers cost a fortune compared to alternatives but much more energy efficient. I invested in a Bosch because of the reputation. From what I can tell, that’s a thing of the past and now they are poorly made machines (with a hefty price tag) hiding behind a dated reputation. I’ve had an equally disappointing experience with the matching series 8 washer. Save yourself the drama - stay away from Bosch and go with a competitor.
Hi Meg, Thanks for your review, we… Read more
Bosch not honouring warranty issues – Have had the dryer in use for approximately a month. After 2 weeks it came up with the message “CrE”, so I followed the instructions in the book (many times) - no joy. I called Bosch, they sent me a YouTube video of the same method. I tried again and again, still no joy. I asked Bosch to send a technician. The technician came and could not start… Read more
the care program following the instructions. He called his tech support and they got it going (instructions are slightly different to both the book and the YouTube video I was sent). So now Bosch are claiming it was “user error” and want me to pay the call out fee. Terrible service.
Good dryer – Does what it needs, plenty of drying options. Clothes do not get to hot. Having no lint filter is amazing, you would never go back. Have an auto clean condenser that needs a helping hand/manual every 20 or so drying cycles. It's quiet in operation compared to others and is stable in operation. Syncs with some Bosch washers, auto selects drying program based on wash. Show details
Great Dryer, Minimal Noise ! – Great dryer does not make much noise and we used all types of clothes. It sometimes takes long to dry upto few hours but the automatic sensor senses when clothes are fully dry so depending on the type of clothes and thickness, times can very. I trust Bosch being a German brand will last me many years, especially with all this rain in Australia, its a life saver. Show details
Perfect Clothes Dryer – Love the look of this Bosch dryer! Even more love how it does not take long at all for the clothes to dry and gentle on the clothes. Has great features and different settings. Show details
Bosch dryer – I miss having a tumble dryer as I need it so much to fry my nursing uniforms and kids. My ex left me after 30 yrs with no appliances or house. Our kids loved our previous Bosch tumble dryer as quiet , clothes perfect from dryer and reading to wear. Show details
Serves the purpose. But not too impressed – Bought this dryer as laundry has no ventilation to use the normal dryer. It does it's job, but I liked my old vented dryer more. - Pricey - More noisy - Takes longer - Have to drain the water after every cycle - Can't be wall mount - Heavier Show details
Find out how Bosch Home Appliances Serie 8 WTX88M20AU compares to other Heat Pump Clothes Dryers
Know better, choose better.
An efficient, reliable dryer... if longer cycle times don't bother you – PLEASE NOTE: I use capitals for headings and emphasis, not yelling. I do this to make reading the review a little easier since I don't have italics/bolt/underline/headings and other formatting options. Also, I write in-depth reviews, so get yourself a beverage and a snack, and take your time. THE BOSCH SERIE 8 HEAT PUMP CLOTHES DRYER (MODEL:… Read more · 1
WTX88M20AU)
We bought this dryer from Appliances Online during their "Black Friday" deals in 2021. (So end of November). At the time of writing, it's May 2022), so we've had it nearly 6 months and used it a lot during the surprisingly wet and cool Summer here in Canberra.
Now first of all, this is "Heat pump" style of dryer. Comparing dryers of different types is often an "apples and oranges" situation. So let's make sure you know what the types of dryers are before we proceed:
1. VENTED DRYER:
The cheapest to buy, but perhaps one of the most expensive and restrictive type to run. A vented dryer is a simple device (comparatively) because it heats air up, that hot air is pumped into the drum, the hot air picks up some of the moisture from the clothes, then it's vented (heat and moisture) into the laundry... some have a vent pipe to go out a window, but many don't, and even if you get a pipe, it's not an attractive feature to have sprawling across your laundry and out your window. (I've seen birds nest in outdoor end of the pipe, which causes other issues… like a heat buildup and fire).
If you've been in a hot/humid laundry, then this is likely the type of dryer being used. This can lead to high running costs as it’s a “one pass” process, requiring a continual source of cold air to be heated. To make matters worse, the vented humidity can cause mould to grow in your laundry. So a vented laundry (open window, exhaust fan, piped exhaust), is needed. So this type of dryer is NOT good for many apartments who lack sufficient airflow.
Vented dryers operate at higher temperatures, so this is quite hard on clothes (and increases risk of fire) but also offers faster drying cycles.
2. CONDENSER DRYER:
Basically, a vented dryer, but instead of simply venting the humid hot air, the hot moist air is passed through a condenser to remove the humidity from the air prior to venting. This reduces the chance of mould build up on your laundry walls, but the heat is still allowed to escape. So it's still expensive to run, costs a little more to buy but is relatively “hypo allergenic” compared to the vented dryer. That said, a condenser type can cause sweltering dry-ish heat build up in a confined space. Some people allow the warmed laundry air to escape into the home during winter to put that heat to some use, but it often involves leaving laundry doors open, so in general, noise can become more of an issue. During summer.. additional heat is the last thing you want.
Condenser dryers tend to operate at similar temperatures to vented (usually around 70 degrees Celsius or so), which means they’re typically faster than heat pump types.
3. HEAT PUMP DRYER:
I think a lot of low reviews for this dryer originate from people simply not understanding the difference between heat pump and other types of dryer, particularly if they expect a heat pump model to behave like the other types. They’re different, they’re built with different goals in mind (like energy efficiency) so they operate at lower temperatures (often around 50 degrees Celsius or so, which SUBSTANTIALLY reduces the risk of fire), but because of these lower temperature ranges, each cycle needs to run for longer periods of time… often 45-90 minutes longer than condenser/vented types.
So what makes a heat pump dryer different?
This design extends on the condenser type, it still condenses the humidity from the hot air before venting (like the condenser type), but ALSO allows the recycling of heat back into the dryer (through a component called a heat exchange). By adding more components, these are the most complex dryers to build, (so are often the most expensive to buy) but they have the most efficient average energy ratings, and best of all, can be put in almost any laundry, well ventilated or not. Because most of the heat is recycled, the laundry won’t rise much in temperature, so it makes the laundry a similar environment to the rest of the house… so probably more pleasant to be in without disrupting any heating and cooling you have going on elsewhere in the home.
A note about cheap heat pump dryers:
While it’s true that you can get cheap heat-pump dryers, (say $780 instead of the $1500+ of this model) these often have smaller, less efficient heat exchanges, so more heat is lost (and thus has higher running costs). It’s not unusual for the cheap ones to have 6 star energy ratings (still not bad for a dryer, definitely better than a vented type on average). However, the more expensive models (like this one have 10 stars. This CAN have a profound effect on cost over time, but WILL have an impact in the up-front purchase price. Balancing these considerations isn’t easy…
THE DEBATE ABOUT EFFICIENCY/COST OF HEAT PUMP DRYERS:
As energy prices continue to rise, or if you’re “off grid” and nearing your power generating capacity, the argument FOR heat pump dryers gets stronger. Obviously, if power is cheaper, and freely available, then the efficiency is less beneficial economically.
That said, there's some disagreement about how long it takes for the energy efficiency savings (of heat pump types) to pay off the initial increase in purchase price (or beyond). However, if you're a heavy dryer user (more than 3-4 loads a week) this will likely be much faster than those who only resort to using a dryer in the most dire of circumstances. Another factor to consider, there's some argument that having more things to break in such a complex dryer, results in a less reliable machine overall. The added costs of repair/replacement can (theoretically) match, or even exceed the savings gained if you buy a “lemon”. Some even argue that some heat pump dryers may NEVER save enough money from efficiency gains before the machine wears out if the machine in question isn't reliable, used often enough, and/or hasn’t got a long warranty. Obviously this will vary from one model to another, and the circumstances in which the dryer is used. In short, your mileage may vary, so consider your particular needs and use when buying a dryer.
You now know the types, and their pros and cons. I hope this is useful to you... or at least helps you to get the right type of dryer for you.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION:
I've already covered how different types of dryer may impact your room. However, some people place their dryer in the garage, or somewhere else that's usually more susceptible to extreme weather. Obviously, if the dryer has to heat air up from outdoor winter temperatures, you can bet it'll use more power, and take longer to dry than those who are in climate controlled, or at least, reasonably insulated locations. Of course, in summer, it might take even less time.. but the risk of fire is increased. Heat pump dryers are designed to be efficient... rather than powerful, so if you have long winters, and store it "out in the cold", then a condenser type dryer will likely be a better option.
BACK TO THE REVIEW:
This is a Bosch Series 8 WTX88M20AU 8Kg heat pump clothes dryer... from now, I'm just going to call it "The dryer" for simplicity.
Many Bosch appliances have a good reputation, and for the most part, as an owner of several Bosch appliances (vacuum, dishwasher, washing machine, and now dryer) and more than a few of Bosch’s “professional grade” tools, (two wood routers, oscillating multi tool, random orbital sander, laser measurer, and others). I think the high regard Bosch enjoys is well deserved.
Aside from maintenance, and some wear and tear.. ALL of my Bosch gear have been problem free for years. Now, just because I like Bosch, doesn’t mean I’m some blinded “fan boy”, there are quirky things on each of these appliances, irritations which I think could have been designed better, but for the most part, the devices work well, reliably, and as advertised.
Like many items reviewed here. It seems only the "passionate" have bothered to write a review about this dryer for good or ill. I try to share the experiences I have had to give balance to the complaints (perhaps warranted as they may be) and delve deeper than “I just plugged it in and it works”. These simplistic reviews aren’t helpful because they say nothing about reliability, things learned, or if it dries well.
Before we bought this dryer, I did a lot of research on a multitude of sites. What capacity did we need? How quiet was it? Will it fit in the laundry at all (actually it didn't which is why we're.... mostly through a laundry renovation). There weren't many reviews on here (on Product Review) about it at the time of purchasing. Imagine my surprise when there are so few reviews 6 months later, and all of them low-rated. Even Appliances Online has more reviews than here, (28 at the time of writing, with an average of 4.7 stars).
So what can I say, after owning and using the dryer for 6 months?
To me this has been a reliable machine. It has been quiet, it dries all of our clothes, bedding, blankets, towels, and I have no idea what may be causing any of the issues other people seem to be complaining about. We've had one of the coolest and wettest summers on record... so when I say I've used this machine a lot, please understand that it has been our primary means of drying our washing. That said, to get this machine to behave, you NEED to read the manual, and follow it closely..(or get someone else to do so) particularly during installation, and maintenance.
Things I like about this dryer:
1. While it comes with a drain pipe attachment. It has the option to run without a drain pipe (water collects in the condenser tray, which needs to be emptied after each cycle). If you’re in an apartment, or somewhere the drain isn’t easily available, then this is a huge help. During our renovations, we were ripping walls apart, moving taps and electrical outlets. The dryer literally sat in the living room for a while, and was still useable. People who connect the drain pipe must be careful though. You need to remove the little plug at the bottom of the condenser tray, otherwise the tray will still accumulate water. People who complain about this tray still filling up with water with the pipe attached, mightn’t have read/followed the instructions properly.
2. Multiple filters. All dryers have a filter, but because the hot air is recycled, it NEEDS to keep everything free of lint and dust. There’s a dual layered filter in the bottom of the doorway, there’s another filter in the condenser tray.
3. It really DOES use less energy than other dryers. With all the rainfall this summer, we’ve used this dryer quite a bit to avoid our place looking like a laundromat, yet our power bill has only had a modest increase (compared to the same time last year, before we owned ANY dryer, and we don’t have any air conditioning for cooling the warmer months that may confound the trend). Beyond the cycles themselves, this dryer turns the display turns off in an energy saving mode should it be left on (but no buttons pushed) for a while.
4. There are multiple “targets” of dryness that can be adjusted to your needs. “Iron dry” leaves the clothes a little damp to make ironing easier. “Cupboard dry” is for most clothes, and single-layered fabric items. “Cupboard dry plus” is for multi-layered and padded items. Each drying level adjusts the time the cycle runs for, NOT the temperature. If you find that the clothes are still too damp, you can “tweak” each cycle (other than cotton) to make things even drier. This setting is stored in a persistent state, (even after the appliance is switched off). So when you re-run the cycle (other than cotton) it will perform as you previously set it.
After reading some of the most critical reviews, I think at least some of the complaints about this machine “not drying” stem from the fact that these people haven’t bothered to take the time to adjust these settings (or may have accidentally bumped a button, which I have done once or twice). Obviously this machine was designed with efficiency as a priority. The default settings might not be enough in your particular circumstances.
5. A nice light in the drum. Now this might be trivial to some, but once you have a light, where you can see everything in the drum (always that last sock in the back, for example) the light just makes finding it so much easier. The dryer I had growing up didn’t have one, and I often missed one item of clothing or another.
6. It’s actually surprisingly quiet. I really like what Bosch has done here, it’s shaped the side panelling to prevent vibration. The motor itself is quiet, the pumps are barely audible. The biggest source of noise for us is the tumbling clothes themselves. If you have items with large buttons, jeans with press studs, or other hard bits that can clink against the steel drum, then obviously the noise will be louder than the fabric parts.
7. You can silence the unit. Unlike our Bosch washing machine, ALL of the cycles can have those “beeps” at the end of the cycle turned off, and they STAY off. Our Bosch washing machine only has one “night time” cycle, and oh how I wish we could silence the other cycles.
Things I don’t like about this dryer:
1. Periodically, you’ll get a message CrE, this is not an error, but a prompt to run the care/maintenance processes. The interface to run the maintenance cycle can be a little frustrating because it doesn’t always behave the way described in the manual.
2. The manual isn’t as clear as it could be in several places. I highly recommend using a flathead screwdriver when moving the condenser tray pipe off the nozzle, (done when preparing to install the drain pipe). This isn’t suggested, but it makes life much easier. Failing that, there are YouTube videos made by everyday owners that fill in some gaps quite nicely. We found this particularly helpful, and made things both clearer and easier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrhlbbh1xSg
3. Efficiency has a price. Many vented dryers are faster for each cycle. Simply heating air up once, and passing it through the washing is like a hair dryer for clothes. It might be expensive to run, but it does dry clothes very quickly. When you recycle the air over and over, and extract moisture using a condenser, it takes time for the condensers and heat exchange to work. So if you’re used to dry clothes in 30 mins or less, a heat pump dryer is not for you. Many of the cycles (if fully laden) take upwards of 2 hours. Of course, taking it slow also has a slightly more gentle impact on clothing. So your clothes should last longer, saving money elsewhere.
Quantitative Analysis:
1. Cost: 60-90%
We got ours for $1688, (normal prices range from $1800-$2000) so even on sale, that’s definitely at the higher end of the spectrum, but it’s a “10 star” efficiency model with 8Kg capacity. It’s certainly not going to be the “go to” choice for people who dry twice a year. Interestingly, other brands can offer a 7kg heat-pump dryer (albeit with only 6 stars of energy efficiency) with similar 2 year warranty for as little as $768. Think about that… clearly not all heat pump models are made equal, but cost/performance must be considered.
People who use the dryer a lot will benefit the most from this scarily efficient model, and people who might be “off grid” but don’t have spare power to “burn” would benefit from the efficiency too, so I’d say, 90% for them. People who want the most flexibility in home types (those of you who move a lot) would also benefit from the flexibility that a heat pump model offers.
Light/intermittent/once-in-a-blue-moon dryer users would probably be best suited to a cheaper model, even if it is smaller and/or less efficient. In this case, the high initial cost probably puts it at 60%
2. Quality/Design: 95%
Ok, it’s Bosch, but unlike some other Bosch appliances we have that were made in Germany, this particular one was made in Poland. Now I don’t know if that’s going to make a difference to you, but it might if you think all Bosch appliances are made in Germany.
The unit has a large-ish capacity, but I adore how quiet it is. The noise reducing paneling on the sides, the felt pad at the back, the choice of motors and pumps truly impress me from a sound perspective. It wouldn’t bother me if I had to run it in a doorless laundry… as long as I don’t have many metal press-stud buttons and zips to clash and clang about in the drum.
For the most part the unit is well constructed, large amounts of metal where other models have plastic. The read out is easy to read, and the dial easy to manipulate. However, I’d REALLY love the various cycle text to be illuminated, rather than just have a light indicating which one is selected. It would make operation in dark environments much easier. I’d like to see a simple OLED touch panel in future models.
3. Ease of Use: (Generally use 95%, maintenance, 85%)
For everything but the Care/maintenance cycle, I’d give it a solid 95% (5% loss for the lack of illuminated settings in dim rooms). However, I find that the care procedure is a pain in the neck, so I’m going to knock another 10% as it’s just a frustration I can deal without when it doesn’t behave quite as advertised.
4: Versatility: 95%
We’ve dried everything from clothes, towels, sheets, quilts…. It seems to work well. Obviously there are things where the dryer might not be the best choice, but we’ve found it to work on everything we’ve been comfortable in using it for. So for a dryer, I’d say 95%, because it’s versatile, and efficient, and works as it’s designed to… but not perfect in every case.
5. Effectiveness: 90%
Drying is a balance between time, heat (energy), and carefully choosing what/how you dry in it. A lot of other reviews seem to say that it doesn’t dry effectively. However, I really like this Dryer. It’s not going to be the fastest (that would require the hottest, perhaps most damaging operating temperatures), but it’s going to be a gentle and efficient dryer if you use it correctly.
Using the settings as suggested, and tweaking it as needed, I have no complaints whatsoever about this dryer. Ok, sure, it takes a long time (2-3 hours for a typical FULL 8Kg load). But it works well. Naturally, leaving the finished load in the dryer will make the creases harder to remove, but if it’s still hot, hanging the clothes up removes a great deal of need for an iron. Of course, if you prefer starched and pressed… everything, then this will still need work done to that effect.
That said, if you have lots of heavier/thicker fabrics, particularly with multiple layers (say pockets, flaps, waistbands with thick drawstrings, quilts, etc) you really need to be using “cupboard plus” setting, perhaps with an extended run time on top. Expecting everything to be bone dry on the basic cycles is unrealistic. So we’ve had a few items that aren’t entirely dry, but frankly, it’s not a big deal to us at all. However, for the time poor, or in periods of high demand… this dryer might not be ideal in those circumstances.
6. Warranty: 50%
Bosch includes a 2 year warranty by default. We bumped that up to 5 years (3 years purchased) for an additional $220. However, I have to say that Bosch has the same basic warranty as a dryer that costs half as much. I’d really like to see a commensurate warranty period for the price. 2 years is NOT that impressive to me at all. I hope I don’t need it, in which case, the warranty might be irrelevant… but if Bosch wants to claim “superiority”… the warranty, should be… actually superior, and the product should last longer. That said, even Miele only has 2 years warranty on their heat pump dryers, and does NOT have the option to extend it on Appliances Online. (Maybe other retailers have this option?)
I personally detest the “disposable/full replacement/short lifespan” philosophy driving most manufacturing these days. In light of environmental concerns, I try to buy longer lasting gear wherever possible, and am happy to pay for it (within reason). As such I expect higher end products to have a better warranty. From my view, it’s hard to justify buying an efficient product if it doesn’t last long enough to at least recoup SOME of the higher up front cost. In that regard, Bosch, I’m deducting 50% for the lack of confidence you inspire.
So what’s my baseline metric, since I’m being so harsh?
Honestly, I’d LOVE to see modular design become a legal requirement to minimise e-waste for ALL electrical appliances. A modular design would also provide cost effective upgrade options and future proof existing appliances as technology improves (that would get additional 30% in my rating regardless of score), and a warranty of at least 10 years to get 70%). Just because two years is standard, doesn’t mean we should blindly accept that.
7. Support/Documentation: 70%
Frankly, this is NOT the best manual in the world. We personally found many of the images to be sufficient, but not mind blowing in clarity. Other images were not as clear at all, and took several minutes to compare parts of the device to the diagram. There are several processes which seem to end on the page, but actually continue on, (some indication like “PTO”, or “continued on next page” would have been helpful. We had to resort to finding user-made YouTube videos to install the drain pipe (a note to use a flat screwdriver to pull the hose of the outlet would have been a huge help).
I have not needed to call the Bosch support team at all, so that remains untested. But the manual, I’d give 70%, because some other owners have obviously felt that the manual is bad enough to make their own YouTube videos to compensate, for which I am thankful.
TOTAL:
Worst case scenario: 545/700 = 77.9% (or 3.89 stars)
However, my opinions may differ from you own, so let’s look at where it lost points, so you can adjust to a score that suits your situation:
Maybe you’re all about efficiency and will pay up front to get it (upper cost rating of 90%): add 30/700 = add 4.3% (or 0.21 stars)
Maybe you acknowledge that maintenance is a small part of general use, (ease of use goes up from 85% to 95%): 10/700 = add 1.4% (or 0.07 stars)
Maybe you don’t read manuals, and run entirely off YouTube? Or get someone to install it with drain pipe for you, removing the need to read most of the unclear sections of the manual. : 30/700 = add 4.3% (or 0.21 stars)
Perhaps you accept that the warranty is as good as Miele’s, or like upgrading as new machines are released.. and for whatever reason 2 years is enough for you? (50/700) add 7.1% (or 0.36 stars)
Best real-world case scenario after 6 months: 665/700 = 95% (or 4.75 stars)
Considering that the reviews on Appliances online average at 4.7 stars (and most have been written within weeks of delivery), a longer term view will no doubt bring those scores down as minor inconveniences will become apparent (or complete failures should there be major issues). As such, it doesn’t really surprise me that they’re near my ideal situation. With a worst case scenario (ignoring major faults/issues) at 3.9 stars (or 78% or so), this is a solid performer.
Since my particular dryer has worked without any real issues so far (let’s hope it stays that way), I haven’t tested the warranty in practice. In any case, I don’t think any of the quantitative metrics will ever be 100% for any item. (Yes I know I gave the full 50% back in the warranty, rather than 40 or 45%… because it might not matter to you, or you might not ever need it). That said, the other metrics of upfront and ongoing costs are a certainty, the available documentation (whether used or not) could be improved, effectiveness, overall design, and ease of use, are all aspects that WILL impact owners whether they put much value into them or not.
Anyway, I really like this dryer, and recommend it if your situation suits.
All the best in your drying endeavours! Harmo.
Irresponsible customer service. The dryer make weird noise. Don't buy it – Here are two videos as evidence showing how terrible the noise is. https://youtu.be/pcU76O3jVQo https://youtu.be/gTTVA1-LY-o 1. The dryer is not working like advertised. What is the EcoSilence drive? Is it the loud noise from the condenser and your people called it normal? :/ I'll definitely share these videos to other groups, review website to… Read more
warn others from buying this. And if I won't get any response from Bosch by the end of next week, I would consider ACCC to solve this problem as it wasted lots of my time and efforts trying to get the dryer fixed. 2. Paying more than 1000$ for a dryer with lots of programs. But I have tried all of them and only COTTON program worked as others make clothes not completely dry and wet. So why didn't you build it with one program :)))))))
Hi Thur Le, Thanks for your review, we… Read more
Useless – For a Bosch appliance, this dryer is really disappointing. Like others, I bought Bosch as it's a brand I trust and have been pleased with other products. How this unit passed the testing phase when it was designed is absolutely beyond me. It literally just doesn't work. Trying to get it to drain out of the hose is very tricky (I'm still not sure… Read more
if it does as the water tray still fills up) The drum only goes in one direction, so sheets just end up being a damp ball. Had to re wash multiple items due to them being smelly by the time they were dry. Interested to know what Bosch is going to do about this, as I might as well have thrown $1500 into the air on a windy day. I wish I had got a cheaper simple unit that actually does what it's supposed to do. Don't buy this dryer, you will be really disappointed.
Hi QCC1, Thanks for your review, we… Read more
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Hi Tanya Davis, thanks for your review, we… Read more (+1 reply)