Bosch SMS68M38AU / SMS68M32AU
Verified49 reviews
Not what I expected from a leading brand – Worked reasonably well for a couple of years. Then refused to drain, requires several washes and forced draining. Followed all the usual steps to clean out filter / impeller. Second Bosch to fail just out of warranty. Show details
Best machine I’ve had in years but – We purchased this machine due to it’s review on Choice Magazine and have been very happy with it performance over the last two years. Unfortunately just before Christmas the unit broke down and it is just out of warranty. There were no real symptoms just stopped working. I rang customer support and ran through some troubleshooting but still can’t… Read more · 1
get the thing going. It looks like I am up for an expensive technician to look at it then the replace the dud part. Even to just find out what is wrong costs money. I’m torn between just ditching it and buying another one or getting this one repaired without guarantee. By the way I am not seeing any fault codes. The program can be toggled but when you push start nothing happens. Just sits there. I really thought I’d get longer than two years. Bosch you are much better than that. Your reputation has been tarnished.
Recurring Fault with BOSCH Series 6 Model SMS68M38AU/A5 Freestanding Dishwasher – We had high hopes for this dishwasher (the Freestanding BOSCH Series 6 model SMS68M38AU/A5, made in Spain on the attached label) and especially the Bosch name after a number of issues with our prior two Fisher & Paykel dishwashers we had. With the Bosch name, the marketing, the positive consumer feedback for this model and in paying more for a… Read more
Bosch ($1,324 including installation) we thought we’d be trouble free for several years. The dishwasher is great when it’s working, looks good, has great features and functionality, is really quiet and washes well. However the unit has failed three times over only three and half years of use.
The first issue occurred only a year after purchasing the unit new in Dec 2015. The unit stopped heating the water in Dec 2016 and it was repaired under the 2 years manufacturer’s warranty in Jan 2017 (heat exchange valve). Assumed repair cost of ~$300.
The second issue was in June 2019 when the E:19 error code appear and this was repaired (replacement of the recirculating heat exchange valve) for $275.
The third fault was again the E:19 error occurring in September 2019. There are error codes for this model on the Bosch website which seems to imply: Problem: E19 - Fault in dispenser - This generally involves a fault in the dispenser. https://www.bosch-home.com.au/supportdetail/product/SMS68M38AU/A5. However there is nothing wrong with the dispenser. Bosch technical support has advised our repairer that 9 out of 10 times the E19 fault relates to the recirculating heat exchange valve failing. Given this was only replaced 3 months back it was advised that the main PCB Control Board Module is now likely faulty in order for it to take out the valve once again. The cost to replace the main PCB control board, the recirculating heat exchange valve and with labour is around $685.
So for the three repairs to date (assuming the first to be around $300 under warranty for the same fault) this comes to around $1,260, which is about the same cost as the original unit itself before installation. This is extremely disappointing.
We were expecting that with a decent brand of dishwasher we’d get a reasonable period of fault free performance (at least 5 years plus)? Note that under Australian Consumer Law there are consumer guarantees (for products purchased since 2011) that apply regardless of any warranties manufacturer’s or suppliers sell or give to you, and apply for a reasonable time depending on the nature of the goods. This means consumer guarantees continue to apply after the time period for the warranty has expired.
I’d consider these three faults as being major defects and Bosch should be doing more considering this particular model appear to be fundamentally flawed with latent defects and are not fit for purpose. The supplier/manufacturer should at least be repairing (if this is at all possible in order to provide a reasonable continual trouble free period of use), and if not then a replacement or refund should be provided (especially given the particular problem with this product/model is major) even where the manufacturer’s 2 year warranty has expired.
In-depth reviews
God this Bosch is brilliant! – I bought this amazing Dishwasher to replace utter garbage by LG that we've been putting up for 10 years and finally it annoyed me enough to take it to CMA recycling and damp it for 2 bucks! Now, this Bosch was not my first choice, but after checking in store that model I've purchased had plastic bottom on the interior I've decided to get this… Read more · 1
model instead for an extra couple of hundred bucks. And boy, I don't regret.
It is gorgeous looking, so silent that you always wonder if you actually did started it, versatility of the racks, including awesome utensil's rack is unbeatable. Another big plus is does not make any chimes, nor ding-dongs, unlike previous LG which seemed it would never shut up. What's with these Chinese and Koreans putting all these chimes and melodies on everything they make?
Anyway this Bosch is stylish and elegant as you would expect from Euro product and the main thing, washing of the dishes is remarkable, no matter how tight butt I want to be and save on water and electricity, it just washes off everything even heavily stained pots. This machine just wash dishes brilliantly every time with no sounds emitting. Damn, Germans still make the best products period.
I can't recommended this product enough, it is that good. Time will tell if my impressions will stay the same. However, looking it how brilliant AEG washing machine is that we have for 18 years and still running strongly ( I only had to change brushes on the motor and the suspension shocks. But I am sparky and very handy around house, so I fix things myself.), I don't expect any issues from Bosch either.
Happy with the machine but can the design can be improved – We have this Bosch dishwasher for about 6 months. It does clean the dishes and cutleries tray quite well. Occasionally the knives were not cleaned properly from the cutlery tray even though I always stack my dishes and cutleries properly. I question the design. Maybe there should be a rotate thing from the top to help the cutlery tray and the… Read more · 1
upper draw to clean better. It also dries effectively.
It is a quiet machine.
I often use the time setting because we have solar energy. I set the hours ahead before bed time and the machine will start washing during the day while I am at work. I do the same thing with my Samsung washing machine. It is set to be finished just 30 mins before I get home from work. In that way the appliances can use any solar power generated during the day. I used almost every function apart from the glasses and hygiene functions. In general the machine does a good job with these features. The pots setting is really good if you have pots or thick ceramic bake dishes required heavy duty cleaning.
quiet and efficient operation; pleasant-looking exterior – We purchased a Bosch SMS68M38AU, 15 weeks ago, to replace an entry-level Westinghouse SB907 which had failed after more than a decade of satisfactory service. We chose the Bosch after researching machines in the $1000-$1500 range for a couple of months. Selection factors were the all-stainless tub, flexible interior configurations and the energy… Read more · 1
and water efficiency.
We found conflicting pre-sales information about the plumbing requirements. For the record, this model has a single inlet for water with a temperature of 60C or less. Hotter than that may damage interior seals and void the warranty. The machine heats water to whatever temperature it requires.
The machine was easy to install. Our pre-sales research had alerted us that the solenoid assembly on the inlet hose would require a larger penetration than the hose of our old machine. Infuriatingly, we could not find a clear statement of the exterior dimensions of the solenoid housing or the size of the penetration prior to purchase. It turned out to be 50mm x 100mm.
Operationally, the machine has been almost perfect. It is significantly quieter than the older machine although the run times, on average, are longer. We really like the significant variance in run time afforded by the auto setting; the half-load button helps here too. It really does seem to adjust the run according to number of dishes and degree of soil.
We thought that the delayed start might be useful but the machine is so quiet that it's seldom necessary. We do use it so that the machine runs when there is a plentiful supply of solar-heated water.
The flexibility of the interior basket arrangement is excellent. We have yet to use the cutlery basket; the cutlery drawer is a stroke of design genius. The interior doesn't accommodate our crockery very well. The claimed 15 place settings is bogus; it could only be achieved with crockery that was specially designed for the baskets. With a bit of effort we routinely manage 4 dinner settings of our basic Maxwell Williams crockery; 6 settings is only possible by leaving out the glassware. Noodle and desert bowls in particular are poorly accommodated.
We have read reviews that complained about drying ability and detergent residue. Neither of these have been a problem for us. We find the drying ability to be excellent; a vast improvement over the old Westinghouse. We've never seen any detergent residue. We use a powdered detergent rather than tablets so we cannot comment on tablet results.
Overall we're very happy. Along with the caveats I mentioned above, we'd willingly recommend this machine.
Positive reviews
Super quiet – Husband chose the dishwasher. Great choice I wanted Stainless steel and a cutlery basket. This is all that and more. Cutlery tray and basket. Plus two pull out trays for plates and glasses etc. Cutlery tray is great for utensils and tupperware lids. Super quiet operation and plenty of programmes to choose from. Show details · 1
Quite – This Bosch replaced a LG which was used everyday for 6 years the LG was a good machine. The Bosch Is nice & quite I have to check to see if its on. The Bosch is good, it has a top cutlery draw as well as a bottom cutlery basket which they both can come out. The top shelve can move up or down and even be tilted. It cleans & dry's ok. but I have… Read more · 2
found even with the LG that not all items inside the dishwasher come out all dry. It was expensive . Would I buy another one not sure, I would tell my friends it was ok. My favourite feature is is so quite.
Bosch quality and craftsmanship. Great machine – An amazing machine. It cleans the dishes consistently well and we love using it. It's simple to stack and the racks are easy to manipulate it you need more room on the bottom for pans etc. Just be sure you clean the filter regularly as it helps protect the machine and keeps dishes sparkling. Show details · 1
Negative reviews
UPDATED 22/08/19* Was great until the heat pump died only 3.5 Years – This was a fantastic dishwasher extremely quiet and cleaned well, great layout, we had been very happy with until it stopped. I paid $1218 for this unit which, lasted 3.5 years until the heat pump died with unit displaying E09 error code I called Bosch and was told roughly $400 to replace. I have tried for 4 weeks to come to a resolution via… Read more
the manufacturer and the store of purchase but have had no resolution, until I posted this review.
After posting this review I was put in touch with a customer liaison, who eventually agreed to have the unit looked and fixed at no charge.
Overall* "I cautiously recommend the product, provided there are no issues, my initial customer service experience was not very helpful via store or manufacturer, until I was put in touch with the customer liaison."
Hi James, Thanks for your review, we… Read more (+3 replies)
Nice machine but doesnt last long – We scrape and rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. We cleaning the machine once a month. We have looked after the machine but it has only given us 3.5 years and the heating/drying element has packed up. The parts are so expensive I think its going to cost me cost to $500 to fix - is this common in these machines...I remember… Read more
paying top dollar for the machine and thinking it was going to last as long as my last machine lasted which was almost 10 years...I am wondering if I should purchase another brand next time - pretty dissapointed !!
Hi Dissapointed, Thanks for your review,… Read more (+1 reply)
Quiet washer – I've replaced a Kleenmaid with this and was mainly looking for a quiet dishwasher and that it is. Good quality construction but the space inside is a bit awkward. Wish i could remove the top cutlery tray... it's annoying and didn't clean well. Need to wash with intensive setting all the time and add hygiene plus... this takes 3hrs. I do like the quick was if a few things need a wash and that's about 45mins. Show details
Hi Jodagal, Thanks for your review. We… Read more
Recent reviews
a very good dishwasher instruction book not the easiest to read – once i worked that the dishwasher can take a while start the directions made sense maybe the book should tell you, washes dishes well, quiet , some cycles dishs not quite dry, can be adapted to clean large objects like racks etc, versatile in number of wash cycles . I like that information where the washer is up to in the wash cycle. Show details · 1
Find out how Bosch SMS68M38AU / SMS68M32AU compares to other Freestanding Dishwashers
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Quietest dishwasher ever! – This dishwasher cleans the dishes properly, drys well even plastics when using the right setting. The third cutlery tray is very handy and allows for more items to be washed, even small espresso cups fit up top. It is large inside and has more room than previously used dishlex dishwashers. It looks beautiful, doesn’t retain fingerprints and is the… Read more · 2
quietest appliance in the house! I often have to go up to it to check that it’s on! The display and program buttons are easy to read and simple to use. The Bosch cost me $1091 from Powerland online which turned out to be the Best Buy after much research and investigation into the “best” dishwasher.
Bosch is the boss – Once again I saved up my survey vouchers and purchased the Bosch dishwasher. I was without one for perhaps 6 months right around Christmas time but I didn't want to go for another cheap and nasty one that just doesn't last. And I'm soooo happy with the Bosch it's so super quiet when in use unlike my old one that was very noisy and didn't clean as… Read more · 1
well as the Bosch. Highly recommend it if you need a fantastic dishwasher.It's not the top of the range price wise but honestly you don't need to spend more money to get great results.
Always Clean – My Bosh diswasher never lets me down Glasses are always sparkling clean coffee mugs are stained free Pots and pans are dirt and oil free Very quit with all cycles that I use When my cycle is finished it sounds a bell sound Payed a bit more but money well spent Show details · 1
Quiet and does the job – Purchased last year and I can say that I am extremely happy with the dishwasher. The dishwasher cleans very well and is very quiet when in use. The cutlery tray at the top is very handy and gives more space instead of using the cradle in the bottom tray. I found the Vario speed useful which reduces the cycle time to help save on water and… Read more · 1
energy. Only minor downside is that running vario speed does mean you have to compromise on load and plastic cups/bowls are not completely dry.
Quiet achiever – I have had a few dishwashers before and compared to this, they are all Mack trucks. Never had a dirty dish and I have given it some serious challenges. The cutlery rack got a little getting used to, but saves a lot of space on the bottom shelf. My only criticism would be that wine glasses just don't fit. Though I believe there is an adapter for them, I just don't drink enough to warrant that purchase. Show details · 1
Amazing, silent dishwasher – We bought this dishwasher because our dog was extremely frightened of the noise our previous dishwasher made. With this Bosch, you hardly hear anything except from the water draining - which is the dishwasher has no part with. The only thing that is stopping me from giving this a full 5 rating is because sometimes the tablet flap will fail to open… Read more · 1
resulting in dishes not washed with soap. This has happened maybe twice so not the biggest of deals.
Perfect dishwasher – This dishwasher washes and dries dishes really well. The dishes are sparkling clean and I never need to scrape residue off. Its so easy, I just switch it on and forget. It is so quiet, unlike other dishwashers Ive had in the past. My favourite feature would be using the quick cycle, especially for a smaller load. Im very happy with my purchase. Show details · 1
Works well! – I usually run the 1hr 35min wash daily sometimes twice a day. It's quiet and cleans well. My favourite feature is that I can run this wash and it save time while still washing effectively. I am really happy with this dishwasher and just love using it. You do need to ensure finish is continually in there to dry the dishes. Show details · 1
Super quiet – My partner and I love the 3 hour eco wash.We put it on overnight. Super quiet and cleans really effectively. Lots of space for everything to fit, and top rack 'lifts up' if you need to put bigger plates in on the bottom rack. Easy to install as well. Great buy Show details · 1
Find out how Bosch SMS68M38AU / SMS68M32AU compares to other Freestanding Dishwashers
Know better, choose better.
researched and this model was exactly what we needed ! – Easy to load and cutlery Drawer is such an advantage as it doesnt overload the rest of the washer !! lLots of space and big loads no issue !! Lots of different programmes to use as well ! Very Quiet and we have set it for night washing , never been disturbed by any noise . washes well !! Show details · 2
Excellent dishwasher – This is the first dishwasher I've ever owned, but not the first I've used. It's whisper quiet and cleans very well. Having the 30 minute quick wash is very handy for cleaning dishes that aren't too dirty when you're in a hurry. I can't find any fault with this dishwasher, I love it and would purchase another one in a heartbeat. Show details · 1
Fault out of factory – Hello All,i cant give a review on the product ?because the machine went faulty ,giving error codes the first time it was used,To there credit. Bosh sent out a a Tech pretty quickly to tell me the board or pump is faulty. out of Factory. Left a bad taste wont buy again! Show details
The best dishwasher I have owned – Quietness is really important to me in regards dishwashers, and this dishwasher is almost silent, I am very happy with it. Washes really well, dries adequately, and the utensil rack at the top is handy. I prefer dishes to be washed with piping hot water, so I tend to use the Pots and Pans 70° degree cycle mostly and everything comes out spotless. Show details · 1
Great dishwasher – It does what a dishwasher should. cleans the dishes perfectly and dries them . Without any trouble. Very impressed with Bosch. It replaced our old Fisher and paykel, which was crap in comparison. I would highly recommend it! I will buy Bosch from now on. That's how impressed i am. Show details · 1
Worst Dishwasher Ever – The Bosch dishwasher failed me 2X within 2 years. I bought it in March, 2015. 2 years later I had a problem with the dispenser and had the part replaced for $200.00. This year, (3 months after the electrical limited warranty expired, the control board was shot---$233.00 CAD for the part. Wow, I thought Bosch was a reputable name....I will never buy one again. Show details
Hi Barbara, Thanks for your review, we… Read more
No problems at all – The dishes are always clean, using various brands of dishwasher tablets/liquid. It is the quietest dishwasher I've ever owned. I particularly like the separate cutlery tray. This takes a bit longer to load than the simple basket, but cutlery is washed better and this tray means there is extra room in the bottom tray for dishes and pans. Show details · 1
Great Machine – Cleans the dishes well including oven baked dishes. Also gentle enough for baby bottles. It is a super silence model and it definitely is, barely hear it at all. Enjoy that it has a start delay feature, half load option, various type of load options. Only small problem is that the door doesn't stay open ajar by itself so when you have washed and want to let the steam out and air dry you need to prop it open. Show details · 1
Quietest Dishwasher I have ever had – Very easy to use and I could not believe how quiet this dishwasher was when I first turned it on. I thought it wasn't working. Cleans as good as any other dishwasher I have used and is adaptable to allow you to wash larger items. Bought it at Harvey Norman with a large discount of the original price, so it's great value. Would definitely recomend. Show details · 1
Super quiet, and excellent cleaning. What more would you want! – The Bosch dishwasher is super quiet, indeed so much so that you sometimes find yourself putting your ear up to it to check it is on. Brilliant. And it does an excellent job at cleaning everything - pots, pans, plates, glasses. The cutlery tray also means all the cutlery is clean, every single time! It does everything we need, with minimal fuss. What more would you want! Perfect. Show details · 1
Doesn't dry – It doesn't dry. Setting it to 'intensive drying' (to get "d:0..." on the display as per instructions) is impossible and ends up with the programme locked on 'Glass'. Code "d:0..." for intensive drying never comes up, only "d:00" and "d:01". User instructions are poor. May need to call a technician while still under warranty. Expected better from Bosch. Show details
Hi Mar06mir, Thanks for your review, we… Read more (+1 reply)
Our first I ever, could not be happier, should've got it years ago – I love the squeaky clean feel and look of the dishes, even the glassware comes up so very clear, it's unbelievably quiet. I love having a separate cutlery drawer which makes it so user friendly. We bought the stainless steel unit and it is so easy to keep sparkling:-) I LOVE MY BOSCH Show details · 1
Exceptional Bosch – This Bosch dishwasher cleans quickly and cleans properly. Dries thoroughly and is very quiet. It tells you when to refill the rinse aid. There is no soap residue after washing. It is very large inside and has heaps of room for large pots. Cutlery tray is a treat. Totally happy with this dishwasher. Would highly recommend it to everyone. Show details · 1
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Hi Steve, Thanks for your review, we… Read more (+1 reply)