Bosch washing machine on the blink

Manxman_in_exile

Got a Bosch Exxel 8 VarioPerfect washing m/c which is on the blink(*). It's 30 months old so out of warranty etc.


Am I better off to contact Bosch for repair or use a local independent domestic appliance repair firm? I've found a local firm on our county council's trusted trader site, run by Referenceline(?), who seems to have good reviews.


(*) The water's not heating up so I presume element or something has gone. It also won't automatically progress from washing cycle to rinse cycle. Just stays on wash for whole of programme. I'm wondering if fact water won't heat up is fooling electronics to stay on wash cycle? Can manually select rinse/spin programme ok.

JuzaMum

I am not very knowledgable on these things but have a Bosch washing machine too. The element went on mine and we got a replacement on Ebay, watched a youtube tutorial and changed the part ourselves. The part cost £9.95!
Our machine had the heating element fitted from the back not the front as shown on youtube but we only found that out after removing the front!

EssexExile

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

I'm wondering if fact water won't heat up is fooling electronics to stay on wash cycle?

Yes it will stay there until it gets hot enough, although I would imagine these new-fangled electronic things time-out eventually & go to pump out.
If you're handy it's worth trying the heater for a tenner as long as you accept it may be something else.
If you're getting someone in It'll be about £100 (depending what parts it needs) from Bosch but it's guaranteed for a year & he should know the model inside out. It'll be cheaper with a local firm but you may not get the get the guarantee or knowledge if it's something more obscure.

getmore4less

If it is the heater element an easy test with a multi meter.

getmore4less

if you have the actual model number there may be the service manual on-line

Manxman_in_exile

Thanks all. I'm not going to try doing it myself as I've always thought mixing electricity and water is best left to someone who knows what they're doing! I don't.


I'm going with the local independent chap. I tried to call him a couple of times the other evening (quite late) but he was engaged and I couldn't leave a message. He called me back a few minutes later and said "You've been trying to get through to me?" He confirmed that it sounded like the heating element and that that would explain lack of progress through the washing cycle. He also immediately identified it as a Which? Best Buy when I gave him the model no. So I'm happy to go with him. Also happy with price quoted.


Thanks again.