Thread Number: 54341
Money for value: A+++ 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 767260   7/1/2014 at 14:44 (3,585 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

So, as some may have recognized, we went through a kind of a drama with our Panasonic NA148VG4. Long story short: The main board blew, we were told that the damage was not covered by the warranty as we caused that damage, and thats all Panasonic said. This happend now about 4 to 6 weeks ago, and thus being done with washers, we just bought cheap. How cheap?
Bauknecht cheap. Means the OTTO-exclusive model Super Eco 6414. The 6 means 6kg (a drum maybe 45l - 50l, on one level with the AEG), the 4 is the 1400rpm spin speed, the 14 means the model year (this particular model is updated every year, so in every second new main catalog of OTTO, there is a new version. This is the third). It was on sale for 399€ with 4 years warranty (more on that later), and a free removal of the old appliance. It was ordere in the last week of May I think and was delivered the next week. Our model had a delivery damage (the right top front corner of the work top is scratched), so we got a 60€ discount. 340€ plus 30€ shipping for a washer is the cheapest we have ever bought.
Now, some specs: 6kg, 1400 rpm, A+++, brushles motor, UltimateCare drum, quite some cyles and good options.
First, the build quality: Well, I am surprised. From now on, always take into account it is a 400€ washer. The appearence is sturdy over all. The door is a bit more wobbly than the AEG, but therefore the drum is suspended stiffer. The buttons need some convinceing, but work. The drawer is kind of wobbly, but is always perfectly flushed (and I mean, perfectly). It is quite heavy for what it is. The drum is well constructed, has no sharp edges, though the padles are somewhat loose and the glass is just a bit badly designed: socks tend to find the way into the door boot. The UltimateCare paddles are really smooth and lift the clothes softly, yet, the tumbling action is impressive. The drum is really soft on clothes and even towels on full speed have no marks on them. The washing is silent, though during spin there is a kind of knocking noise and the motor starts out really high pitched. It spins slowly up to max speed and stays there long enough. Balancing it self is no problem, but more on that later. When the motor is slowing down (it does active slowing down), at the end, there is a sound like glass or metal vibrating. But it only lasts a few seconds. So, build quality so far, perfect fit in money for value.
Reliability: I can't state on that yet. We got a simple math rule: Divide the price the appliance was bought for by the time it lasted. If you get 100€ or less, it is OK. So, it would have to last 4 years and in hope this time warranty is not an issue, it should get there. And in my impression, it is probable that it will get 5 years or more. The warranty is (not mentioned by OTTO) actually a 4 year warranty like you can order it from Bauknecht directly. So, again, money for value is nice.
Cycles: Clockwise, the cycles are: Off, Mix, Cottons, Easys-Care, Delicates, Wool, Jeans, Spin, Rinse+Spin, Eco (Standard cycle), AquaEco (19l cycle), Super Short 15min, Darks, Brights, Whites and off again. I used all except Jeans and Brights and with most, I am pretty convinced. The cycle details are described under "Programming/Software". Again: The offer on cycles is nice and ok with the price.
Options: You can add a prewash, use a short cycle, delay the end time, select the temp, have intensified rinsing, a 15° Green&"Clean" wash, select the spin (1400/1000/400/0/rinsehold) and adjust the cycle time/soil level. So, you can get everything from the 4:14h Eco 60° with intensive rinse down to the Easy Care 40° at lowest soil level with short clocking in at 50min. Options do what they are supposed to do and are widley avaible and can be combined quite a lot. Only down side: Cycles above 60° are not shortable in any way except by the load sensing. There is a dosage help either which pretty nicely and accuratly tells you how much detergent to use. Again: Top offer for this price!
Programming: This is the first real downside. Cycles like Cottons are OK and work well, but there are certain things that generally, independent of the cycle, are just badly programmed. First, sometimes, it just stops during a balancing period of the final spin, turning of the pump and starts rebalancing over and over, no matter how well the load is distributed. Only way arround without the cycle being aborted automaticly: Pulling the plug, wait, and re-plug. But at least, it than spins, always. Next, the manual states you can press the pause button any time during a cycle, change the cycle and it will continue from the same point. Well, certainly not during the final spin and in any other case, it is a chance of 2 out of 10 to work without the cycle getting messed up. Cycle wise, the only really badly designed main cycle I used so far is the darks cycle. It washes 1 1/2 hours, than drains at the point the final spin should start, recalculates the time and adds 30-45min. Than, it uses less water than cottons in any part and rinsing is just a joke. So, I wait 2 hours or more for badly treated darks. Thanks, no. The other cycle that should be redesigned is the rinse and spin cycle. It has timed fills as it seems so a full pre-spun load is not rinsed at all, even though setting it to intensive rinse. But all other cycles are great. Even the Eco cycle is perfect for the times you have time. It takes 4h or more, but washes every stain away. 3h of soaking and washing with high speed tumbles removes any stain even at A+++ temperature level. The whites cycle is perfet for anything that needs a more intensive wash in a cotton-cycle time and the cottons cycle it self rinses at high enough water levels. The load sensor first checks the load by spinning (as we know from LG/Panasonic) and than calcuates a new time. After several minutes, the tiem is recalculated with the water needed taken into account. After every other main wash stage (so pre wash, soaking, enzyme stage, heating to target temp and washing), there is a recalculation done. But if the rinses take longer, it just stops before the final spin cycle time and waits till it is ready for it. So, works well! Some downsides, but nothing not to work around. P.S. Never try to wash a pillow. It wont work. Trust me. The tub is to small, the sensing is not used to it and rinsing is a catastrophy.
So, after all, I can just finish this review of by saying: It is what it is, a washer for 400€. It washes (most of the times) flawlessly. It rinses perfectly (most of the times) and spins (nearly every time) on the spot. It feals solid enough and is just what it needs to be: A durable, good low price washer, though not being conisderable BOL.
If you got questions or requests, just ask.
Waiting
Henrik




Post# 767261 , Reply# 1   7/1/2014 at 14:44 (3,585 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
And on misspellings...

 ... sorry, but I am German, tired and not the best fast typer...

Post# 767271 , Reply# 2   7/1/2014 at 15:10 (3,585 days old) by frontloaderfan (Merrimac valley, MA)        
Gut eingekauft!

 frontloaderfan's profile picture

From what I read, it sounds like you made a very good purchase with your Bauknecht. I checked a local "box store" for something similar (Whirlpool) and, unless I overlooked something, you can't even get a Whirlpool with all those options in the US. The one I saw that came the closest was the Whirlpool WFW8640BW. It has 4.1 cubic feet (not sure what that translates to in load capacity in kg.), onboard heater (cannot be used with all programs; only "Steam" and "Allergen/Sanitize") and the maximum spin speed is only 1200 rpm. It has no pre-wash and no bulky cycle.

Here, this machine would cost you 510€ with no extended warranty. A five-year protection plan would be an additional 79€.
Post# 767274 , Reply# 3   7/1/2014 at 15:13 (3,585 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        
4.1 cuft...

 Would be 11kg or more... So tiny bit more... But keep in mind, this would be considered a compact washer in the US ;D

Post# 767275 , Reply# 4   7/1/2014 at 15:19 (3,585 days old) by frontloaderfan (Merrimac valley, MA)        

frontloaderfan's profile picture

My 2012 Frigidaire front loader has 3.9 cubic feet, which is more than I really need. I know there are even larger machines here in this country, but I think it is all just a sales gimmick. Bigger is always better here in the US, after all, and most don't even fill their machines to capacity as it is.

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