I have a 1986 purchased in 2003 and I love it.  The only thing that has been fixed was the cold water fill valves that corroded.  I am wondering about the leak on the right side.  All of the water 'business" seems to be done on the left side where the detergent drawer is so I would take a good look at the drum boot to make sure it does not have any holes in it.  Even if it does, if the machine will run it is worth paying to have the boot fixed.

Some things about this machine:

The standard 41 minute wash and two rinses, or 49 minute wash and three rinses will clean most everyday  cottons loads. Other cycles have different times but all will be less time than the cottons cycle.

If you wash a smaller load the machine will reduce the time of the wash and still clean well.

If it cannot perform the spin after the wash after failing to balance the load(rarely happens) it will automatically add an additional rinse.

There are times when it will go immediately into the spin without balancing the load...it knows when it can do this and when it cannot.

If you use a wash temp over 120F it may still fill with some cold water at the beginning of the wash

When you use a temperature of 190F you will hear the water getting ready to boil sound during the tumbling pause..this is normal.

The heavy soil option is a prewash that usually lasts about 15 minutes.  It is a cold fill.  The water will be gradually heated to around 105f before it ends.  The water will drain, there is a slight spin and the cycle will continue with the wash.

The extended option will give you a longer European type wash...every part of the cycle is longer. The time will still be reduced somewhat for smaller loads.

The motor has brushes so you will hear the jet plane sound during spins. You quickly get used to it.

Fine rinse is two deep fill rinses followed by a spin at whatever speed you set.  Water is taken through the fabric softener dispenser for the last rinse.

If you use a cold wash the heater will come on to keep the temperature at least 65F.

This machine can be programmed. The instructions are not in the users manual.  I think I have the instructions so if you need them send me a note and I will send them to you  in a PDF.

This machine is the best washer I have ever had so I hope you get yours fixed and enjoy the fast, great cleaning it can provide.  

Customer service.    In the early 2000 most of the CSR were very knowledgeable and if they didn't have an answer they would consult with technical and call you back with the answer.

Now it all depends.  I talked with one that clearly didn't know what he was talking about. I knew more than he did about my problem.  Others were very helpful and followed up.  There was another time that was very very good and at the end of the call we talked a bit and I found out that my call had been transferred to a call center in Germany.  The guy at the other end was someone who had lived in NJ and was transferred there, so from that call center things were great. 

I've bought many Miele products and when I call  and I don't get what I think I should have from them I  am not the nicest person they ever talked with.  If I don't like something I let them know and make them beg for my forgiveness.  That has helped in the past, so don't be afraid of the people on the telephone.

However I can be very nice, so it all depends on what they are doing or not doing for me at the time.