How good are Miele vacuums?

[billybud21]

Hi Everyone,

So here is my question: how good are Miele vacuums? I hear and read a lot about how wonderful they are, etc, etc. Does the hype actually match the durability and performance of the machines?

Yours in curiosity,

Johnathan

 

[twocvbloke]

I've had two, I briefly had an S147 "stick vac" (very heavy for a stick vac too), bought for £5 and sold on a week later a few years ago, and I currently have an S316i, paid just £10 for it, used of course, and while it's not electrically broken down since I rebuilt it, the plastics have been falling off all too often, to me, the build quality is like that of cheap store-brand vacuums, but sold at a high price, I can't even change the bag without the lid falling off, and of course the tool door hinge was not well designed, so that's loose due to one side breaking off, the filters are a joke, and the hose (which I believe is still supplied with some current models) has so many joints in it that it loses a lot of airlow long before the it gets to the floor tools...

Also, the size of the bags when you look at the price of a pack of them, it's ridiculous, plus the small bags, which are meaner than a yorkshireman, means you have poorer airflow than if you used bigger ones (I managed to fit a generic Kirby bag in my S316i, and the airflow improved dramatically) hence why I've got GN bags in an FJM model, and if you look through the archives, there are some models that have issues with some of the bags which are supposedly meant for those models, but end up not being so, and thus leak all over the inside of the vac...

So all in all, in my opinion, Miele vacs are not really worth the money they're sold for, I'm just glad I never paid the original retail prices for my two...

 

[aeoliandave]

<a name="start_15351.163176">Does the hype actually match the durability and performance of the machines? </a>


<a name="start_15351.163176"></a>From a North American perspective, in a word, yes.


If I was going to lay out ~$1200 for a contemporary canister I would not hesitate to buy a Miele. But also check out Simplicity and Riccar from Tacony Corp - they are totally molded, manufactured and assembled in Missouri. I watched them being built at the factory. I believe the only foreign off-shore sourced part is the motor...and I'm not 100% sure about that.


 


Go to a genuine Vacuum Store, inspect and test drive the Tacony brands and Miele Series 4, 5 & 6 canisters. I don't mean a Big Box store, either.


 


Dave



http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/apr2006/id20060427_567693.htm

 

[kirbyloverdan]

As a former

Simplicity & Riccar dealer I say nothing beats Simplicity/Riccar . Price , features,style & performance . My favorite part about Tacony products compared to Miele is Tacony attachments are large normal size not the tiny toy attachments that Miele includes.

 

[joshdonnell]

miele

you should try both a riccar and miele and form your own opinon . try the miele first then riccar

 

[whirlpolf]

hm.

Miele is ok, but really not worth the high price (even here). They charge you the price a door-to-door company (like Vorwerk or Kirby) would charge you.

Try out this one: BSGL5 or BSG8 of Bosch/Siemens (which are the same company now).
I found they are about equal to Miele, yet will cost you just half of the price.
Do not try the bagless ones, they are as crummy as with any other brand.
Even if you take one of their lower-grade models you should be well off: There is nothing what they cannot do what a Miele can do.

I've tried a Bosch Compressor tank vac once, they are a beast and very silent as well. Only thing: You pay less than for a Miele. Workmanship should be similar, all the gaskets fit fine, no leaks. And you have to get used to winding back that long cable (10 or 15 metres on some models). (My best friend has decided to purchase one, I am using it every time I am there).

Last said: Miele takes 1.5 to 2 x the money in the U.S. compared to what they take here. Customs? Taxes? I doubt it. It is just a market based on the name.
Want parts? I am happy to help.
Joe

 

[sanitairered]

Go for Miele

I have used both Riccar and Miele, and I own a Miele. They are outstanding deep cleaners, durable, reliable, and the filtration is excellent. The tools are not 'tiny toy attachments', but quality and useful accessories. In my opinion, you really can't get a better cannister than Miele!

 

[whirlpolf]

sorry, forgot to add the link

...

http://www.bosch-home.com/de/produkte/bodenpflege/bodenstaubsauger.html

 

[joshdonnell]

bosh

they dont sell them here anymore because they know miele is the best and bosh didnt sell well at all

 

[billybud21]

Thanks everybody

Thanks for the great information everybody! Lots of think about.

 

[suckolux]

Two words, short hose, short cord. Just my two cents.

 

[lunchboxsean]

The only experience I have had with Miele is a S142 I bought used a few months ago. I can honestly say that it had spectacular suction and was the quietest vacuum I have ever owned. It was quite heavy, and not terribly versatile, but if it had a decent PN on it, it would have been tremendous. Otherwise, I have heard good things.

 

[reo580]

Miele..........

I have a Miele stick vac, an S-7 Bolero and the S-518 Yellow Star canister. I have the SEB-217 and the SEB-236 Powernozzles, a straight suction nozzle and the mini turbo brush along with a few odds and ends (Including a "Miele" bag that my canister is stored in). All I can say is that I love my Mieles. I have never been happier with a cleaner. Smooth,quiet operation, ease of use and a stylish appearance. I find a reason to use them on an almost daily basis.

 

[tolivac]

I am very pleased with the Meile vacuums in my collection.They are high quality-for a plastic vacuum,and perform,filter well.I just think slightly longer cords and hoses on the canisters would be a finishing touch.

 

[eurekastar]

I own three Mieles. All are very good vacuums. I am a Kirby fan, but I needed a vacuum that my housekeeper could easily operate. Since I live in a 7,000 sq. ft. house, I eventually ended up getting three! LOL! I have an S7 Jazz that I keep on the bedroom end of the house since it is all carpet. The tools on it are quick and easy to use and the dust bag is large. I also have a Callisto for the main living areas since the rooms all have wood and tile with a few rugs (and some carpet too!). My only complaint about the Callisto is the small dust bag. We have two dogs. One is a Golden Retriever. So the dust bag only lasts about two weeks. The third is a Mile stick vac that's in the kitchen/small dining room area. They are all stellar performers. The build quality is outstanding. Everything fits tightly and opens/closes with ease. My Callisto came with the newer power nozzle and does an excellent job. Plus, Miele probably makes the best dust bag on the market. Not only are they high filtration, but they all have plastic mounting collars (big plus) and are woven with wire to ensure that they don't burst. The dusting brushes are quite small, but I purchased the larger flexible brush. It's the best one I've ever seen. They are all great vacuums.

 

[suckolux]

I perhaps should ad to offset my negative comments, very strong suction, quiet and very well made, on my model, 1 year old, so not a lot of miles, but recent build quality assessment.Hope this is of help.But oh what I would give for another foot of hose.My Titan was only $650,is this common on all of their canisters?

 

[pr-21]

Miele Vacuums

I have 3 Miele canisters, two from Canada and one from Williams Sonoma that I got a week or so ago. It is called the Miele Terrain. It has the same controls as the Miele Earth, but has the larger power brush. I like all my Miele Canisters, but I really like the Terrain. It has an auto eco setting, which is similar the the automatic setting on some of their discontinued models. I was spoiled with this setting on my previous Miele, so I had to have it. I also had an S7, but did not like it. With that said, it was one for the first offered and I do believe they have addressed some of the issues. I gave mine to my best friend, who is an upright person. The power switch is sticking and you cannot shut it off unless you unplug it. Also the spring broke when he was changing the bag, so it is hard to keep it mounted. I am going to take it in and have it fixed for him, so in the meantime he is stuck using the Miele Canister that I also gave him when I got my new ones.


 


 


 


Sincerely,


 


Bud Mattingly

View attachment pr-21++12-24-2011-10-34-24.jpg

 

[reo580]

Miele

I think Miele the only way Miele could outdo itself would be to an 8 or 10 foot hose as an option. As far as short cord goes, my Bolero has a 40 foot cord. I only have to plug it in once and can clean entire my main floor if I use a centrally located outlet. I remember when I bought my Miele, the hose felt awkward at first because I was used to my Filter Queen which had a soft rubber hose that had more flex than the Miele's hose. Now I don't even think twice about it. Personally, if I were to work in Miele's design department, I would give the canisters an electrified stretch style hose that was 8 feet (un-stretched) that would stretch to about 10 or 11 feet. I used to have a Constellation Model S-3341, the white one- that had a stretch hose it stretched to about 8 feet. I hated it because the hose itself was maybe 4 feet. When the cleaner was running the hose would contract. It felt like strength training with "the resistance hose" every time I used it. My favorite occasion,which decided the hoover's fate (I sold it to a collector who loves it unconditionally) was when I was doing some cleaning w/ the crevice tool; the hose slipped out of my hand and flung itself back towards the cleaner, scratching my coffee table along the way. I thought "this stupid hose could be used as a weapon". That is why I would put on an 8 foot (un-stretched) stretch hose on a machine.

 

[danemodsandy]

Can't Speak to New Mieles, But....

....My late partner had an experience with a White Star that wasn't altogether positive, due to poor salesmanship. The machine was sold with the turbo floor tool, which was supposed to be "as good as" a true power nozzle. It. Was. Not.

The true PN was an add-on, at a shocking amount extra. The company selling him the vac obviously wanted him to come back and shell out for it. I am here to tell you they waited in vain.

The vac was very high-quality for what it was (a plastic canister), but I did not feel it was worth the price paid even if it had come with a true PN. We got rid of it via that online auction site and went totally vintage.