I tried a Miele today

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williamr1248

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After visiting several Miele dealers today I bought this new machine.
I tried all the floor nozzles from straight suction,turbine brush and both electric carpet tools.
Because of the types of carpet I have they advised me to get the 217.
I was advised by the dealer:
The machine is made in Germany and so is the 217 power nozzle. They showed me how
it has the same amount of suction as the larger S5's.
I have not had much time to try it out but so far I have found several nice features:
(1) light weight
(2) very powerful suction (cannot use the setting above 4 or the power nozzle SEALS to the rug and cleaning action stops)
(3) seems to have good build quality
(4) very ,very quiet machine
(5) 217 works better than I expected and grooms the carpet very nice
Also a FEW things I do not like about the machine:
(1) power cord is too short
(2) electric hose is too short
(3) hate in doll sized dusting brush
(4) wand is heavy feeling in use
(5) bags are expensive
It seems like a nice entry level machine compared to some other new machines on the market. Will have to wait and see about the dust and odor from the bag. This machine will go in the collection but will not replace the Rainbow for daily use.

williamr1248++6-6-2012-21-13-19.jpg
 
I have a Miele Callisto.  It's a very nice vacuum.  But as you noted the hose is too short.  The bags are expensive, but they're also indestructible and filter very well.  Overall, I think it's a great vacuum.  Although, I'm not fond of the small casters.  They don't roll as freely on carpet. 
 
I tried a Miele today

They all looked about the same size to me! I do know this is not the small series and it uses the same bags as the S5 Series.
 
I'm a little confused. On Amazon, the Olympus is a straight suction canister on Amazon. Is there also a model that includes a power nozzle? Or does the Olympus come with a power nozzle port as an option?

Thanks,
Chase
 
Chase

All Miele S2 vacuums are equipped with a PN port... It appears that this dealer thought it would be best to equip an Olympus with an electric hose and wand instead of just selling a Delphi which is the same vacuum in the same color but comes standard with a PN.
 
I Tried a Miele Today

Chase,
It is the most confusing marketing system that Miele uses!
All the machines are the same but with different names according to what floor tools and filter options you buy.
In the product line I got they had 3 machines:
(1) Olympus
(2) Delphi
(3) Titan
If you look at Miele's feature chart they are all the same machines but I wanted the WHITE machine WITH the SEB217 power nozzle.
I got so confused at the first dealer,that I just left. Of course all dealers do not carry ALL machines in stock but they "CUSTOM" build what you want. In my example I wanted the electric power brush BUT I did not like the TiTan which came in Chili Red.
I think it would be VERY confusing for a non vac person to shop in the dealers as they all look alike and the optional products are alike with differrent lines (S2,S5)and some in the same color and very very close in size.
That is a good idea for the baby dusting tool because it is useless as a regular dusting brush.
 
I had a Capricorn and had the same likes/dislikes that you have stated. I ended up selling it and getting a Filter Queen. The short, stiff hose, short cord and lack of maneuverability on my medium pile carpet due to the small wheels were the main reasons I got rid of it.

Gary
 
I tried a Miele Today

Rex,
I agree with you . Any machine that is over $500.00 should at least have a usable dust brush.
Some observations today:
I like the extra long wand that the length can be changed and I like the tools being right on top where I can easily reach them.
I just hate the short cord and hose because it forces the machine to be right under your feet
all the time it has a tendency to half tip over. It is nice that it is so light as you are pulling it all the time.
I was spoiled by my other vacuum being able to sit in the middle of the room and with the long cord and electric hose,I didn't have to move but one time.
Also not crazy about the power nozzle not standing on it's own. You are forced to either prop it on some furniture or put it back on the machine's wand holder.
The power nozzle grooms the carpet very nice but it is hard to push because the small wheels sink into the rug.
It does seem to have good build quality.
I think this machine would be great if you lived in a small apartment.
 
It is the most confusing marketing system that Miele uses!

Tell me about it! Miele UK are confusing to say the least, not helped by special "exclusive" versions that have an extra price added on because of the colour and a confusing model line up judged by the number variations. The white S2 shown here is an exclusive colour in the UK alongside the dark grey version and all we get are suction only heads and fixed height twin tubes that are smaller in height than the "standard" telescopic height adjustable ones. Buyers are strangely then pushed to spend more on the S6 which is supposed to be the new "S4" because it has a smaller body and a small dust bag - but when you've got the S2 with the bigger bags, sometimes it's a no-brainer until you get the machine out of the box and realise where Miele have been stingy.


 


Of course buyers who don't know any different without researching won't know this.
 
Miele is a great machine. But for the price of them 10 years ago i would of rather owned a Lux. Prices have come down in the last 5 years.
Miele has great Suction.
Well built.
Good power nozzle.
Sealed machine thus providing good hepa filtration.

Something the salesman does not tell you.......well they break down eventually just every other Vac..!
Parts are expensive...And I Will Repeat This One..
Most Shops Carry very Few Parts for Them. Do mind waiting a week or so for the part..!!
 
Miele makes an excellent vacuum and while they are expensive, after having owned three I have found them to be well made and able to tolerate abuse, such as a housekeeper. From my own use I’ve found them to be one of the best high-end modern canisters available. And, Miele vacuums are also much more readily available than some of their “supposed” DTD competitors, as they have even been selling Miele vacs and bags in the two different Bloomingdale’s by me for the past 3+ years. Even Williams-Sonoma carries their own special models of Miele machines.

Their bags are pricey, especially when compared to something like basic Lux C bags but I won't ever use a paper Lux C bag after using the Perfect Canister HEPA bags, which cost almost as much as what I used to pay for Miele bags. I had a Red Velvet (which I bought new shortly after it came out) and also had a Blue Moon at the same time. In the few years that I owned them I think I only replaced the HEPA filter in the Red Velvet once. The Miele bags at that time had just recently changed to the cloth like bags, and even back then they filtered the dust so well I never thought the HEPA filter needed to be changed. I only changed it because I thought that was what you were "supposed" to do. I never really noticed any dust on the filter so after that I thought it would be a waste to spend $60 on a filter that probably didn't even need to be changed, and never bothered with it again.

@williamr1248:
I’ve tried the SEB217 p/n, its compact, easy to move around, and cleans well if you have the right carpet (probably best suited for commercial style or very low pile carpeting). For my own personal use, I had the SEB236 with the Red Velvet, and I think it was the 226(?) for the Blue Moon. I can't remember what the model number was off the top of my head but it was the original full sized power nozzle that came out with the White Pearl and continued until the Red Velvet & 236 were released. Both power nozzles did an amazing job cleaning my carpets, and I would love to be able to use either one with my central vac. If you really want a power nozzle that can truly compete with the Rainbow's power nozzle, then possibly exchange the 217 for the 236. It will clean circles around the 217 and there will be no issues with the nozzle sticking to your carpet. In my opinion the 236 or even the new 228 are probably two of the best, if not the best modern power nozzles currently on the market. Best of luck with your new Miele and many hours of happy vacuuming!!
 
Well from my own experience Miele vacuums are good - to a point. I much prefer the older canisters even though they come with the FJM bag size as standard. S500, S300 - they're virtually indestructible = from a domestic point of view and the only downside is that they are heavy. In the UK Comet have started to re-sell older cylinder vacs from Miele but at a price, often being more expensive now when at a time before our recession hit, they were more sensibly priced, before the onslaught of the S2 and half way between the S4 series when it was on sale.
 
I tried a Miele today

Does anyone know why Miele changed the wands from the grey wands to the new HEAVY Stainless wands? They are way too heavy and bulky and really undo the light feel of the machine itself.
At both Miele dealers I visted,they used the grey wands on the demonstation machines but the new ones in the box came with the heavy stainless wands. I have read other customer complaints about the heavy wands and now I believe it after using them.

I was a little afraid of the other power nozzle just because it resembles a power nozzle that came on another new German Made vacuum I have and it's power nozzle is too aggressive if you are not careful.
 
Rob

The new stainless steel wands have the electric on the outside of the tubing, supposedly creating more airflow. At least that is what I was told. I actually can't tell much difference if any with the air flow. I prefer the lighter weight one myself. Maybe others here have more information on this. I would be interested to know as well.


Bud Mattingly
PR-21
 
Grey tubes? I've never seen those - the demo machines in the UK at Comet, John Lewis etc all come with the default stainless steel tubes - and yes, I agree, they are pretty heavy. Even Sebo's D series all s/s similar tubes are slightly lighter and not much of a struggle. 


 


I have used lighter aluminium Bosch tubes before with my Miele S6 in order to make performance lighter but it soon becomes clear why a locking tube is so much more important - friction fit tubes are what Bosch always fit and are the same size as Miele, often allowing you to use the better well thought smaller cleaning tools- but when it comes to the floor heads they have a tendency to slide off or become loose as there is corresponding lock catch.
 
I tried a Miele today

Update:
I made some changes in my Miele. I purchased the "real horse hair " dusting brush and also added the Miele straight suction rug/floor tool.
The BIG improvement was to exchange the horrible stainless steel wands for the classic gray lighter weight Miele wands.
It made a difference in how the power nozzle performed on my cut pile carpeting. The heavy stainless wands were causing the 217 to bog down in my carpets and made very difficult to push.
Hats off to the Miele dealer for the exchange. It is my understanding that the gray finished lighter weight wands will not be available except on one machine called the "HOME CARE SYSTEM".
The dealer was very helpful with the sale and after the sale when I was not too happy with my machine.
My machine now performs like a different vacuum.

williamr1248++6-11-2012-20-18-23.jpg
 
I have one too!

Congrats on our purchase, I bought the same model with the 217, the Delphi. I got mine from a local Miele dealer in Chandler, AZ. I paid $499 plus tax, but they did throw in a free box of the Hyclean bags that sell for around $20-I thought that was a nice touch.

The dealer said it was a way to say "thank you" for purchasing locally--which is ironic, because up until the morning of I was convinced that I was going to buy it on Amazon-would have saved quite a bit on sales tax, but I wanted to support a local business and I also didn't want to wait for it to come :) I also bought the genuine horsehair duster, for around $20. It has a painted silver ring on the outside. I have yet to purchase a bare floor tool, the SEB 217 works really well on bare floors.

Hope you enjoy yours!

PS-I noticed that the S2 range got a slight cosmetic update-I got mine 2 years ago or so, the new ones say "Miele" on the sides of the Canister. They also added the "Made in Germany" mark under the "Miele" name on the top lid, they moved the power and cord-rewind emblems to the pedals, and the icons for different power levels are a little different.

My telescoping wand stopped conducting electricity, the dealer replaced it without question, even though this was just a few months ago--almost 2 years after I bought the machine, and way out of warranty. That part retails for $120 or so--so I guess in the end, purchasing from a local "Miele Diamond" dealer ended up saving me a lot of money and frustration.

Here's a little review I did a while ago-if you watch you'll notice the cosmetic differences.

 
Wands

William--I've heard from several sources that the new wand-SET 220 (the heavier, stainless one) has an increased internal diameter as well as a smoother, more contoured internal surface as compared the the SET 210, which was the gunmetal grey wand.

Here's a link explaining the difference, it's in the last paragraph of the product description. Whether or not the airflow is increased or not, I can't say-this is my first Miele with a power nozzle. (I have the S4 Sirius, bare-floor only). The SET 220 that comes with the Delphi is heavy, but I personally don't mind. Everything about it seems to be very well made. I don't think Miele would just arbitrarily change if there was no need.

http://www.ristenbatt.com/order.mv?Product=SET 220
 
I tried a Miele

Travis
Thanks for the information about the wands. If I had to keep the stainless wands-the machine was going back. Mine were so heavy and clunky that the 217 bogged down in the cut pile carpet. After the dealer was good enough to trade them for the
one new set he had on a "Home Care" model. Now the 217 and the floor tool work perfectly on my carpets and are easy to push.
It is somewhat strange that the Miele has such strong suction but the air flow does not seem to be as good as my Rainbow. Of course the Miele still has a new,empty bag.
The selling feature of the Miele was that is was light weight and easy to handle. In the store they were using the gray wands so I had no idea the difference until I got home. With the Miele's already short hose you are forced to use a wand section to dust or clean blinds and I just did not like the look or feel of the huge wands. Now it is a very different performing machine.
I bought from a local dealer for the same reason. I have heard it is not always quick to get replacement parts so thought the local dealer has a vested interest in local customers. The dealer was very nice and thanked me for buying local too.
If I had bought on the internet I would not have been able to make the correction so quick and easy.
My machine seems to be very well made compared to most new machines and it darn well should be quality at the price.
I ended up at over $600.00 by the time I got the dusting brush,floor tool and bags.
The only thing I don't like so far is saving and storing the dirt and filth in the closet and the house just does not smell as clean as when I use my Rainbow. I have asthma so if it starts smelling-it goes to the basement.
Thanks again for your information about the wands.
 
I tried a Miele today

Travis,
When I went to look at the Miele,they were very proud of the fact and made a point to tell me it is made in Germany and has the famous Vortex motor. They showed me several machines (S4,S5) and one designed to be quieter but the differece was so slight I could not see the differnce in price. How could you want more suction as I cannot use mine past the 4th setting.
I too like the looks of this machine for some reason. I liked that it says "made in Germany" on the machine and the tools say Miele on each.
What a difference in the performance and ease of use of the 217 on my particular cut pile carpets with the lighter design Miele gray wands.
 
Well..

With my Miele Vacuum, when i turn it on i smell dust, and i haven't Drop dead from the smell Yet. So you'll be ok.
 
I tried a Miele today

Josh,
I have asthma, so I hope what you say is NOT true after spending a lot of money for a vacuuum that totes IT FILTERS the dust and they charge you a premium price for bags and filters to perform just that function.
Why would anyone buy an expensive product and not expect it to do what they claim it was designed to do? If yours smells too, I may not be at all happy with mine. If I wanted to smell leaking dust and filth I could have bought a cheap Walmart vacuum.
Are you sure you don't have clogged filters?
 

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