Miele Fridge Freezer (8462S) on the blink, Code F4
Discussion
A couple of years ago I bought this premium appliance taking the view that you get what you pay for and so the higher price would be worth it. Well now, after a cosseted and short life it's bleeping at me and showing code F4 on the display. A call to Miele reveals that this means it's the "Freezer Evaporator Temperature Sensor" and it will cost £98 + parts + vat to have a look at it, or, "if Sir would prefer" I can have it fixed and a 2 year warranty for £199.
Well, actually, Sir would prefer not to be caught by the short and curlies just yet and would like to have a go at fixing it myself.
Can anyone offer advice on sourcing spare parts for Miele at a reasonable price or, if it's all too much for a competent DIYer, tell me if there's anyone who lives close to Lancaster and can do the job for me. With prices like those quoted I view the official solution as a last resort.
Thanks
C.S.
Well, actually, Sir would prefer not to be caught by the short and curlies just yet and would like to have a go at fixing it myself.
Can anyone offer advice on sourcing spare parts for Miele at a reasonable price or, if it's all too much for a competent DIYer, tell me if there's anyone who lives close to Lancaster and can do the job for me. With prices like those quoted I view the official solution as a last resort.
Thanks
C.S.
I bought a Miele oven a couple of years ago and one of the clips holding the various layers of quadruple glazing on the door broke.
I called Miele spares and explained what I wanted. As the part would clearly only have cost pennies to manufacture I was expecting a response something along the lines of, "Don't worry, sir, we'll just stick one in an envelope and post it to you. Have a nice day."
Wrong.
"That'll be £25 please."
"Sorry, we must be taking about two different things as the part I'm talking about could only cost pennies, not £25. Is that the price for the whole door assembly or something?"
"No. That's the price for the clip. Would you like to order it?"
"Well I don't have a whole lot of choice do I? Yes, I need to order it and while you're taking my card details you can give me the number for your Customer Services Director as I object to having shelled out for a premium appliance from you, actually I've bought seven, and then being raped as thanks."
"Just a minute, sir...."
After a period of me being on hold the guy came back on the line and stated that the clip would be sent out and there wouldn't be a charge.
I do genuinely rate Miele kit but, equally, I greatly resent being unjustifiably shafted by a premium brand manufacturer when I had the choice to buy a cheaper product at the outset, in which case they'd have made precisely nothing out of me.
Good luck.
I called Miele spares and explained what I wanted. As the part would clearly only have cost pennies to manufacture I was expecting a response something along the lines of, "Don't worry, sir, we'll just stick one in an envelope and post it to you. Have a nice day."
Wrong.
"That'll be £25 please."
"Sorry, we must be taking about two different things as the part I'm talking about could only cost pennies, not £25. Is that the price for the whole door assembly or something?"
"No. That's the price for the clip. Would you like to order it?"
"Well I don't have a whole lot of choice do I? Yes, I need to order it and while you're taking my card details you can give me the number for your Customer Services Director as I object to having shelled out for a premium appliance from you, actually I've bought seven, and then being raped as thanks."
"Just a minute, sir...."
After a period of me being on hold the guy came back on the line and stated that the clip would be sent out and there wouldn't be a charge.
I do genuinely rate Miele kit but, equally, I greatly resent being unjustifiably shafted by a premium brand manufacturer when I had the choice to buy a cheaper product at the outset, in which case they'd have made precisely nothing out of me.
Good luck.
I have a Miele fridge/freezer and have too had reason to be disatisfied.
Within the 2 year warranty it just went off, no fault code or anything, just warmed up and would not work. I turned it off and loaded everything into the spare fridge freezer downstairs. Turned it back on the next day and it fired up no problem.
Rang Miele to have the fault investigated and was told that they would come and investigate, but that I would be liable for charge if they found no fault! As it was now working I decided to percivere.
A year on (now out of warranty) and it started playing up towards the end of march, just warming up and needing a switch on/off at the mains to reset. Or coming up with F4 fault.
Anyway, we were away for a week in April, so decided not to risk it and stuck everything in the freezer in the garage.
When out friend came in to feed the cat she found it defrosted and spilled out over the floor (surely shouldn't happen with frost free?). We told her just to turn it off and ignore.
On our return we turned it back on, and it fired up, got down to temperature and touch wood has been fine since! The spillage makes us wonder if the fault (which came up F4) was actually something iced up and the thorough defrost has solved the issue?
Just a thought, but might be worth you trying the same?
Also just wanted to point out that the hand me down basic 15 year old kit in the garage has never missed a beat!
Within the 2 year warranty it just went off, no fault code or anything, just warmed up and would not work. I turned it off and loaded everything into the spare fridge freezer downstairs. Turned it back on the next day and it fired up no problem.
Rang Miele to have the fault investigated and was told that they would come and investigate, but that I would be liable for charge if they found no fault! As it was now working I decided to percivere.
A year on (now out of warranty) and it started playing up towards the end of march, just warming up and needing a switch on/off at the mains to reset. Or coming up with F4 fault.
Anyway, we were away for a week in April, so decided not to risk it and stuck everything in the freezer in the garage.
When out friend came in to feed the cat she found it defrosted and spilled out over the floor (surely shouldn't happen with frost free?). We told her just to turn it off and ignore.
On our return we turned it back on, and it fired up, got down to temperature and touch wood has been fine since! The spillage makes us wonder if the fault (which came up F4) was actually something iced up and the thorough defrost has solved the issue?
Just a thought, but might be worth you trying the same?
Also just wanted to point out that the hand me down basic 15 year old kit in the garage has never missed a beat!
Still pursuing the non-Miele option for now. Tracked down a major internet based supplier that promised to send me an email picture of the replacement part they thought that I'd need. Still waiting, 24 hours later. Also thrown the problem to a local independent firm that came highly recommended so we'll see what happens there.
We too had a really cheap Norfrost Deep Freeze and it lasted for years before a mouse got in amongst the insulation and wrecked it. Knowing what I know now about the repair and service costs of a Miele product I certainly wouldn't buy one again.
Meanwhile F4 continues to flash and the alarm continues to sound (it won't stay cancelled). I fear for our dog's mental health.
Thanks for your replies. The major defrost sounds worth a go. C.S.
We too had a really cheap Norfrost Deep Freeze and it lasted for years before a mouse got in amongst the insulation and wrecked it. Knowing what I know now about the repair and service costs of a Miele product I certainly wouldn't buy one again.
Meanwhile F4 continues to flash and the alarm continues to sound (it won't stay cancelled). I fear for our dog's mental health.
Thanks for your replies. The major defrost sounds worth a go. C.S.
Our Miele dishwasher had a fault code last week, just two months after the 5 year warranty ran out 
Same story with the call out too - £99 to come and have a look or £199 for all parts and labour and a years cover. We opted for £199 and booked the engineer for Tuesday just gone. Monday, about 4.30 I thought I'd try the d/w to see if it had fixed itself overnight (well you never know!) and indeed it seemed ok. So the wife rings up, quickly (to get in before a potential 5pm close)and tries to cancel the deal - "oh no, it's under warranty now can't do that!!" was the response 
Anyway, as it turns out the d/w did fail again about 10 minutes after the phone call, so all was not lost, but I'm not particulary happy with the situation.
Anyway the engineer has a look on Tuesday and finds he needs to order a part (which would have been another £99 visit apparently if we hadn't taken the £199 option!!
We will definately think hard before deciding to get another Miele.
Same story with the call out too - £99 to come and have a look or £199 for all parts and labour and a years cover. We opted for £199 and booked the engineer for Tuesday just gone. Monday, about 4.30 I thought I'd try the d/w to see if it had fixed itself overnight (well you never know!) and indeed it seemed ok. So the wife rings up, quickly (to get in before a potential 5pm close)and tries to cancel the deal - "oh no, it's under warranty now can't do that!!" was the response Anyway, as it turns out the d/w did fail again about 10 minutes after the phone call, so all was not lost, but I'm not particulary happy with the situation.
Anyway the engineer has a look on Tuesday and finds he needs to order a part (which would have been another £99 visit apparently if we hadn't taken the £199 option!!
We will definately think hard before deciding to get another Miele.
In response to your comments about the insistent F4 message and intermittent bleeping which drives one crazy I surfed the web and found this site which turned out to have an answer to this problem - and it worked for me, thank goodness, thus avoiding having to fork out a minimum of £100 plus for a Miele repairman to sort it out.
Following the advice to turn off the appliance and leave it for at least 24 hours I went one better. As I was going on a week's holiday I turned off the Miele, emptied the contents, cleaned it out aand left it alone for a week's holiday of its own! Since returning and resuming normal service it has worked perfectly now for over a week. So fingers crossed, problem solved.
I hope this may resolve your dreaded F4 and bleeping bug. Many thanks for the initial advice on this website.
Following the advice to turn off the appliance and leave it for at least 24 hours I went one better. As I was going on a week's holiday I turned off the Miele, emptied the contents, cleaned it out aand left it alone for a week's holiday of its own! Since returning and resuming normal service it has worked perfectly now for over a week. So fingers crossed, problem solved.
I hope this may resolve your dreaded F4 and bleeping bug. Many thanks for the initial advice on this website.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff