Product review (5 stars): This is the real deal
After much research, we retired our 1992 Kenmore dishwasher in favor of a Bosch Model# SHE55M12UC. The Kenmore was still going strong, cleaning the dishes just fine,  though noisy as from the day we bought it and a bit beat up. But, hey, it was 20 years old (and I will give it to Habitat for Humanity's Restore store and some one will use it some more years.)

We didn't wait for it to fail.  We became very interested in using less water and less gas to heat the water and a much quieter appliance, and we assumed the dishes would be cleaned as well if not better than with our Kenmore.

In all cases our expectations have been met.  It is a very economical appliance, the dishes get VERY clean (on "Auto" setting)  and, my goodness, the appliance is so quiet we really do have to listen "closely" for its work.

You can hear the water going in sometimes and can hear water going into the drain and with ear to machine, you can hear the operations (hum of the motor, etc.)  But, that's it.  If two people are in the kitchen talking normally, they drown out the machine, not the other way around.

Yes, as some people have pointed out, the capacity of the machine is less than, say, a new Kenmore. So, if you have a really big family, then maybe you should choose less quiet and more capacity. That said, we had two guests last night and the Bosch handled all four of our dinner and desert and pan and glass and coffee cup and big bowl dishes.  It may be we have to think a bit more about placement than we did with our bigger Kenmore, but that is OK for us.

Some people talk about lack of sufficient drying. I don't know what they are talking about.  When the zero on the counter comes on, open the door and the dishes are pretty dog gone dry.  (Except where concave surfaces have held "puddles" of water.

The ability to EASILY raise or lower the top rack seems really useful, as do all the various tines that are collapsible.  The two utensil baskets offer lots of versatility.

What most impresses me is the build quality and that was the reason we bought the Bosch.  During the installation you can see and feel the German engineering and the manufacturing quality done in the U.S. Without going into detail you can see HOW the quiet--47 DB--is achieved.  If this machine fails I will be surprised.

One caveat, one negative, though it is not enough for me to knock the rating from a five to a four.  If I could: 4.75.  While the Bosch cleverly channels both the electrical wiring and the hot water inlet line to the front of the machine where they are secured, I cussed at the Germans for their method of installing the plastic toe plate which is used to help quiet the machine.

I had read another review about that "blinkety blank" toe plate.  The engineering team did not take into account real life.  Again without detailing why it was such a 45 minute problem, I will give those of you who do install this machine yourself a tip:  Use masking tape to tape the 1.5" long screws (2) to the tip of your screw driver and then you will be able to insert the screws into the holes. You will know what I mean. I blinkety blanked the Germans on this part!

I have no other, but an old Kenmore, dishwasher with which to compare this Bosch.  But, as an amateur handy man, I can unequivocally say this Bosch is the real deal.

Stephen Drinkard
Sandpoint, Idaho