When we came out to 'stralia in 2004 we brought our 1997 vintage Bosch front loader with us. It worked well until 2011 when it refused to pump out. I went though all the usual checks and became convinced it needed a new pump, only to be told by the Bosch agents here that there were no spares available for European Bosch machines anywhere in 'stralia in fact a front loader in those days was a rarity with most aussie households firmly hanging on to their top loaders
. When I told them how old it was the advice of course was to cut my losses and by a new machine. My wife however would not countenance a bloody top loader!
Undeterred I considered ordering the pump and getting it shipped out from the UK, only then while poring over drawings and Bosch spare part numbers did I realise the the pump I needed for our Euro front loader was the exact same unit that also serviced the Aussie top loaders! I then went back to the Bosch agent and said can you order one of those for me please which he was only too happy to do. He asked me how I'd found the correct part in Australia and I said it wasn't hard as all your drawings and service part information is online and my failed pump has got its serial number etc. all printed on a lable...If you'd bothered to look you would have found it too!
3 days later it came in from Melbourne and the next day it was fitted and we were back in business. That machine has only just been replaced last year which I reckon is pretty damn good. It was still running fine but the body was corroding and the missus wanted a new one
. I wonder sometimes how long it will be until I suffer the same fate
