Description
Bosch Series 2 Freestanding Front-Loading Washing Machine, 8 kg, 1400 rpm
A Series 2 freestanding washing machine with an 8kg drum, 1400 rpm spin and an energy label A rating, built around Bosch's EcoSilence Drive motor.
The WGE03408GB is a straightforward 8kg washing machine that does the important things properly and does not ask you to learn a menu system. A dial selects the programme, four touch buttons handle the rest, and the display tells you how long is left. For a couple or a small family it covers the week without fuss.
Energy label A is the headline, and it comes from the Eco 40-60 programme using 46 kWh per 100 cycles and 47 litres of water. ActiveWater Plus detects the load size and draws only the water that size needs, so a half-full drum does not cost the same as a full one. SpeedPerfect cuts cycle time when you are in a hurry.
Ideal For
An 8kg drum and a 65 litre volume suit one or two people washing a few times a week, without paying for capacity that would sit half empty most of the time.
Simple dial and touch controls, a clear display and a 1400 rpm spin make it an easy first machine, and it slides under a standard worktop at 84.8cm high.
Cottons, easy care, delicates and wool hand wash cover the everyday, with Mixed Load and Super Quick 15/30 for the times when speed matters more than anything.
Key Features
A 65 litre drum with a 32cm porthole and a door that opens to 160 degrees, held shut by a metal door catch rather than plastic.
The Eco 40-60 programme uses 46 kWh per 100 cycles and 47 litres of water per cycle, which is the top rung of the A to G scale.
Spin speed runs from 400 to 1400 rpm with a spin-drying efficiency class of B, so laundry comes out ready for the line or the airer.
SpeedPerfect cuts cycle time by up to 65 per cent compared with the same programme run normally, for days when the wash cannot wait.
Automatic load detection means the machine draws only the water the load actually needs, rather than filling to a fixed level every cycle.
Start/pause with Reload lets you open the door mid-cycle and add the item that turned up after the machine had already started.
What energy label A costs in time
The A rating comes from the Eco 40-60 programme, and that programme runs for three hours and 33 minutes at rated capacity. Low consumption comes from washing longer at lower temperatures rather than driving heat through quickly, so the time is the price of the 46 kWh per 100 cycles and 47 litres per cycle. Run it overnight or while you are out and the duration stops mattering. When it does matter, SpeedPerfect cuts a cycle by up to 65 per cent instead.
Simple controls, deliberately so
There is a fully electronic control dial for all the wash and special programmes, and four touch buttons: Ready In, SpeedPerfect, spin speed reduction, and start/pause with Reload. That is the whole interface. The display shows programme progress, spin speed, remaining time, a load recommendation and up to 24 hours of delayed finish. Plenty of buyers actively want this. Nothing to pair, nothing to update, and anyone in the house can work out how to put a wash on.
The engineering underneath the panel
The EcoSilence Drive motor is paired with AntiVibration Design in the cabinet, which keeps the machine steadier through a 1400 rpm spin. Running noise is 72 dB in noise class A. Sensor electronics monitor load distribution and adjust programme settings to protect clothes, foam detection watches for over-dosing, and Aqua Protection covers the water side. A child lock, an end-of-cycle buzzer and a usage meter that counts completed programmes round it out. At 70.9kg it needs two people to position.
How It Compares
| Kitchen Need | Bosch Technology | Practical Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Small household washing | 8kg drum, 65 litres | Sized for one or two people washing a few times a week rather than a capacity that sits half used. |
| Running costs | Energy label A | 46 kWh per 100 Eco 40-60 cycles and 47 litres of water per cycle, the top rung of the scale. |
| Wash needed today | SpeedPerfect option | Cuts cycle time by up to 65 per cent compared with the same programme run at its normal length. |
| Half loads | ActiveWater Plus load detection | Water is drawn to suit the size of the load, so a small wash does not use a full fill. |
| Drying on an airer | 1400 rpm, spin class B | A fast final spin removes more water, which shortens the time laundry needs on a line or airer indoors. |
| Forgotten sock | Reload function | The door can be opened mid-cycle to add an item that appeared after the machine had already started running. |
Specifications
| Brand | Bosch |
| Model | WGE03408GB |
| Product Type | Freestanding Washing Machine, front loader |
| Series | Series 2 |
| Load Capacity | 1 - 8 kg |
| Energy Rating | A |
| Energy Consumption | 46 kWh per 100 Eco 40-60 cycles |
| Water Consumption | 47 L per Eco 40-60 cycle |
| Programme Duration | 3:33 h (Eco 40-60 at rated capacity) |
| Spin Speed | 400 - 1400 rpm, spin-drying efficiency class B |
| Noise Level | 72 dB(A) (Class A) |
| Drum | 65 L volume, 32 cm porthole with 160° door opening, metal door catch |
| Programmes | Cottons, Easy Care, Delicates, Wool/Hand Wash, plus Mixed Load, Super Quick 15/30, Handwash/Wool and Delicates 30 °C |
| Options | Touch controls for Ready In, SpeedPerfect, spin speed reduction and Start/Pause with Reload |
| Key Features | SpeedPerfect (up to 65% faster), Reload function, ActiveWater Plus automatic load detection, AntiVibration Design, sensor electronics that monitor load distribution and adjust programme settings to protect clothes, usage meter |
| Display | Programme progress, spin speed, remaining time, load recommendation and 24 h delay end |
| Motor | EcoSilence Drive with 10 year motor warranty |
| Safety | Aqua Protection, foam detection, child lock, end-of-cycle buzzer |
| Connectivity | No Home Connect on this model |
| Installation | Freestanding, slide-under installation |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 84.8 x 59.8 x 58.8 cm (63.2 cm including door; 104.9 cm with door open) |
| Electrical | 220-240 V, 50 Hz, 2300 W, 10 A fuse, 210 cm supply cord |
| Weight | 70.9 kg |
| Warranty | 2 Year Warranty |
The Verdict
Strengths
- Energy label A on the Eco 40-60 programme
- 8kg capacity in a 65 litre drum
- 1400 rpm maximum spin, efficiency class B
- SpeedPerfect cuts cycle time by up to 65%
- ActiveWater Plus adjusts water to load size
- EcoSilence Drive motor with AntiVibration Design
- Simple dial and touch controls with clear display
Considerations
- The Eco 40-60 programme takes three hours and 33 minutes at rated capacity, which is how the A rating is achieved.
- There is no Home Connect on this model, so no app control, remote start or downloadable extra programmes.
- At 72 dB in noise class A it is not the quietest option, and the programme list is basic with no steam or stain programmes.
What's in the Box
- Freestanding washing machine x1
- Installation/user manual x1
