Our much-loved stainless steel Miele has now been replaced by a newer model, but we'd prefer it go for parts than to the scrap metal yard.

The Miele technician identified a leaky seal in the (one piece) motor housing - $600 to replace the sealed unit, plus labour, and it's an older model than we thought - so we opted to buy a new machine.

Everything still runs, but water slowly seeps into the bottom tray until the float rises and throws the F70 error near the end of each cycle (unless you squat there like you've got nothing better to do and bail it out as it fills).

I managed to break one of the adjustable feet while moving the unit downstairs, and the adjusters for the two rear feet had seized and threaded after a decade of inactivity (I eventually managed to wind them down with pliers, so the unit is now level on all four feet), but the trays, filter, spray arms, door, hinges, side panels etc. are in excellent condition, and might find a new home in someone else's old trooper.