A returned dishwasher may be unused or may already have completed many cycles. The word returned does not tell you which. Ask why it came back and what defects are known. At a viewing, work from the easily accessible interior towards the external connections rather than relying on a photograph of a spotless door.
Check baskets as you would use them
Move the upper and lower baskets through their intended travel. Missing wheels, bent runners and broken supports are easier to notice this way than in an empty overall photograph. Examine the coating at tips and heavily used contact points. Rust on a basket is a different finding from scale on the chamber wall.
Check height adjustment and folding sections where fitted, following the manual. Do not force a sticking mechanism. Compare the supplied parts with the specification: a cutlery basket, tray, spray arm and small clips may belong to that version. Identify replacements using the model code rather than the appliance width alone.
Examine accessible water paths
With the appliance switched off, inspect the visible filter area for missing parts and substantial residue. Remove only items described as owner-maintenance parts. Bosch explains filter and spray-arm cleaning for its appliances; fixings and exact procedures can differ on other models.
Look at the visible door seals and their contact surfaces. A clean chamber can still have damaged rubber components, so record these observations separately. Inspect externally visible hoses for damage and cables for crushing without opening appliance panels or electrical housings.
A trial requires more than a lit display
Ask whether a complete programme was observed with correct connections. Switching on does not show that water enters, heats or drains reliably. Record error messages together with the programme and when they appeared so that the observation remains understandable later.
Carry out your own trial only after correct installation according to the instructions. Watch for leaks and have unusual behaviour investigated. An empty cycle does not establish results with every load. Scale, corrosion, missing parts and uncertain testing should remain separate points in the purchase decision.
Common questions
Are water droplets inside a delivered machine unusual?
They can remain after testing or previous use. Ask about the history; moisture alone establishes neither a fault nor an unused condition.
Can I buy any replacement basket?
Dimensions are not enough. Runners, water connections and adjustment mechanisms may differ. Check the exact part assignment and availability before buying.
