ᐅ Questions about the Bosch SMV dishwasher in an Ikea Metod kitchen unit

Hello Dear Forum,

After extensive googling and reading here in the forum, I am somewhat clearer on a few points, but when it comes to the dishwasher, there have been several long nights.

Since I will be renovating soon, I want to install a fully integrated dishwasher from BSH in my kitchen. I am specifically considering the Bosch model SBV 69 N 70 EU.

How does it work with the front panel here? Some say the Stefan method (what is that actually?) can help, others say the Vaglig mounting rail set and a few custom-cut panels will also do. There is also the option with helpers. Which of these options would be the best for this? Because a dishwasher with a vari-angle hinge is for me A) expensive and B) somewhat unclear to me in terms of installation.

My fronts will be either Brokhult walnut effect or VOXTORP walnut effect. What also looks nice is Haganäs birch veneer, but that is a different matter. It is important to me which front fits the dishwasher, or which method allows me to attach it most easily.

Thanks to everyone for your help
Best regards, Kevin

Hello,

as a starting point for your appliance: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/Siemens-geschirrspueler-in-metod-Küche.20818/
Regards,
IKEA-Freund

Hello,
in brief:

1) Forget about BEHJÄLPLIG!

2) The Vario hinge is integrated into the appliance and allows for easy installation of the front panel.

3) If the zeolite drying and A are important to you, but the appliances with an additional Vario hinge are too expensive, then the kitchen plinth must be raised to 9 cm (3.5 inches), the front panel must extend 2.5 cm (1 inch) beyond the dishwasher door, and the 2.5 cm (1 inch) gap between the dishwasher and the countertop must be filled.

https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/geschirrspueler-nicht-von-IKEA.21307/

Hello forum, hello Ikea expert,

@IKEA-Expert: If I understood you correctly, can I install a standard fully integrated dishwasher without a variable hinge? In that case, would I need to raise the plinth to 90 mm (3.5 inches), add a 2.5 cm (1 inch) wooden strip under the countertop, and most likely have the decor panel hang below?

How does it work with the variable hinge then? Can I keep the plinth at 80 mm (3 inches) and attach my front panel directly to it?

I'm really going back and forth on this...

Thanks for the help.

Some say the Stefan method (what exactly is that?) might help...

For fully integrated BSH appliances (Bosch Siemens Neff), there are three types to distinguish: non-XXL, XXL, and XXL with Vario hinge. The easiest installation is with the XXL appliances with Vario hinge. You simply attach the front panel onto the hinge, and that’s it. XXL appliances without the Vario hinge can also be installed using the Stefan method. In this method, the dishwasher is installed so that it doesn’t rest against the countertop as usual but is set deeper (this can be adjusted at the feet). This creates a gap between the top edge of the dishwasher and the underside of the countertop, which should be filled with wood (or any other material). However, this gap is not visible when the dishwasher door is closed because the front panel is mounted on the dishwasher door higher by the amount of the gap, so when closed, the front panel again reaches the underside of the countertop.
The Stefan method has two disadvantages:
1.) When the door is open, you can see the wooden-filled gap (2.5cm (1 inch))
2.) When the door is open, you can see the front panel extends 2.5cm (1 inch) above the dishwasher door.
When the door is closed, you won’t notice any difference.
Thus, the Stefan method is an acceptable installation method, but it requires more DIY work and the dishwasher does not need to have a Vario hinge.
As far as I know, non-XXL appliances cannot be installed using the Stefan method, so at least an XXL appliance is required. IKEA expert, please correct me if I’m wrong.

...others say the Vaglig mounting rail set and a few custom-cut front panels will do the job as well.

In general, the front panel can either be a single 60x80cm (24x31.5 inches) panel, or it could consist of, for example, two 60x40cm (24x16 inches) or four 60x20cm (24x8 inches) panels, meaning a split front to continue the look of the adjacent cabinets. For split fronts, Vaglig rails are usually used to connect the individual panels.
However, it is said that this does not work with a BSH dishwasher with a Vario hinge, as the Vaglig fixing points coincide with where the front is screwed onto the Vario hinge. If you still want a split front with a Vario hinge, the panels must be connected differently (e.g., flat metal strips from a hardware store, panels joined with wooden dowels, etc.).

There is also the option with Behjälplig.

Behjälplig was an IKEA mounting set originally intended to simulate the Vario hinge. There are several reports on this forum that Behjälplig did not work well and that the hinges occasionally broke. IKEA has therefore discontinued Behjälplig, and it will be difficult to find one anywhere.
Behjälplig was intended for installing third-party dishwashers without Vario hinges into the Method kitchen system.

In summary, the easiest installation is with appliances that have a Vario hinge. If you want to install a cheaper appliance without a Vario hinge, the Stefan method can also work well but requires more effort and the dishwasher will sit deeper than usual, which is visible when the door is open (but should not be a problem).
Best regards,
Sektionschef

Great, thanks a lot.

At least this gives me a starting point. I’ll take a look at how the adjustable hinge works.

And for a standard XXL fully integrated dishwasher, I would need to use the method you mentioned?

Thanks and best regards
Kevin