Washing machine tripping electrics - repair or replace?

[Plumpcious]

Washing machine (Bosch, less than 3 years old) is tripping the RCB (residual current breaker).

Has anyone had any experience of repairing such a fault? When the previous machine developed a (different) fault we just replaced it, assuming that repair would be too expensive, but I've since discovered some companies do a flat-rate call out (eg PC World - £119 - refunded if they can't fix it or it's beyond economical repair).

I still feel a bit guilty that I didn't investigate repair last time (drum wasn't turning - might have been quite easy to fix) which is swaying me towards trying to get this one fixed, but as it's an electrical fault is that easy/cheap to repair?

If we buy a new machine, we'll probably pay around £400.

Thanks!

It's quite likely the heating element.

Does it trip the moment you switch it on, or after about ten minutes, when it has filled up with water and churned a bit?

Personally after having a Bosch dryer that cost £500 and lasted 3 days got a refund and replaced it with a Beko for half the price. I would just buy another.
A £500 appliance usually only has the same warranty as a £200 one?

Thanks @PigletJohn In the end it was tripping the RCB when it wasn't even 'on'

The first couple of times (when I was working out which appliance was the cause) it was in the middle of a cycle. Google told me the stage where it trips can indicate which component is the problem, and one site said overloading the machine might be a cause. I had it on a 4kg mixed load but with too much in it, so I took out half and switched to a full-load programme.

That worked so I put the second half-load in and that went full cycle too. Feeling pleased with myself for having 'fixed' the problem I put on a third load but that tripped the RCB again.

This time though, even though I had turned the dial to 'off' before resetting the RCB, it tripped again immediately. The machine clicked so I think it might have been the door lock re-engaging which tripped it? At that point I switched it off at the socket and unplugged it.

One of the sites suggested replacing the fuse in the plug and trying a different socket. Is it worth trying that?

And yes @Funf, the warranty period is usually the same regardless of the cost of the machine. But I'm wary of the cheaper brands because of the ones that were a fire hazard.

It's very likely to be the heating element. We just had exactly this. It was £90 to repair, including the part.

REPAIR
Ours did the same
DH bought the heating element online
two youtube videos to learn what to do
sorted

the description does not suggest the heating element. If the dial is "off" there should be no power to the element. It might be an N-E fault, if the machine does not have DP switching.

more like a water leak inside the casing. Or (less often) rodents gnawing at the wiring.

you could have a look at the plug and socket and cable, in case you see damage, but it is more likely inside the machine.

It could possibly be condensation related though I doubt that.

IME a Bosch usually lasts ten years or so. If you ring the Bosch repair line (it is operated by an insurance company. could be Domestic and General) they may offer you a fixed-price repair, or a 12-month repair contract which costs not much more and is I think better value.

We had the exact same with our Bosch.
Still under the 2 year warranty- fixed within half hour visit.

Mine did this, it was the heating element. Tell tale sign is that it will do a cold wash (20c) without tripping the RCD. It was out of warranty so got a local repair man to replace it, cost me about £70

I just binned mine (not environmentally friendly I accept) but I paid £220 for a replacement from Costco which is brilliant. It just isn't worth paying callouts