Blomberg E11 washing machine: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What E11 actually means

The machine has lost the electrical connection it needs to drive or monitor the drum motor, so the drum won't turn.

The control board either can't drive the motor or isn't getting a speed signal back from it — E11 is a motor phase open circuit, motor triac open circuit, or tacho (speed sensor) open circuit. Typical symptoms are a drum that doesn't rotate at all, or the machine lurching into sudden bursts of movement before stopping and halting the programme part way through. Because the wash can't progress, you're usually left with wet washing and often water still in the drum.

What E11 looks like on a Blomberg washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Blomberg washing machine, E11 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

A broken or chafed connection in the wiring between the control board and the motor
Failed windings in the motor itself (open circuit on one phase)
A faulty tacho — the small sensor that tells the board how fast the drum is spinning
A failed motor triac or driver stage on the main control board
On machines fitted with a separate DC module, a failure of that module

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and start a spin programme on its own — if the drum still doesn't move, it's a genuine motor circuit fault rather than a one-off glitch.
If there's water in the drum, empty it through the drain filter at the front bottom of the machine before anything else, and clean the filter while it's open.
Check nothing heavy has jammed the drum — with the power off, the drum should turn freely by hand.

Which Blomberg models show E11

E11 means the same thing on all 8 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

7100541100 · 7153341200 · 7166382200 · 7170881500 · 7171884000 · 7173581400 · 7174184000 · 7178381300

Common questions about Blomberg E11

What does E11 mean on a Blomberg washing machine?

The machine has lost the electrical connection it needs to drive or monitor the drum motor, so the drum won't turn. The control board either can't drive the motor or isn't getting a speed signal back from it — E11 is a motor phase open circuit, motor triac open circuit, or tacho (speed sensor) open circuit. Typical symptoms are a drum that doesn't rotate at all, or the machine lurching into sudden bursts of movement before stopping and halting the programme part way through. Because the wash can't progress, you're usually left with wet washing and often water still in the drum.

Can I fix Blomberg E11 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and start a spin programme on its own — if the drum still doesn't move, it's a genuine motor circuit fault rather than a one-off glitch.
If there's water in the drum, empty it through the drain filter at the front bottom of the machine before anything else, and clean the filter while it's open.
Check nothing heavy has jammed the drum — with the power off, the drum should turn freely by hand.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Blomberg E11?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E11?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most washing machine faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Blomberg washing machine codes

All Blomberg fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Blomberg E11 error — washing machine