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 E18 actually means

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out within the time it allows, so it has stopped with a drum full of water.

E18 is a drain timeout on older Bosch machines (newer models show E36-10 instead). The control board runs the drain pump, waits for the water level to drop, and when it doesn't drop in time it halts the cycle rather than carry on washing or spinning in standing water. In practice this is nearly always a blockage in the filter, the outlet hose or the pump itself, not a fault with the electronics.

What usually causes it

Blocked pump filter — coins, hair grips, buttons, fluff
Blockage or kink in the drain hose, or the hose pushed too far into the standpipe
Failed drain pump — motor runs but the impeller doesn't turn, or nothing at all
Impeller jammed by a stray sock, wire or piece of debris
Wiring or connection fault at the pump (less common)

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 programme dial to off to stop the beeping, then switch off at the wall for a minute before doing anything else.
Clean out the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine — have a shallow tray and towels ready, there will be water behind it. Check the housing behind the filter for a coin or hairgrip you can lift out by hand.
Check the drain hose along its whole run for kinks, crushing behind the machine, or a sag full of standing water.
If it drains into a sink trap or standpipe, check that isn't blocked — pour water down it and see how quickly it clears.
With the filter cleaned and the door shut, run a spin or drain programme and see whether water leaves the machine.

When to call someone

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

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.

Bosch E18 error — washing machine

What E18 actually means

What usually causes it

What you can safely check yourself

When to call someone

Other Bosch washing machine codes

Need it looked at properly?