Bosch E30 washing machine: what it means & what to check

What E30 actually means

The machine has tried to fill with water and not enough has arrived in the time it allows, so it stops at the start of the cycle.

On Bosch washers this is a water intake fault \u2014 the control board opens the inlet valve, waits for the water level to rise, and if it hasn't within the set time it aborts and shows the code. You'll usually see it within the first minute or two of a programme, with the drum still dry or barely wet. On older Bosch machines built before 2010 the same physical problem showed as F17, F29, E17 or E29.

What E30 looks like on a Bosch washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Bosch washing machine, E30 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill

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

Tap turned off or only part open, or the mains water pressure is low
Kinked or trapped fill hose behind the machine
Blocked filter in the inlet hose connection at the tap end
Faulty water inlet valve not opening when the board tells it to
Pressure/level sensing fault, so the board never sees the water it has taken in

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.

Check the water tap feeding the machine is fully open.
Look behind the machine and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, crushed or trapped against the wall.
Run another tap in the house to confirm you have normal water pressure and no supply interruption.
Turn the machine off at the socket for a minute, then power up and try a short cycle \u2014 this clears the code if the cause was a temporary supply problem.
Close the door firmly so the catch engages before starting.

Common questions about Bosch E30

What does E30 mean on a Bosch washing machine?

The machine has tried to fill with water and not enough has arrived in the time it allows, so it stops at the start of the cycle. On Bosch washers this is a water intake fault \u2014 the control board opens the inlet valve, waits for the water level to rise, and if it hasn't within the set time it aborts and shows the code. You'll usually see it within the first minute or two of a programme, with the drum still dry or barely wet. On older Bosch machines built before 2010 the same physical problem showed as F17, F29, E17 or E29.

Can I fix Bosch E30 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the water tap feeding the machine is fully open.
Look behind the machine and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, crushed or trapped against the wall.
Run another tap in the house to confirm you have normal water pressure and no supply interruption.
Turn the machine off at the socket for a minute, then power up and try a short cycle \u2014 this clears the code if the cause was a temporary supply problem.
Close the door firmly so the catch engages before starting.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Bosch E30?

£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 E30?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. 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 Bosch washing machine codes

All Bosch 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.

Bosch E30 error — washing machine