Miele F39 washer dryer: 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 F39 actually means

The machine's control and display board has reported a fault in itself, so it stops rather than carry on with a cycle it can't reliably manage.

Miele calls this board the BAE — it's the electronics behind the programme selector and display that run the whole wash and dry sequence. When the machine's self-checks find the board isn't responding or behaving as it should, it halts and shows F39. You'll typically see it either as soon as the machine is switched on or partway through a cycle, with the controls unresponsive or the display behaving oddly.

What F39 looks like on a Miele washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Miele washer dryer, F39 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Leaking
Water on the floor
Puddle underneath
Shuts itself down and won't restart
Stops after a few minutes
Clothes still damp at the end
Finishes far too early
No function at all

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 fault developing on the control and display board itself
A loose or corroded plug on the board, often after a damp or leaky spell
Damage to the electronics after a power surge or supply interruption
Moisture reaching the board from a small leak elsewhere in the machine

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.

Switch the machine off at the wall socket, leave it for a minute or two, then power it back up — a genuine one-off glitch will sometimes clear and not return
Note whether the code appears immediately on switch-on or always at the same point in a cycle; that's useful information for whoever attends

Common questions about Miele F39

What does F39 mean on a Miele washer dryer?

The machine's control and display board has reported a fault in itself, so it stops rather than carry on with a cycle it can't reliably manage. Miele calls this board the BAE — it's the electronics behind the programme selector and display that run the whole wash and dry sequence. When the machine's self-checks find the board isn't responding or behaving as it should, it halts and shows F39. You'll typically see it either as soon as the machine is switched on or partway through a cycle, with the controls unresponsive or the display behaving oddly.

Can I fix Miele F39 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Switch the machine off at the wall socket, leave it for a minute or two, then power it back up — a genuine one-off glitch will sometimes clear and not return.
Note whether the code appears immediately on switch-on or always at the same point in a cycle; that's useful information for whoever attends.

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

How much does it cost to repair Miele F39?

£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 F39?

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 washer dryer 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 Miele washer dryer codes

All Miele fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

washer dryer not drying

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

Miele F39 error — washer dryer