Dear Don
Thank you so much for your advice. I’ve downloaded some of the Miele manuals, and am relieved to see the controllable options in which water levels can be increased inside the machine.
One of Miele’s (relatively) less expensive machines currently has an extra 3 years of guarantee if registered after purchase, making 5 years parts and labour included. If this washing machine were to break down one minute after the guarantee ends, with spares astronomical in cost and DIY impossible, that works out at about £3.48/week over the 5 years. Which seems reasonable.
Thanks again!