Appliance Spares
Quick answer: Bosch tumble dryers sold in Australia don’t display E-number error codes — there is no official AU list to look up. The Serie 4, 6 and 8 heat pump and condenser models report problems with symbols and lights instead: a container symbol (empty the water tank), a fluff-filter symbol (clean the filters), and on older models flashing Container / Filter lights. The E-code lists circulating online come from overseas-market machines, and the “E no.” printed inside the door is your model’s product number, not an error. Whatever the display shows, start here: empty the container, clean every filter, switch off at the wall, restart.
Not sure which one fits? Match your model number or check the sticker inside the door.
Decode any appliance error code — instant lookup
Why you can’t find a Bosch dryer error-code list for Australia
Search “Bosch dryer error codes” and you’ll find pages of E01-to-E90 tables. Here’s the honest situation: none of them come from Australian Bosch dryers. Across the AU-market families — the Serie 8 self-cleaning heat pump models (WTW875xx), Serie 6 heat pump (WTW854xx, WTR85T00AU), Serie 6 condenser (WTG86400AU), Serie 4 condenser (WTN84200AU, WTN8542SMA) and the older WTE condensers — the manuals’ fault sections use display symbols, status words and indicator lights, and route anything you can’t clear yourself to after-sales service. Bosch Australia’s own support site has no dryer error-code pages at all.
Three things people are actually seeing when they think they’ve found a Bosch dryer E-code:
- Overseas lists. Bosch’s US and global-template sites document codes like E01, E03 or E90 for compact dryers sold in those markets. Those tables don’t appear in any AU dryer manual.
- Washing-machine codes. Bosch AU genuinely publishes E/F codes for its washers (E18, F21 and friends) — and they get pasted into dryer articles constantly. If your machine both washes and dries, it’s a washer-dryer with its own code set, not covered here.
- The E number inside the door. Every Bosch appliance carries an “E no.” (E-Nr) on its model sticker — that’s the product number that identifies your exact model. It’s the most useful number on the machine for finding parts, and it’s not an error.
So this guide does what the machine actually does: decodes the symbols and lights, and tells you when they mean a part and when they mean a service call. If your model shows something not covered here, trust your manual for your exact model over any list online — ours included.
Bosch dryer symbols and lights at a glance
| Display / light | Models | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Container symbol, drying stops | Heat pump and condenser display models | Condensation container full, or drain-hose problem | Empty and reinsert the container, press Start/Pause; check a fitted drain hose for kinks |
| Fluff-filter symbol | All display models | Filters need cleaning — door filter, plus base-unit filter (heat pump) or heat exchanger / air cooler (condenser) | Clean them all, then press Start |
| selfCleaning (word or symbol) | WTW854xx, WTW875xx | Heat-exchanger auto-rinse in progress | Nothing — don’t pull the container out mid-rinse; not a fault |
| Container light + Start/Stop flashing | Older WTE84xxx, WTE86303AU | Condensate container full | Empty the container; check the outlet hose if fitted |
| Filter light + Start/Stop flashing | Older WTE84xxx, WTE86303AU | Fluff filter and/or air cooler clogged | Rinse the fluff filter and air cooler under running water |
| Programme-status lights flashing together | Older WTE84xxx | Generic fault — often overheat or airflow | Clean filter and air cooler, switch off, let it cool, restart; still faulting = service |
| Hot / CoolDown, drum keeps turning | Newer models | Cooling process, up to 10 minutes | Wait — not a fault |
Container symbol: the tank and the drain
Heat pump and condenser dryers collect water instead of venting it, and the container symbol simply means that water has nowhere to go. Switch off at the wall before going past the basics.
- Slide the condensation container out, empty it, and push it back until it seats fully — a half-seated container reads as full.
- If you’ve plumbed the optional drain hose, check it’s still attached, kink-free and not blocked or standing higher than the machine.
- On newer models, check the base unit for stray socks or lint bricks blocking the water path.
- Press Start/Pause to resume. If the symbol returns immediately with an empty tank, the condensate pump side needs a technician — the anatomy of that repair is in our drain pump replacement guide.
One quirk worth knowing on the self-cleaning heat pump models: some water stays in the container even with a drain hose fitted, because the machine keeps condensate to rinse its own heat exchanger. Normal, by design.
Fluff-filter symbol: the chore that prevents most “faults”
The filter symbol is the machine protecting its airflow, and on Bosch dryers the filter is never just one filter:
- Clean the door fluff filter — both layers of the cartridge, not just the visible mesh.
- Heat pump models with a manual filter (like the WTR85T00AU): open the base-unit flap and clean the filter mat in front of the heat exchanger. This is the forgotten one.
- Condenser models (WTG, WTN, WTE): pull the heat exchanger / air cooler and rinse it under running water as the manual shows — on the older WTE models a Filter light that won’t clear after a fluff-filter clean means the protective filter behind it wants the same treatment.
A dryer that’s slowed down for weeks before showing anything is telling the same airflow story — our dryer takes too long to dry guide runs the full check order. Mid-winter with the dryer on daily, clean the door filter every load and the deeper filters monthly.
Flashing programme lights on older WTE models
The WTE84100AU / WTE84101AU / WTE84105AU generation signals a generic fault by flashing programme-status lights together — no code, no further detail. The manual’s own procedure is the right one: clean the fluff filter and air cooler, check the machine has breathing room and isn’t in a hot airless corner, switch it off and let it cool completely, then restart. If the lights flash again on the next cycle, that’s the machine asking for after-sales service, and on a machine of this age it’s worth weighing the repair against its remaining life before booking anyone.
The failure that never shows a symbol: the drum belt
The most common Bosch dryer failure we sell parts for shows nothing on the display at all — the motor hums, the drum doesn’t turn, and no symbol lights, because electrically everything is fine. That’s the drive belt, and it’s a stocked, DIY-level part across the AU range: the Serie 8 heat pump belt, the Serie 4 / Serie 6 belt, the WTE / WTG condenser belt, the WTE84100 / WTR85T00 family belt, the WT46 / WTB belt and the small tension belt some models pair with it. Our belt replacement guide covers the method and the heat pump not-tumbling guide the belt-vs-motor diagnosis. Which belt fits which model is exactly what the which dryer belt fits my model guide is for — its Bosch dryer belt table sets every stocked belt against its model family.
Things that look wrong but aren’t
- Display goes dark, Start/Pause flashes — energy-saving mode. Press any button.
- “Hot” showing / drum turning after the cycle — cool-down, up to ten minutes.
- Time remaining jumps around — autoDry moisture sensing re-estimating. Normal.
- Gurgling and humming — the self-clean rinse, compressor and condensate pump all make noise.
- The machine never feels hot — heat pump dryers dry at low temperature by design.
- Drum nudges every few minutes after finishing — anti-crease phase.
- Panel ignores every press — childproof lock; hold the marked button about three seconds.
Find the exact part for your model
That E number inside the door earns its keep here: the E-Nr on the model sticker (door frame or rear panel) is the exact identity of your machine, and it’s what matches you to the right belt or filter first time. Our find your Bosch model number guide shows exactly where it hides, the find your model page covers every brand, and with the number in hand the Part Finder quiz matches the part in under a minute — or browse the full dryer parts range.
FAQ
What does E90 mean on a Bosch dryer?
On an Australian-market Bosch dryer, nothing — E90 belongs to overseas compact-dryer documentation and doesn’t appear in any AU dryer manual. If an AU machine is genuinely showing E90, check whether it’s a washer-dryer (they have their own code set) and confirm the model from the sticker before acting on any online list.
Is E18 a Bosch dryer error code?
No — E18 is a Bosch washing-machine drainage code, and it’s the classic example of washer codes being pasted into dryer articles. Bosch dryers sold in Australia don’t display E-codes; if you’re seeing E18, you’re looking at a washer or washer-dryer.
Why does my Bosch heat pump dryer blow cold air?
Because it’s supposed to — heat pump dryers dry at much lower temperatures than vented machines, so the drum never feels properly hot. Cold air plus wet clothes after a full cycle is different: work through filters and airflow first, and see the heat pump dryer error codes guide for how the technology fails across brands.
My Bosch dryer’s drum won’t turn but no lights are flashing. What is it?
Almost always the drive belt. The motor hums, the drum spins freely by hand, and the display stays calm because nothing electronic failed. Belts for the AU families are stocked parts and a manageable DIY job — start with your E-Nr to match the right one.
What’s the E number inside my Bosch dryer’s door?
The E-Nr is the product number — Bosch’s precise model identity, printed on the model sticker with the FD production number. It isn’t an error. It’s also the single most useful thing to have ready when ordering parts or booking service, because it pins down your exact machine among lookalike models.
Disclaimer: this article is general information only and is provided without warranty of any kind. Appliance designs vary between models and production runs — always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, switch off and unplug the appliance before starting any work, and confirm parts against the model number on your appliance’s model sticker. Any repair is undertaken at your own risk and Oz Appliance Spares accepts no liability for injury, loss or damage arising from work performed after reading this guide, to the maximum extent permitted by law. If in doubt, use a qualified technician.
