I have a wm63 bought sept 99, which gets only light use. It has had two chassis, maybe your problem, as they are weak. A heater, door seal, control, and bearings. All under warranty no problem then?. The machine after this is totally different. Use the machine until it stops, then get a bosch. (a German built one) a Zanussi, or if you can afford a Miele. Not hotpoint or hoover. Just because your mum/mate had a machine for 30 year means nothing, except in the case of miele, but at £700+ would you expect anything less then excelence.
ian fittes
December 2004