Bosch microwave fault codes

Bosch hold microwave troubleshooting answers and publish no page that leads to them, and their UK manuals name three codes between them. This is what is in the dataset and the manuals, which entries genuinely apply to a microwave, and which are about an oven.

Where the code shows on a Bosch

Bosch’s UK microwave manuals name three codes between them and dispose of the rest of the numeric space with a wildcard. The Serie 4 built-in manual (BFL523 and BFL524, and Siemens’ iQ500 BF525LM equivalent) prints E3 as a fault in the automatic door opening system; the Serie 8 manual (BFL634) prints a row headed "Exxx" with two special cases, E0532 (open and close the door) and E6501 (switch off, wait ten minutes, switch on); the North American built-in manual names E-11 and a placeholder "Exx". All of them carry the generic BSH instruction covering everything else: a message beginning with E means the electronics detected a fault, and you switch the appliance off and on again — the UK manuals say at the fuse box, for about ten seconds. Note the format, because it matters when you are searching. BSH print the same code with and without a hyphen and with and without leading zeros depending on which document you have, so E-11 and E11 are one code, and E-3, E3 and E3 00 are another. Three displays are not fault codes at all: a key symbol (or the word SAFE on freestanding models) means the childproof lock is on, small squares or an M mean the appliance is in demo mode, and three flashing zeros mean, in Bosch’s own UK manuals, that there has been a power cut and the clock needs setting — although the troubleshooting database files "000" flashes against the same answer as "Temperature too high". Two entries in Bosch’s own microwave dataset cannot happen on a microwave — E5116, which is a steam-oven water-circuit procedure, and a pyrolysis door lock, which needs a self-cleaning cycle no microwave has.

How to reset a Bosch

BSH publish the same basic reset in several places and they agree on the substance. The troubleshooting database says to touch the clock button, and if the message does not go out, to pull out the mains plug and plug it back in after approximately ten seconds. Bosch’s UK manuals for the Serie 4 built-in, the freestanding range and Siemens’ iQ500 built-in all print a "Malfunction" row: switch off the fuse in the fuse box, switch it back on after approximately ten seconds, and if the message appears again call the after-sales service quoting the exact message. The Serie 8 manual’s equivalent row says approximately sixty seconds, and their North American built-in manual says to clean the control panel with a dry cloth, disconnect at the fuse box and switch back on after ten seconds. Two codes get a longer wait: for E3 in the Serie 4 and iQ500 manuals, and for E6501 in the Serie 8 manual, Bosch say switch off the appliance, wait ten minutes, and switch it on again. The database adds one step worth knowing about: open and close the appliance door. That is BSH asking you to make the door switches change state, which is how a stuck-input fault clears, and the Serie 8 manual gives it as the whole remedy for E0532. For a jammed button their database instruction is to press all the buttons individually rather than to cut the power. There is no owner-accessible service menu on these appliances, and nothing in BSH’s material asks you to hold a button combination to clear a fault code; the only held combinations they publish are start and stop together to enter the basic settings, and the Info-and-clock sequence for the small-squares demo display.

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Every Bosch fault code

7 published codes. Filtering happens in the page — every one is in the HTML.

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Every published Bosch fault code with its meaning and severity
Code	What it means	Severity
E-3	A fault in the automatic door opening system, in Bosch’s own words. Their UK built-in microwave manual says switch off, wait ten minutes, switch on; their troubleshooting database files the code under ovens.	Get it checked
E-11	The one microwave code Bosch name in their North American manual. The touch keys are not working properly, and condensation on the keypad is the cause they give.	Get it checked
Key symbol	Not a fault. BSH publish this as the childproof lock, released by holding the key-symbol button until the symbol goes out — about four seconds in Bosch’s manuals; freestanding models show SAFE.	Usually simple to fix
Exx	Bosch’s own placeholder for every microwave code they have not defined. Their instruction is to note the number, isolate the appliance and call a technician.	Get it checked
E0532	A button pressed too long or jammed. BSH publish one answer under three labels and it is the only microwave entry where they give the owner a real fix.	Usually simple to fix
Demo mode	BSH’s own words are that in demo mode the appliance runs cold. It lights up, appears to work, and generates nothing at all.	Usually simple to fix
Temperature too high	BSH’s database publishes this and "000" flashing against one answer: the appliance has not cooled down completely, wait. Bosch’s own UK manuals read three flashing zeros differently — a power cut, set the clock.	Get it checked

Bosch models

Codes can differ between generations. Check yours.

Guides that help with Bosch faults

Looking for Bosch’s own support? www.bosch-home.co.uk. We are not affiliated with Bosch.