Miele Complete C2 Limited Edition Review

Avg. consumer rating = 93/100 

The Miele Complete C2 Limited Edition canister vacuum is a favorite with owners.  It gets very good ratings and comments and is a great fit for homes with bare floors, low pile carpet and some area rugs.  The machine is not such a good fit for those with deeper pile carpet.  It is a quiet, well built vacuum with variable suction and an auto-rewind power cord.  However genuine Miele bags are not cheap and some folks feel that the power cord is too short resulting in the need to frequently plug and unplug the vacuum when moving from one area to another.

 

Quick Specs
Type	Canister
Bagged/Bagless	Bagged
Best for...	Hard Floors & Low Carpet
Pet Hair Features	No
Approx. Weight	19 lbs (with all accessories)
HEPA Level Filtration	No (but upgradable)
Power Cord Length	21 feet
Motor Driven Brushbar	No
Warranty	1 Year P&L, 7 Years motor/housing

 

Consumer Ratings
One hundred and twenty-four consumer ratings were found for this vacuum (see table below) and when averaged these generate a score of 92.9 out of 100.  This is a very good score and you can compare it to the scores of other machines in our canister vacuum ratings table.  You can also see all vacuum scores on our Vacuum Cleaner Finder page.

Source	Consumer Ratings	#Ratings
Amazon	4.6 stars out of 5	96
Bed Bath & Beyond	4.8 stars out of 5	27
Sylvane	5 stars out of 5	1

 

Consumer Sentiment
We’ve done a thorough review of owner comments and this has resulted in the following list of vacuum likes and dislikes:

PROS
- Very quiet
- Powerful suction
- Lightweight canister
- Quite maneuverable
- Variable suction
- Auto rewind power cord
- Bag full indicator
- Great for bare floors and low pile carpet

CONS
- Body plastic scuffs and scratches easily
- Bags are not cheap
- Suction driven brushroll in floor tool (not motor driven)
- Not so good on deeper pile carpet
- Power cord is a bit short

As is apparent from the high score of this machine, most owners are very pleased with their purchase.  As a matter of fact common terminology taken from owner comments includes the likes of:

“best vacuum ever”
“best vacuum I’ve owned”
“will never buy another brand”
 “lives up to the hype”
“love my vacuum cleaner”
“best purchase I ever made”
“worth every dollar”
etc.

Having said that, there are some issues one should be aware of if they are considering buying this vacuum.  A number of folks have highlighted that the bags (Miele Type G/N) are a little bit pricey.  A quick look on Amazon shows a box of 4 Miele Type G/N dustbags and 2 filters for about $19.00USD.  They are not cheap but one consolation is that they are fairly large.  There are cheaper bags on the market that will fit the vacuum but we have found that the owner’s manual states “USE OF NON-MIELE COMPONENTS MAY VOID THE WARRANTY”.  This is something to consider.  You can view the manual at the bottom of this article.

Another frequent observation regarding the C2 Limited Edition relates to its power cord. Several folks feel that it is a little short.  However, it is no shorter than the power cords on similarly priced Miele canisters and the length is the same as it has been on many Miele canisters for years.  Even so, in our opinion the cord is indeed on the short side - but we often see “shortish” power cords in canister vacuums (as compared to uprights).

Also, the C2 Limited Edition does not have an electric hose/wand.  So the brushroll in the Turbo Comfort Brush cleaning head is not motor driven (no electricity can get to the head).  As a result the brushroll is spun by the vacuum suction.  This is fairly effective on shorter carpet but limits the unit’s cleaning ability on longer, deeper pile carpet.  Miele canister vacuums with electric cleaning heads are more expensive however.  For example you could move to the New Miele Classic C1 Delphi which is about $500.

While the C2 has effective filtration is does not have HEPA level filtration.  Fortunately you can upgrade to a HEPA filter but it is not standard with the vacuum.  Many folks seem to opt for the upgrade.

Finally, something that is being discussed at length about the C2 is its place of manufacture.  This is kind of a tricky area.  Miele vacuums are known for their quality and for being built in Germany.  It would appear the C2 deviates from this – to some extent.  Our understanding at this time (it is difficult to confirm) is that the major components of the vacuum are still made in Germany, but these are sent to Miele’s China factory where the machines are assembled along with certain Chinese made components (perhaps only plastic parts).  Word is that the quality is still very high and that Miele continues to adhere to strict standards in their offshore facilities.  If you know anything more about this please feel free to let our readers know in the comments box at the bottom of the article

Having highlighted issues and concerns, these are mostly in the minority.  The bulk of owners praise this C2 and find that it is an excellent fit for hardwood floors, tile, rugs, and/or low-pile carpet.  The vacuum rolls smoothly across floors, is very maneuverable and is also lightweight and easy to carry.

Most people report that the machine is well built and that it has a quality fit and finish.  As for the bright sunshine yellow color, it is actually quite popular.  Of course it is possible that those who bought the vacuum were simply fond of yellow and those who did not like yellow were steered away from it.

Almost all owners agree that the C2 Limited Edition has excellent suction and they also extol the virtues of being able to increase or dial down suction.  In addition, folks are pleased with the handy on-board storage area for tools.

Owners remark that the Smooth Floor Brush does a good job on all manner of bare surfaces and the Turbo Comfort Brush works well on low to mid pile carpet and area rugs.

Details & Specifications
First, to avoid any confusion, you need to know that there are two limited edition Miele canister vacuums at this time.  The C2 and the C3.  The Miele C3 Limited Edition is also getting fantastic reviews (see it on Amazon here).  The key differences between the two machines are shown in the Miele C2 vs C3 table below:

	Price (USD)	Operating Radius (ft)	Suction Controls
C2 Limited Edition	Approx $400	33	Rotary Dial
C3 Limited Edition	Approx $450	36	+/- Foot Switch

 

As mentioned above, the C2 has a rotary dial for controlling vacuum suction power.  This dial varies the speed of the motor.  There are symbols that indicate the type of use for each setting.  Settings include:
- Curtains & fabric
- Upholstery & cushions
- Deep pile carpets, rugs & runners
- Energy-saving vacuuming. This is also the “quiet” setting.
- Low pile carpet & rugs
- Hard flooring and heavily soiled carpets & rugs

The C2 also has a multi-stage filtration system. It is considered multi-stage because filtration occurs at the dustbag, the motor filter and finally the exhaust filter. The exhaust filter that comes with this machine is the Miele AirClean filter which removes 99.95% of particles with a diameter of 0.5 microns or larger.  While this does remove fine particles from the air you can choose to add a HEPA filter. The HEPA filter will remove 99.97% of particles with a diameter of 0.3 microns or larger which includes the likes of tobacco smoke, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, etc. You can read more about HEPA filtration in our HEPA filter article if you like. There is no filter change indicator on this machine.

The bags used with the C2 are the G/N AirClean 3D Efficiency Dustbags.  These are quite large and have a 4.5 liter capacity.  They are also constructed with 9 layers of filtration material and have a self locking collar that prevents dust and debris from escaping when you swap out the bag. The vacuum includes a bag change indicator in the form of a light located near the hose connection to the vacuum body.  The indicator lights up to let you know it is time to change the bag.  

This limited edition machine is also designed with a sealed system.  This is a very important feature when it comes to ensuring quality filtration.  A sealed system makes sure no air leaks out through poor seals or connections and no air bypasses the filters.  All the air entering the vacuum is forced through the filtration system before it is exhausted from the machine.  This is not always the case with vacuum cleaners.

Two cleaning heads are provided:
1) The Miele SBD 285-3 Classic Combination Smooth Floor Brush (sometimes referred to as the AllTeQ tool)
2) The Miele STB205-3 Turbo Comfort Brush

The Smooth Floor Brush has been designed for low-pile carpet, rugs and smooth flooring. A foot switch (rocker switch) on top of the nozzle allows you to go from smooth floors to carpeted surfaces quickly. The switch lowers and retracts a brush at the front of the nozzle. 

The tool is quite maneuverable as it has a double jointed connector.  Although if you want to clean carpet your best choice is the Turbo Comfort Brush described below.

The Turbo Comfort Brush is designed for low to medium pile carpet and area rugs.  This tool has an air driven brushroll which helps it pull up dust and debris from carpet.  It is not made for cleaning smooth floors (use the Smooth Floor Brush for that).   You will note that the tool is not recommended for deeper pile carpet and this is in part due to the fact that the brushroll is not driven by its own motor (but rather by vacuum suction). A brushroll driven by suction can get bogged down in heavier carpet more easily and doesn’t have the power of a motor driven brushroll. 

This cleaning head also has rubber wheels to help with mobility and a floating brushroll that automatically adjusts to different carpet heights.  There are no brushroll on/off controls.
 
The cleaning heads can be hooked onto the rear of the vacuum where, along with the wand, they will stay in the upright position for easy access.  This is a nice feature when you are taking a break from vacuuming or sometimes even for storage (depending on your storage arrangement).  Also, vacuum tools, handles, wands, etc. all “click fit” together (there is a catch that actually produces an audible click) and release via a button.  This is a secure fit as opposed to some machine where components “friction fit” together.
 
A three piece accessory set comes with the C2:
- Upholstery tool
- Crevice tool
- Dusting brush

These tools store conveniently on-board the vacuum in their own under-the-hood accessory storage compartment.  The vacuum also comes with a stainless steel telescopic wand which has tubes that can be easily adjusted to match one’s working height.  This is great for comfort and for your back.  The unit sports a 5.5 foot hose.

Automatic power cord retraction is always a very popular feature on vacuum cleaners and the C2 Complete Limited Edition is no exception.  Owners rave about the feature.  In this case there is a foot pedal on the body of the canister that when depressed engages the cord rewinder.  The power cord is 21 feet in length and the vacuum is advertised as having a 33 ft operating radius.

This vacuum has many other features including the following:
- A temperature limiter:  This automatically shuts off the motor should the vacuum start to overheat.  Once the machine cools down it can be restarted (of course, one should resolve the issue causing the motor to overheat first – often a blocked airway passage).
- A small metal strip integrated into the handle:  The feature prevents static discharge between the vacuum and the user.
- A carrying handle.
- Castor wheels on the canister body.
- A bumper strip around the perimeter of the canister to ensure no scuffing or scraping of furniture and walls.

The C2 Complete Limited Edition carries a 1-year parts and labor warranty as well as a 7-year housing and motor warranty.

When you buy the vacuum you get:
- The vacuum itself
- The telescopic wand
- The Miele SBD 285-3 Classic Combination Smooth Floor Brush
- The Miele STB205-3 Turbo Comfort Brush
- An AirClean filter
- A vacuum dustbag
- An upholstery tool
- A crevice tool
- A dusting brush

Vacuum Cleaner Manual
The manual for this machine is a little less detailed than those we have seen for some other Miele vacuum cleaners but it nevertheless has some good information.  You can view it here: Miele Complete C2 Limited Edition Manual.