I bought a new built-in Bosch oven a week ago. When I turn it on to preheat, there's a sharp plastic smell, especially in the first 10-15 minutes. After preheating, the smell goes away. Is this normal for new appliances or is something wrong?
This is completely normal for a new built-in oven. Inside the oven there are plastic parts (seals, holders, internal parts of the control panel), and when you first turn it on, they're exposed to high temperatures. The plastic releases volatile substances - this is called off-gassing, and it's not dangerous, just unpleasant. The smell is especially noticeable in the first few days or week of use, then it goes away completely.
To speed up the process, I'd recommend turning the oven on to maximum temperature (unless the manual says otherwise) for 15-20 minutes several times in a row, preferably with your kitchen ventilation or a window open. That way the plastic will "air out" faster. After that the smell should become much weaker or disappear entirely.
The only danger here is the discomfort from the smell, not toxicity. Bosch is a normal manufacturer, and this kind of smell in their new ovens is completely typical. If after a couple of weeks of regular use the smell is still strong and even getting worse, then you should contact service, but based on what you're describing this is just standard off-gassing.
Don't panic - this is a completely normal thing with new appliances. Ovens use plastic parts (handles, seals, control elements) that release volatile substances when first heated - that so-called new appliance smell. As a rule, it goes away within a few uses, maximum a week or two of regular use.
To speed things up, you can run the oven at maximum temperature for 15-20 minutes a few times with the door open (or keep the kitchen as ventilated as possible). But if the smell doesn't go away and instead gets stronger or you hear suspicious sounds along with it - that's when you'd want to call Bosch service. In nine out of ten cases with built-in ovens though, it's just that manufacturing smell.
When I bought built-in appliances, I had the same thing - the smell goes away after a few uses, it's just residue from production materials and lubricants on the plastic parts inside. If the smell disappears after heating and doesn't come back on the next uses, there's nothing to worry about. Just air out your kitchen the first few times, and in a week or two you'll get used to it.
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