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I purchased my R53 with 95K miles on the odometer and it now has 153K miles. The automatic transmission in the car when I purchased it was the Aisin 6 speed automatic transmission and I do not know it it was the OE transmission, but it started doing all the normal things like flairs and harsh shifts. It finally gave up and would only shift into 1st, 2nd and 3rd and nothing else. I installed a new valve body from REVMAX, but it did not fix the problem. I bought a used automatic transmission from Terryville Auto with 56K miles on it and a 20K mile warranty and had it installed. I have put 35K miles on this automatic transmission and it has stopped shifting and is stuck in 3rd gear. The automatic transmission threw a P2729 code - "pressure control solenoid "E" circuit low" and a P0700 code - "PCM malfunction in transmission control system". I cleared the codes and drove the car, but it will not shift out of 3rd gear. The P2729 code came back, but not the P0700 code. I can purchase new solenoids from Wolfsburg tuning solenoid for $275 and I can put them in myself. Has anyone had similar issues and fixed it? I have checked the forum for information, but it talks a lot about the problems but not much about the fixes. I really want to keep the car since I have it built just the way I want it.
I cant offer much help but check the solenoid wiring, driver side just behind the headlight down low. You will need to remove a couple things like TB and hoses to see.
I am debating replacing only the solenoids vs replacing the complete valve body. If the information available is accurate then my problem is a solenoid.
When you swapped transmissions did you keep the REVMAX valve body or did it go with the old transmission? The issue with these units is that the solenoids and the plungers are made of steel, the valve body is aluminum. Over time the steel wears away the aluminum and it causes all the issues you are experiencing. I believe the REVMAX valve bodies have all the SONNAX updates performed on them. If they do then those valve bodies are good for many more miles than a stock valve body. For the record, I had issues with mine back in 2011, had the car 6 years and it had just over 75k miles when the issues started. If your used trans has the original valve body, you are probably experiencing the same issues.
