ZF 6HP219 transmission - changing solenoids on valve body. Couple of minor setbacks

[gmak]

This is on a 530xi. I have the mechatronic out of the car and in the two main pieces. So far, so good.

1. The white locking tab for the plug coupling sleeve seems to be stuck open. I've tried pushing it up gently, but no dice. It seems a bit fragile, and we all know what happens to plastic on BMW cars if you push too much. Has anyone else here done this DIY and do they have any suggestions regarding the locking tab?

2. The coupling sleeve itself was fairly easy to pull out but because of the AWD transfer case, it doesn't look like it can be pulled down and out, between the transmission case and the transfer case. If I get it out and damage it, it will be highly unlikely that I can get the new one up there to put in place. Should I just re-use it and hope for the best? Should I try to remove the 3 o-rings, take the new ones off of the new sleeve, and put them on the old body - hoping that I don't damage them in the process? Any ideas here?

Thanks.

[gmak]

I'll just update with 2 items:

1. Earlier zf 6HP trannies didn't have the foam piece on the TCM where the solenoid contacts reside. IT was added later due to contaminants (the grey slush from wear and tear) getting into the valve body and messing with the pressures and operation of small fiddly bits. I've ordered one to put in mine.

2. The white lock tab will only move back up into place if the sleeve is in place. There are two small metal tabs on the lower rim of the socket where the pins reside. This has to be pressed back properly (i.e. the sleeve is properly in place) for the locking tab to move back up into place. I tried this with the mechatronic out of the tranny and it is indeed true.

[Technician117]

Good information. What were your symptoms and previous repair attempts (if any) to lead you to solenoid replacement? Has the work fixed your problem? I'm most curious because my father's '06 530xi has issues and the used car dealer he bought it from already had the BMW dealer change the mechatronic seal and pan. I'll be writing my own thread today so as to not derail yours...

[gmak]

I'm still waiting for the foam strip to arrive so the car is still up on blocks. The car would drop hard from 2nd to 1st and I would get shifting back and forth from 4th to 5th and back on the highway. I think part of my problem was low ATF - which happened over the last 2 years since I got a filter and ATF change by an Indy. Last week, I heard some kind of squeal. tranny related. When I dropped the pan, there was some greyish sludge in the bottom - not al lot, but enough that my problems might be clutch / gear related. The car is in great shape, so if doing the valve body work doesn't deal with the problems, I'll go to a local specialist and get the bearings replaced - and other stuff looked at to effectively rebuild the guts of the tranny.

[Technician117]

Any update from last year? My Dad's car had been ok for a while until the last few months it started slipping between the 5-6 shift. The other shifts seemed to be decent besides still having the 2-1 clunk. I'm thinking to replace the solenoids and redo the mechatronic seal.

[ES335]

I just replaced the solenoids on my 06 530xi along with the mechatronic seal and the sealing sleeves. It exhibited the same symptoms as others plus it would hesitate going into reverse. I also reset the adaptations. It now shifts better than my 06 750Li, which it did all the same work on. All the problems are gone as of now! Do it before other damage occurs.

If you have trouble getting the mechatronic cable back on, let me know. I made a tool to help get the plug in the proper orientation to get it connected easily.