I cant say I've heard more than two occasions where people have complained about a tranny pump whine. I will say that there are lots of cars driving around that have it and it doesn't really damage anything. But if you can hear it, I can see why it would bother you.

Personally id just sell the car, you hear it, it bothers you. Let's say they replace the tranny under warranty, are you going to hear it again? Like you said you've become kind of sensitive to it, you heard it when your ear was down low to the floor. Now you hear it all the time. You'll probably hear a little something with a new unit because you're so intune with it. As for the clunk, I've heard it occasionally while braking, but honestly I don't hear much with these cars because they are so well sound insulated. Can't hear much of anything. You'll notice a ticking sound coming from the engine, it's the direct injection, I can't hear it because of the insulation but I can hear it when I'm outside of the car.

Id have it looked at by the dealer, if they say it's normal and it bothers you id get rid of it. I think with these cars they are so quiet that when you do hear something it can be more noticeable than with other cars. Like I'll get into other cars and all of the sudden I can hear everything, it's crazy. I'll hear the tires, the engine, the suspension, the tranny, the road. It all comes right into the cabin so it kind of becomes normal, you are accustomed to it. With the LS you hear nothing, so when you hear something? It becomes annoying.

Yes, normally, but this TSB is specifically covered under the 70,000-Mile Power Train warranty.