I recently acquired a 2003 X5 3.0 automatic with 100m miles. I ignored the advice of the dealer and most posters on this site and had the fluid professionally changed along with the filter and kit. I also had the diff and transfer cases changed. So far so good, with 1000 miles since the change. I just cannot grab hold of the idea that fluids are forever given the stresses they endure. This professional BMW non-dealer repair shop says that the new definition of lifetime is 100,000 miles and they recommend what I did.