..and BMW say its a lifetime fluid (ie not to be replaced), not only on the tranny but the diffs also. But we (collective 'we') have changed those fluids, and with reported positives, not negatives.

Does everyone do as they are told? Evidently not.

As for people saying their tranny died soon after putting non-BMW specified fluid, how do they, or anyone else know the tranny wasn't going bang the next week regardless of the fluid change???? It could have been on its way out anyway. Without performing a complete stripdown of the transmission and doing a thorough assessment, its like knowing next weeks lottery numbers-you don't.

I'll let you know when my tranny goes bang. However, in the meantime I'll just enjoy the benefits of a smooth-shifting, correct-gear-to-speed, jerk-free tranny.

I'm not trying to champion this stuff I'm simply reporting that it has made the ridiculous shifting issues disappear. Whos' to say those same issues wouldn't have been resolved if I had put in the BMW stuff? I don't know, and I don't care. As said previously I had scoured this and other forums for close to two years and nearly everyone had used this gear with no problems at all. And seeing as I had used it in the past with 100% success, well, go figure..

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Present:
01 X5 4.4i
07 Yam R1

Past:
89 R32 Skyline various mods, running 442 BHP
00 Merc CLK55 AMG
01 E39 M5 Haywood and Scott silencers
02 E46 M3 Supersprint Cats, Eibach Lowered, Thorney Motorsport Remap, running 368 BHP