trans filter and new fluid
 

would u guys do it for a x5 4.8i..2004 funny how the trans shop said they wont touch fluid on a zf trans because its a life time fluid,,

Unless you're sure they are gonna do the proper flush I wouldn't suggest.
My tranny was initially slipping between 1st and 2nd and a partial flush was done,by that time tranny had 183.000 kms on it,no idea how it was serviced.
In about 3 months it started to shudder,got sick of it and had it rebuilt,no luck,shudder was still present after rebuilt + the Whining during the cold starts(aftermarket filter was causing that).So I started to research for info about shudder causes etc. Finally I checked the bill and found out that that the filter was a cheap piece of crap and not ZF as I was told(funny,no?) and tranny was filled with Dexron IV fluid.I bought the fluid and requested the flush,they were pissed and skeptical about any effect,but flushed trice,making it almost a full Dexron stuff flushed away.I drove for two days now and felt some kind of smooth slipping at the point I used to get a jerky Shud-d-d-d-er.
About a filter,filter was replaced and fitted a brand new Filtran branded one.No more Whining at all.

So here's the conclusion:
Unless you can be sure about what they are doing,force them to flush,but I would keep an eye on the Proper fluid kind which is LifeGuardFluid5 or Esso/Exxon LT 71141(in my case it was Mobil Super MultiVehicle ATF which is LT 71141 among other specs) and get the filter replaced as many say that the new fluid will disturb the old crap deposits in the valve body etc.
So new filter is the MUST.I would get it replaced every flush( you would need at least 2,if they are flushing without the Torque Converter,drain plug flush I would say.
Good luck.

thank you for the feedback. i cant help but think that a flush and filter will do wonders, on a side note i dont get the shudder when im in manual mode and it seems to happen very much less in sport mode.

I didn't have shudder in Sports at all.
As ZF technician wrote to me,read this:
Drivability problems may be due to many issues, the transmission performs on command from the TCU. It does not question the request only perform the function requested. That said if bad data is received from any sensor engine or transmission the TCU will use this information to calculate output data. Bad information in = bad info out. From your description I have to make the assumption you have chatter on the 3-4 shift. Placing it in sport mode raises pressure on the shifts and overcomes the slip and changes the converter lock strategy. Why is it slipping on the shift? The change from 3rd to 4th is B clutch coming on, pressure regulator 3,4 going off and converter lockup coming on when requested. Has the shop who performed the build thoroughly inspected the B clutch and the entire circuit of how oil reaches the clutch? Has the Valve body been thoroughly inspected and all worn valves or castings or solenoids replaced? The converter was rebuilt but was the lockup clutch serviced? What oil is being used before and after the rebuild? Oil type is critical on these transmissions and using any aftermarket oils other than ZF Lifeguardfluid 5 or dealer OE fluid may result in drivability problems.

Nothing else to add.

It is entirely up to you whether you change the fluid or not. There are pros to doing it, and there are cons. There are many pages of posts here about it. Changing the fluid and filter, even with the correct parts, is not without risk of damaging the transmission. When a shop doesn't want to do it, it is often because they recognize the risk of doing it, and they don't want customers coming back after a fluid change and claiming for a new transmission. They can avoid that risk by simply not doing fluid changes on high mileage transmissions. Shops can try explaining and documenting up front that if it doesn't work out, it was the customer's choice to do it anyway, but in my experience customers often have short memories about those discussions.

Short summary:

If your transmission has low miles on it, and is relatively new, ie 30,000 miles, changing the fluid is low risk. We can debate whether there are any long-term benefits at all to regular fluid changes, but that is another discussion. At least changing the fluid won't hurt anything.
If your transmission has high miles on it, has old fluid, but is working fine, changing the fluid can cause a failure even if the correct filter and fluid is used. New fluid has a lot of detergents that clean out the transmission, and the particles that are disturbed can cause blockages and other problems in the valve body, which has very small passages. Changing the fluid isn't guaranteed to cause a problem, it is more likely that it won't, but it can. And the consequences if it does are expensive.
If your transmisison is not working perfectly, changing the fluid is sort of like trying a Hail Mary pass, it is taking a chance but sometimes it works out, and there is not much to lose since the transmission is failing anyway. New fluid will have different friction characteristics, and that can make any existing problem either better or worse. It can thus speed up a failure that is underway, or it can delay an impending failure. No way of knowing unless you try it, but don't expect miracles. New fluid simply doesn't fix mechanical or electrical problems.