OE would be the better choice. Lifeguard 6 for the six speeds.

Which Redline did you put in?
Red Line Synthetic Oil - Automatic Transmission Fluids

None of those. You want the 75W 90 NS GL-5.

75W 90 NS GL-5, is for the manual.

Did you use a manual oil on the automatic?

Manual: Red Line Synthetic Oil - Gear Oil for Manual Transmissions

Automatic: Red Line Synthetic Oil - Automatic Transmission Fluids

You are correct. Apologies 'thehinch', MY BAD!!! :wow:

I don't know how the hell I thought it was the 75W 90??!!! I think I've been reading so many posts and threads its been burnt onto the backs of my retinas and then embedded into my brain!!! Thats the first time my photographic memory has worked against me-must be my age... Shit!

I just checked the bottle and it is the D4 ATF. FYI I drained a smidge over 4.5 litres (a little over 4.5 qts). When I refilled I used 5x 1qt bottles. I was supplied with 6 bottles in the kit I got from ECS Tuning.

I did the mechatronic unit in my E60, they warn specifically not to use other vendor fluid even though it says its compatible on the packaging. They say it is not. And from what i got on my hands filling it i can say it was darn near impossible to get off. Lifeguard 6 is really heavy and slick stuff.

I agree, lots of people including ZF say don't use other stuff. Look at the fluid, it is Amber in color. All other is red. That alone should speak volumes.

..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..

No one is dissing your choice. ZF recommends trans fluid to be serviced. I forget the interval. I too have dropped the pan, changed filter and filled up again. I just prefer to keep the fluid as whatever was in there initially. Maybe I'm wrong. No one knows.

I know mate, I've not taken it as such.


Thats my point exactly, yet previously you said 'OE would be the better choice'.. :dunno:

So, until my tranny (or anyone else's) goes bang as a result we'll just have to take it as nothing more than an individuals choice and their opinion. Green apples vs red apples :popcorn: