Besides Lifeguard 5, what other fluids work?

I'm leaning toward M1 since I have a bottle here used for other purposes before and LT 71141 is stated on the bottle. Reading around the internet (so i'm taking a grain of salt on a few places), M1 works but there are conflicts with that and with MaxLife; on Bob's the oil guy, everyone raves about MaxLife (valvoline) but logically thinking, if Esso LT 71141 is made by Exxon = Mobil, wouldn't it be OK to use that fluid seeing the availability and cost?
Friend that owns a BMW shop would only use Pentosin ATF1 or Febi which is understandable but he said it is my gamble to use M1. I am a "dealer" for Amsoil and while I can get it at a decent price, it's still almost 2x more than M1 locally.

I'll get the filter anywhere and being an 03 4.6is, I can use Dex3 for the TC and I'm all good with that, I feel I can get the whole get-up for the trans and diff from Amsoil. There are "dealers"/dealers here and there promoting Amsoil, I've never had problems with Amsoil either, just the price at the end just for motor oil doesn't justify the cost but that's motor oil. Trans fluid I'm a little more gun shy about using other brands but after trying and comparing just motor oil alone, I've been strickly M1 full syn as it's cheaper and it's everywhere.

Thoughts on M1 Full Syn for trans fluid?

Thanks!!

I bought 7 quarts of ZF Lifeguard 5 fluid from Bav Auto. At $16.95 a quart I thought I'd rather invest the extra money here than a new transmission. IMO, this is one place you don't want to cut corners.

after researching the 5hp24 trans from audi to jag to RR, everyone seems to be pissed by how much OEM fluids command v. M1 or Castrol. I'm going to look for the MSDS for M1 and OEM fluid to see if there's any differences and how big it would be. Read a few places says the 5HP24's fluid isn't he weak link but the drums so fluid isn't so much of a factor as it is the actual design issue.

that's one nice thing about our (4.6) trans: multiple makes/models uses them so melting of the minds can be found everywhere.

I hope my mind doesn't melt.

I'm ok with melding though...

:p:

Q: what side is the drain and fill plig? Driver or passenger?

Thanks

On my 6 speed transmission the fill is on the passenger side. Drain was on the bottom of the pan iirc.

Thanks but I has the 5 SPD... :(

5hp24