the Esso LT71141 used in the BMW "lifetime" auto transmissions? I am going to buy a 1999 740i tomorrow and want to drop the tranny pan and replace the fluid and filter. It uses the Esso LT71141 fluid that is so expensive at BMW dealers, but I have heard rumors that the same fluid can be purchased at VW dealers for less than half the price. Doesn't make any sense to me, but that is what I have heard.

Also, is there any way to get the fluid out of the torque converters of these 5HP24 ZF transmissions? The GM trannys on my 525i's have a separate fluid pan for the converter and so I can get more of the fluid out by dropping both pans. There is about 3.5 liters of fluid in the torque converter and I would like to replace all of the fluid. Probably isn't all that important as getting the filter changed and any metal shavings out of the pan magnets, but if possible I would like to do it.

I think that the E34 540's have the same issues, so hopefully somebody here will have some suggestions for me. Buying a bimmer from an entirely different era and platform is a bit scary to me, as I was just getting used to the issues on my 525i's.

Thanks,

Dick Schneiders