E34 tranny

[charlie]

does anyone have an opinion on when the "lifetime fluid" should be changed on a 1995 540ia? and is there a point at which it's too late and you should just leave it (as not to upset and crap in the tranny)?

[l8apex]

I've owned a 1994 540iA since it was new. It now has 180,000 miles on the original Nikasil engine and 5HP30 adaptive electronic-over-hydraulic ZF automatic transmission. I have never changed the transmission fluid. It runs and shifts great, even at the track, and I don't baby it. The first 130,000 miles were almost exclusively 2 or 3 hour highway trips, so it was exposed to limited load and shifting during this time. If yours was used primarily for city stop-and-go driving, I am not sure if my experience applies.
Dave Brennan
1994 540iA Many mods, track queen, soon to be a six-speed
1996 328iS Many mods, daily driver
1998 318ti Suspension, Wheels, & Supersprint, college-aged son's car