I've done some searching and could find the answer to this, if there is one, so here goes:

I have a 2003 4.4 V8 Vogue with the ZF 5HP24 auto in it. It has done 76k miles and there's nothing in the service record to say the gearbox fluid & filter have ever been changed. So as I've just got the car I like to make sure things like this are done, for my own piece of mind.

I can get the filter and sump gasket with no problems but it's the fluid that I have a question about. Does it HAVE to be the ZF Lifeguard fluid that I use for this gearbox (at nearly £14 a litre ) or is there an alternative fluid with the same properties that I can use and may be able to get locally?

I know standard ATF DIII won't do the job and want the right stuff so any info is appreciated.  

It's esso lt 71141 fluid and having queried the cost of it, I still came to the conclusion that it's best to stick with it. The cost of a rebuild on the gearbox ain't worth messing with the fluid.

I bought a 25litre drum online a while back as it was a lot cheaper in bulk from an online supplier. Can't remember who it was. V8 or else ...

Budgie, I think it was this link I got it from...

http://www.oil-store.co.uk/Mobil-ATF-LT-71141-378.html V8 or else ...

this is when u need someone who is going to do theres to go halfs with u and split the cost of the fluid

Thanks Fisha,
I see Opie Oils does it at a better price in the 1 ltr bottles so I may go for that.
The 25 ltrs is a good price but that'll be hanging around in the garage for ever and there's not that many L322's on the island to go halvers with.  

Liqui Moly 1200 is compatible with the Lifeguard5.
It is manufactured to the ZF specification.

when i rang my local west london dealership in regards to having the gear oil and filter changed their exact word was,if the gearbox is not giving you any grief then the oil and filter should not be changed below 150,000 miles..

Well I just dropped the pan and filter today on my 02/03 Vogue V8.
ERM, all I can say is BS, my vehicle has done 120,000km it has never towed and has been pretty much a city car prior to my purchase last week.
Magnets (4) were quiet furry......I would say they were near the limit of effectively capturing swarf.
The fluid had the colour of well used diesel engine oil......keeping in mind that new ATF is a pleasant cherry red.
As far as I know there is a finite recommended life for Lifeguard5...8 years.
Most of the fluid manufactures I had talked with suggest 80,000-120,000 fluid change interval or 8 years.
It has cost me $210 to replace half the fluid and the filter thats money well spent. A new trans in the Antipodes is around $7000.
My P38 ZF HP4 24 has 350,000km on it and its still going strong....why cause I drop the fluid every 30,000km and change the filter at 60,000km.
Sorry guys but if you are not changing the fluid after 100,000km you have too much money to waste.

I recently changed the oil in my Rangie, after speaking to a guy from "Miller oils" i decided to use oil from them as recommended on their web site. I changed the filter at the same time and can confirm after appx 1000 miles i have had no issues, infact after changing there was a noticeable differance in gear changes, they are a lot smoother. This mileage also includes towing my heavy caravan to and from Cornwall.
The cost of the equivilant Miller oil allowed me to purchase 10 litres at less than the Esso LT71141 equivilant price giving me enough to do a second change.  04 Vogue 4.4LPG.
01 Vogue 4.6.
00 Vogue 4.6LPG.
99 Discovery ES 4.0LPG
96 Discovery ES 3.9LPG.

What volume of fluid did you collect when you drained the trans?
I had just a tad under 6 Litres, and thats pretty much what I got back in.
No leaks here....at all.
33c here today, I checked my Transmission pan temperature with a probe and got about 80c
Under bonnet temps at the cylinder head expansion tank and radiator within 85-92c range so cooling looks good for summer.