ATF for ZF8HP box

[Mackie]

Guys,
Pick your brains please.
I cut a deal with my local Audi crowd to change gearbox oil. My BiTdi has 110k kms (68,350 miles). Very reasonable Price I thought. They used VG 060162a2 - I was very clear with them that it was not a Multitronic or S-Tronic - which they obviously should have been well aware of. Is this okay? I would have been much happier with ZF’s own fluid, but figured they knew what they were at as they said the cops over here get their high-spec Q7’s done on a regular interval and I think that’s the same box. Also figured the work would be warrantied, so no risk.
Opinions?

 

[Eric_RS6]

Hi Mackie,
What was the cost of this? I have just had my BiTDI Transmission serviced (oil and filter). The oil that they used in yours seems to be a popular 'VAG Specialist' oil, but not official Audi, so in my opinion would be fine.
Mine had done 90k miles when done and the mechanic said it NEEDED doing! Don't Audi say it is a sealed for life unit, but ZF say it isn't and sell a service kit for it.

 

[Mackie]

Eric,
It was €289.99 or £260 inclusive of vat, which I thought was very good. I also asked them to send me pics of the oil that came out of box and to be quite honest I thought someone was taking the **** with the pictures she printed - the oil was dark dark brown, nearly black like Cola. I wondered if they had just took a snap of some burnt engine oil! But yeah, happy out for now. I rang Audi Belfast, where she came from and they gave me the ‘sealed for life’ old gem.

 

[Eric_RS6]

Yeah I read a lot of posts on various forums about the sealed for life Audi speech! Yeah sounds the same as my transmission oil then, even the mechanic was shocked with the condition of the oil! I did notice after it was much much smoother on the gear changes in 'Drive' mode, a few times i hadn't even noticed it had changed!