The Critic,
Given your responses, I think I need to apologize as I think you have misunderstood the intention of my reply.
Yes, to me, I did extensive research since I bought this used car (Feb), though about end of July. I not only asked for information and feedback, read about every single post on folks changing their ATF fluid on these so called "lifetime" fluid (not only in this forum but in several BMW, Jaguar sites), but also got into really good dialogs with several who both elected to use the ESSO, and many more than actually used other than ESSO like I recently did. I also find a very nice chap in Germany that was able to get the original reasons as to the extended drain intervals straight from the actual engineers who worked on the tranny (who stated they did "not" came up with the "lifetime" idea - they wanted a long service type of indication/label). Lastly, I also spend good time face to face with a 7-year veteran of fluid analysis who worked for GM and now is a consultant (he almost laughed at my face when I told him about BMW's "lifetime" fluid claims - he found it completely humorous that folks would be so gullible to believe in the existence of a lifetime fluid, let alone inside a auto tranny).
I know the word "extensive" is relative, but I am here to learn so if you have additional sources of information that might help change my mind about not trusting "lifetime" fluids, please send them my way. That is why I was asking how "you" could be certain - about 90-95% of the information I have reviewed so far clearly points to the non-existence of the so call lifetime fluids. Again, my apologies if the tone of my initial reply came across too strongly worded.
You also make a very good point about Blackstone labs - it is the one I know, the one I have used in the past - I don't know any thing better. If their results are not to be trusted, please let me know more about it - I would love to use a more trusted/reputable lab for when I extract the second ATF fluid sample in about 2 weeks.
I am here to learn and to share what I have done. Thanks in advance for your help