Thank you everyone for your help.
Just to sum up, i read that ford started to use mercon v in some a4ld and 5r55e transmissions from 1997 onwards, so i assume that means that there are some early a4ld and 5r55e transmissions that require just mercon, before they changed over to the v5? Mine is 5r55e as it is a 5 speed.
I only thing is that you can't get this v5 over here, the only place that might have some would be the special american import places, which are few and far between.
I mean i wouldn't think of putting normal mercon in if the dipstick said 'use mercon v5', but as it says 'use mercon' it sort of believes me to think that it is meant for mercon, plus the owners manual thing.
I guess they could of put the wrong dipstick on at the factory, or it could of been changed for a reason? But if it was put on at the factory than if it was ever changed or has a top-up prior to my ownership, they would of used normal mercon, as the dipstick says to.