Idling an Auto...

[Forkie]

Me again, with yet another oddball question.
Was reading a random article regarding a BMW E36 ( mid 80s model?) - a long term owner of an auto version - with a ZF box - really not too sure on that bit - but anyways the point he was making was to NEVER just start the car up, and let it idle, UNLESS the rear wheels are off the ground, free to spin, or premature Autobox wear will occur, as he apparently found out. Having just spent a mortgage on my own BW35 Auto box rebuild, does that same rule apply to all autos. I ask this as i still fail to see why mine had a shot 3rd and reverse band, after all it had done since taken off the road in 2008 was periodic start ups...... i obviously dont want the same occurence !!!!
Basically, do other auto owners do a start up and let it warm up periodically, or not? I do this every so often in the garage, if the weather is bad, no time to take it out etc just to keep things alive so to speak.

[valencia]

Why did the rear wheels of the BMW need to be off the ground ? Does this imply that it was in drive rather than neutral ? I have an auto BMW, I always move straight off, only because I'll be late for work if I don't!
No such thing as an odd question.

[Forkie]

I like it I do not really know !!!! I did omit the point in my initial post that this guy was making the point of never just start it up and let it idle in NEUTRAL or PARK, so he was not talking about in Drive, which obviously it would not start anyway... i was as confused as what you sound. Does he imply that some rotation to the rear wheels still occur, even in P or N, when just idling, and if the rear wheels are not free to rotate - i.e. still on the ground - this will then contribute to wear to the 'box I was just intigued if this was specific to that particular Auto box, or ALL Auto's....but i do realise the Autobox is a bit of a mystery thing....