[djgandy]

There is no clutch to wear...

I don't know about the brakes. I expect there is some computer trickery involved in all this too. I don't see why you would damage them

[Dan-danGT]

Just confirmed it mine does set of in 1st gear all the time in D

[anielsen71]

With an auto box there are no clutch. There's a torgue transformer or what its called in english and some oil.
But as you write, it can be though on the brakes. When waiting at the red light I do the same, shift the shifter to N and loose the grip on the brakes. Just to try preventing them from being wobled(?)

[rjwojcik]

I also put an auto in neutral when stationary for any period if time but never stick it in neutral when coasting. My take is that it's bad to tow an auto for any large distance and if your sticking it in neutral while coasting then your in affect simulating towing.

[badgerbrock72]

Sorry to hijack but this raises a good question, how do you tow an auto??

I presume a rear-drive such as our cars, the rear wheels of the car would need to be off the ground, or better still whole car on a flatbed.

Never been towed (yet!) as you can tell, hopefully im not tempting fate...

Garry

[Kuroblack]

Originally Posted by anielsen71

With an auto box there are no clutch. There's a torgue transformer or what its called in english and some oil.
But as you write, it can be though on the brakes. When waiting at the red light I do the same, shift the shifter to N and loose the grip on the brakes. Just to try preventing them from being wobled(?)

In terms of the brakes, that's good practice if you've had a 'spirited' driving session or do a banzai stop from high speed. Not doing so means that the disc surfaces cool quickly - aside from the section clamped by the pads. The temperature differential leads to warping and eventually cracking of the discs.

Of course, for everyday stuff - no real requirement.

[anielsen71]

Originally Posted by badgerbrock72

Sorry to hijack but this raises a good question, how do you tow an auto??

I presume a rear-drive such as our cars, the rear wheels of the car would need to be off the ground, or better still whole car on a flatbed.

Never been towed (yet!) as you can tell, hopefully im not tempting fate...

Garry

I seem to remember reading something about towing with max 50km/h and max 50km distance with the autobox in N.
For longer distance the car should be put on a flatbed.
As I recall it, I read it somewhere in the manual to the car.

[TeinBMW]

When I was younger I had the same question. I learned by trial and error. Don't be afraid to ask questions man. Only way to learn.

[Shere]

This question of slipping into neutral. At traffic lights I always slip into neutral and handbrake. I find it very annoying, especially at night, when drivers in front of me sit there with their foot in the brakes and their bright LEDs burning my retinas! Is very annoying!

[Dan-danGT]

If you are coasting with the engine runing it won't damaged the auto box, as the oil pump will be pumping oil throughout to gearbox with the engine at tick over, again if towing with the engine running in theory it should be fine. But it is advised to just lift the car and tow it as its not worth damaging a very expensive auto box.

[1 AKY]

Originally Posted by Shere

This question of slipping into neutral. At traffic lights I always slip into neutral and handbrake. I find it very annoying, especially at night, when drivers in front of me sit there with their foot in the brakes and their bright LEDs burning my retinas! Is very annoying!

This.

Isn't at also safer to put it into neutral when sat in stationary traffic, e.g. at lights, just in case somebody rear-ends you.