I think I would have noticed something by now with that many miles if it was causing any excessive wear. You really can't compare the two without driving two cars identically for a large number of miles and then tearing apart the drivetrain to check wear levels. I haven't noticed any negative effects from doing so with driving 25,000 a year, autocross, track, canyon, and daily. You do it your way, I'll do it mine.

 

That is a sad fact right there^ "I'm much more worried about the over 1/3 of my life I waste traveling to/from and working a job" but true. But what do you guys think when it is -3 degrees out side and the S is your only choice of transportation? Is it best for the motor to warm up all the way or maybe only 2 bars (AP1) so that way the diff and breaks all have time to warm up once you start driving?

 

The consensus from experts is to warm a car by driving it. Gently. Lots of ingrained wifes tails about warming up idling pervade, and many are rooted to them (emotionally sometimes. Maybe it was Dad or Gramps that tought them this), and won't go away.

 

Agreed. But the I'd notice if this was doing any damage, I don't get that. What is it one would expect to see, hear or feel if there was more wear than there should be (barring so much that you lose significant compression or get bearing knock)? You just wouldn't know.

 

I'd be more worried about wasting gas during those extra 2 minutes than engine wear.

 

The only thing I could think of engine wise, is that the pistons are smaller than they otherwise would be, and putting the load of the entire driveline, and weight of the car on them in very cold weather could cause the piston to ride the thrust surface in the cylinder a bit more harshly than it would if the piston had expanded to it's proper size. This is because the piston area isn't as evenly distributed in the cylinder, this might also place more stress on one side of the piston rings.