The only real problem I'm have with my BW35 is during cold idling, and I'm hoping someone could help me. It's a 1971, and it has been decades since the transmission has been serviced other than my recent trial-and-error adjustment of the stretched kick-down cable. The problem I'm having is that I've got to almost cancel the choke (i.e. lower revs) to shift out of park when the engine is cold. It is always a problem at 10 deg C, and sometimes when above 20 deg C. I would let the car fast-idle for 10 or 20 seconds so that it will keep going, drop the choke down, shift out of park, and pull the choke back up. Dropping the choke is only to lower the revs to allow shifting out of park. The fast idle speed might be set too high (tuned by ear) as I'm slowly getting tools... but I was wondering if there are any other suggestions, including advice on servicing a transmission that has not had any in a while. But changing to a manual is not an option at this stage.

The history is that it was replaced a few months after new when a lady reversed into the car while parked, breaking the park lock. I think it got a new transmission, but it might have been just repaired. The car now has just under 115 000km on the clock. It was always serviced properly, but then around 1990 my father placed it in storage and used it only once a month to keep everything lubricated. He gave the car to me 4 years ago.

Thanks in advance