heh..might be a good test, but its all greek to me. Guess it's time to dust off grandpa's old indenter I've been researching all morning and now think that there were chrome plated steel caps and stainless steel caps. I would really like to know as I'm getting ready to paint a set and would like to address the shiney parts first.

I've found nothing but anecdotal evidence and conflicting statements. Nothing from the factory/mfg.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

Use any metal polish, it should not take more than 30 minutes per to get them mirror-like. DO NOT SAND THEM- you'll be sanding forever to get them back to shiny.

Hmmm - I thought some more about the indenting hardness test and you could be restricted by the thickness of the metal - it won't count if you push through to the other side!

Is there a chemical test that can be done - for example SS turns yellow with blue spots when exposed to agent X?

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!