Anytime Im doing a valve adjustment Ill take the valve cover and give it a metal polish rub down ,takes 20 minutes to rub away the oil coaked aluminum and the results do seem to get it close to a factory fresh finish,I will make extra efforts to keep any compound from being left behind,this would not be good in an engine.Back when these cars were on the show room floor ,I do believe the people buying the 123 AND 126 series diesels in the 80s were sold on the aircraft quality looks of the 616 and 617 motors.My first look sold me.

WOW is there a difference between what that looked like, and what you've managed to do!

I think I have a before picture somewhere, but im pretty sure that body color was not visible in that engine bay on the inner fenders.

Congratulations on such a good job!

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

If you've got an old pic I'd love to see it! I really regret not taking one before I started cleaning it. It's so easy to imagine people got seduced by their "aircraft quality looks" back in the day, they're beautiful.

__________________
1983 300TD 240k Thistle Green Auto (Euro) [sold]
1984 300D 240k Petrol Green Auto
覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧
"You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to have to learn how to deal with it."
"What? Were you saying something? Look, I don't speak Spanish."

I don't have a clear overview, but I do have a couple in engine pics that give an idea of the filth. (for those who are curious, im that SOB PO who never cleaned the engine bay)

you should take same angle pics to show the difference, but its already a huge improvement.

__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Ha! That's amazing! Thanks so much!

And to be fair to you, you never needed to remove the grease and grime to know what you were fixing. But yeah, when I first got it I found myself playing a little game I like to call, "Is that blob the alternator?" All I knew was that it was "under the engine" and had to be covered for cleaning.

I could have sworn the valve cover was totally covered in grime back then. Guess I was thinking of the power steering pump!

Holy crap. Look at the hood!

__________________
1983 300TD 240k Thistle Green Auto (Euro) [sold]
1984 300D 240k Petrol Green Auto
覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧
"You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to have to learn how to deal with it."
"What? Were you saying something? Look, I don't speak Spanish."