Not new to Volvos, but new to the 16V motor. Have an 89 740 GLE w/ 16V motor that is making some noise up top now that the cool weather is here. Car has 210K on it. Is a valve adjust going to help me? THanks in advance

16 valves have hydraulic lifters and thus no adjustment. May be that some lifters don't get enough oil due to sludge from neglected oil changes. Change the oil and filter. Could be faulty lifter(s). Have an expert check it. You don't want anything to break! Some clatter is normal at cold start-up but should go away soon. Sometimes takes 1/2 hour after valve mechanism has been worked on and lifters drained.
Never buy a 16 valve W/O knowing when cam belt, idlers or tensioners were replaced or do it after purchase. If anything in the valve train breaks you have a worthless car because it is too x-pensive to fix.

This is good advice. My valves make a "light" "clicking" sound when it's cold. It sounds like coins dropping on the ground. The sound goes away after 3-5 min. I think (IMHO) That it just takes a few minutes to build up pressure in the hydrolic lifters. If the sound does not go away, that must mean there is a problem in oil pressure, either supply or maybe the lifters leak, or something.