Has anyone found an acceptable alternative for Mercedes slide paste
 

I've used quite a bit of my meager stash of Mercedes slide paste. I saw reference to using Mobil 1 synthetic grease as a substitute. Is the Mobile 1 light enough? It is less expensive and readily available.

https://mobiloil.com/en/synthetic-grease/mobil-1-synthetic-grease

If not Mobil 1, then what?

I use VW / Audi slide paste. The part number is G00045002 and it costs about $30 for a tube.

-J

What do you use "slide paste" for?

^^ It's used for the sun roof rails.

You can get a film roll capsule of true Mecedes Benz Lubrication Paste from George Murphy of Performance Analysis. Much better than paying $100 plus at the dealer for a large tub of it.
Performance Analysis | Climate Control | Diaphragms | Blower Motors | Pushbutton Panels | Vacuum Door Locks | Autotemp | Cruise Control | Engine Oil Analysis | Mercedes-Benz Parts | Mercedes-Benz Club of America | Oak Ridge | Car Care


I also had good success with BMW Slide grease.
Pelican Parts - European Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche • BMW • Mercedes • Volkswagen • Audi • Saab • Volvo • MINI


And I had good success with Wurth true glide.
True Glide Grease 5.3 Oz Tube | Grease | Lubricants | Chemical Product | Wurth Site


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I'm thinking the Mobil 1 synthetic might be too thick.

I've read that a silicone grease such as Superlube or Sil-Glyde works fine. Personally, I've used DC-4 compound (from Dow Corning) and have had good results.

I have the VW grease tube as well, my local dealer gave me wholesale price on it. Its almost the same as the superlube silicone grease I use on brakes. The superlube smells a bit caustic though.

Point to ponder - this " glide paste" was also specced for brake jobs by MB.

In my case - I have used the superlube and the VW paste and both work equally well. (clean well and only apply a very miniscule amount)

if you want some sunroof grease then the same brand superlube sell a "railroad grease" which they recommend for automotive sunroof assemblies. One could call them up and see if they have it in small packages. When I last checked it was supplied in 5 gallon pails.

Another grease is toyota's body grease - 49 dollars for a small vaseline jar worth of it. talk about ripping off.

Since Webasto makes the sunroofs for VW and MB, I'm confident the VW product will work well - and I use it on both makes of cars :)

This always seemed like a place to use silicone. Is that no the case?


I just keep it really clean and have all new pads.

I don't like the idea of using any type of grease on my sunroofs. The MB stuff is no doubt a good lubricant, but what worries me is that any type of grease/paste will attract dirt particles. Then the problem gets worse.

I have used a dry PTFE (Teflon type) lubricant, made by a company called McLube, and called Sailkote. I had used it previously for lubricating the sail tracks on sailboats where any kind of grease would make a mess of the sails. I bought a spray can at West Marine. Not cheap at $29.99 but it works well and is easy to apply for this and other uses.

McLube : Moly & PTFE Lubricants

MCLUBE Sailkote Dry Lubricant | West Marine

Knowing nothing about sunroofs I feel comfortable asking, what part(s) does the lube go on?

I use silicone spray, usually the one labeled for garage doors. Other things I have that have that "should work" are silicone grease for swimming pool parts (O-rings, etc), di-electric silicone grease for connectors, and anti-squeal grease for disk brake slides (since M-B's product is for that too). I have never been to a M-B dealer. Perhaps I should go for the free coffee and suave conversation, but hate having to dress up and my wallet is a bit thin now so they might escort me out.

The rails.

Apparently the trick is to use the smallest imaginable amount....for the thinnest possible coating. One of those small tins...bought mine from Rusty Cullens ten years ago...should last a lifetime.

But even then it seems as if dirt attraction occurs.

While I haven't always observed this practice, it seems best to apply the grease on as hot a day is possible and in direct sunlight...this, I would think, facilitate getting a thin coat.

FWIW my regimen is to clean with alcohol and re-apply grease once a year or so.

How about wipe the rails clean, take a pencil and color the rails. Graphite is an exc. dry lube.

This question has come up on various forums that I have been on over the last 20 years and it's actually the first time I have heard of anyone finding a workable alternative that held up for any length of time.

The key isn't in any lubricating quality the MB paste has, it's that it doesn't attract dust.

I was told by sailing guy to use the lubricant they use on sailboat pulleys. I did and it promptly gummed up my sunroof two years later (worse than before I cleaned it and put the stuff on). I have been leery of homespun alternatives to the MB paste since.

Use of anything that traps dust will also wear out the sliding surface of the nylon sliders for the sunroof panel. I had to replace them on my w116 due to that.

the sunroof rails on my cars are still nice and working - the idea of the thinnest possible coat is key, and cleaning them surgically before applying new lube.

I have used for five years candle wax, just rub the edge of a candle in the rail. That is what was recommended on a RV web site on my awning. Fifteen years on the awning no problems, five years on the 85 sunroof. The reason given is that it does not collect the grit that most petroleum based lubes do, can't say for the silicone based lubes but can't get more economical than the back side of a candle.

Would I use it on a newer more loved vehicle, it think so with closer attention to giving it a cleaning and a rub more frequently.

Forgive my ignorance, but where are "the rails"? I just bought some synthetic grease and rubbed it into the metal shiny parts of the sunroof. I assumed that's what the sunroof slides on. However, reading all this, I get the feeling that the shiny bits aren't what's supposed to be lubed?

I then had a look at the factory manual (7730), but in that, it says to actually remove the rails to lube and clean them. I really don't want to do that to a perfectly working sunroof.

So my question is...how do you guys clean and lube the rails without removing them?:o

Remove the roof. That process gives access to the rails that the roof slides on. I used a rifle cleaning kit on a cordless drill to access places that I couldn't otherwise reach.

I still have a little hang at the extreme retracted position. The FSM gives specs for what the maximum force should be. I'll take 1 more run at cleaning and decide whether the force is within specs. If it is, I'll learn about the clutch adjustment. The roof has been remove so many times recently that it almost jumps onto the bench on command without tools.

Hopefully the clutch won't deal any harsh lessons.