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?

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

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

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

What do you use "slide paste" for?

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

^^ 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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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

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.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

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.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

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.

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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

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

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

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

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.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

The rails.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 157k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 175k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 144k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 70k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

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.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 157k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 175k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 144k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 70k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

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

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

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.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22