What is the best type of lubricant to use on the sunroof rails? My 85 380 SE still has a working sunroof, but the electric motor seems to labour a bit. Anything else which needs to be lubricated at the same time?

Mercedes packages something called Gleitpaste for the sunroof but it's very expensive. P/N A 001 989 14 51. I think I paid about $22 for a 500g can but that was quite some time ago.

On the other hand it's really great stuff for more than sunroof maintenance. I use it for everything from sliding doorwalls to door hinges. One can will last a lifetime.

I doubt dealers use this stuff. One Mercedes dealer told me they use a spray with an Audi part number. You might call your local MB (or any German car) dealer and ask them what they use.

Don't let the sunroof go too long w/o maintenance or you might wind up with expensive repairs. I lube mine twice a year.

Bud,

Specifically, what do you do when you lube your sunroof?

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Hi Bud All the MB dealers I'm familiar with (including mine)do, in fact use the MB sunroof paste in question. As far as the actual job goes, a little paste in the area where the sliding jaws glide is all it takes. With the roof open the shiny looking rails are visible from the top. Toward the front is a rectangular opening on each rail, about 14mmX6mm. Use a small acid brush that's bent to allow it to reach under the rail and simply spread the paste in from front to rear. On the older cars a little spray grease on the air deflector tension springs will greatly increase their life as well. The whole job takes about five minutes and will keep the roof working smoothly even after many years.

Thanks!

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Thanks greatly, I have to pass by the MB dealer on the way home anyways.

Cheers,

John

I had this problem about 2 months ago and took my C180 to a Benz dealer. I saw them applying this thick whitish "grease thing" all along the inside walls of the top because my sunroof moved very slowly and grudgingly. What was worse, it refused to tilt. It just stuck there until you gave it a sharp jerk from inside the car upwards and then it would go up. The next time it would stick again. A few repair shops said it would need a total overhaul...pull out the whole thing, replace all the faulty parts and those which will break when you pull it out and totalled about A$1200. After the grease job which cost me a few dollars only the sunroof is now in perfect order, does what you want it to do all the time up/down tilt, slide back and slide shut without fail!!! Sometimes, the Benz dealers are really more dependable and trustworthy. Cheers.

Very helpful! A couple of questions. On mine, there are 4 rectangular openings, two on each side. What is the relevance of these openings in terms of lubing the rails?

Also, in terms of reaching under the rails, are we lubing: a) the BOTTOM of the TOP rail; b) the TOP of the BOTTOM rail; or c) both?

Thanks!

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Steve
'93 400E

Hi Steve, the answer to your second question first. Lubricate both the top AND bottom of the rails. If you ever have the opportunity to see the sliding roof when it's dis-assembled you'll see why. It's really no big deal, it's just hard to describe all the parts involved. As far as the relevance of the rails having two openings on each side, that's my mistake. As long as you sufficiently lubricate the jaws and rails you'll be fine. A word of caution DIYer's, too much lube is almost as bad as none at all! Just spread a little dab on each side( beneath the rail, where it can't be seen) )and you'll be good to go until the next scheduled service.

when it is a cool summer night...my sunroof will have a tough time closing. Is it the grease I am using?

I used white grease from the spray type can.

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

Thanks again ILUVMILS for the clarification. Very helpful info.

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Steve
'93 400E

Use only the MB specfic sunroof grease. It doesn't harden, it's waterproof, and it doesn't attract as much contaminents as spray-n white (litheum grease).

Rather than purchase a giant tub, call Randy at EPS Parts (http://www.epsparts.com) and he'll fill a 35mm film cannister with the grease for about $2.25.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

Wow. I went to my local MB dealer (Toronto) and a 500g tub of "the" grease retails for CDN $100.00! IF I had known, I would have bought a few tubs back in the 70's and held on to them.