??Sunroof Cable Lube?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

zsmith29 · #1 09-09-2008, 05:08 PM

-How do I get to the cable to lube it?
-What type of lube should I use (other than the MB Lube that is hi$$)
-What type of lube should I use for the sunroof rails?

zeke · #2 09-09-2008, 06:22 PM

Phil at Fastlane (Buy Parts link above) can get you a film canister of the sunroof rail lube (I think it is $20-30) but it will last a loooong time - a little bit goes a long way. Not sure about the cable as I have a manual sunroof, but I would assume you use the same lube on it?

Everything I have read warns against trying to use other types of lube - some say it has to do with the accumulation of grit and the MB stuff inhibits it.

zsmith29 · #3 09-10-2008, 08:35 AM

I want to start this post off by sating that I appreciate Phil and all that he does with this forum and helping people save money and work on their cars themselves. But, I have to be honest with you, I am a college student and have been putting off several $30-$40 parts that are critical to the car for months now b/c I simply do not have the money.

I find it hard to believe that there is not other lube that I can use on the sunroof rails and cable.

Any help would be much appreciated.

zeke · #4 09-10-2008, 08:42 AM

Some have suggested titanuim lube - You can get a tube of that from the auto parts store or a bike shop....

babymog · #5 09-10-2008, 09:04 AM

I think that the silicone plumber's grease that you buy from the hardware store is similar, and it is plastic compatible. No matter what you decide to use, be sure it is compatible with plastics as causing the plastic in the cable to swell would likely make it bind.

There are teflon greases available also which are plastic compatible, I don't know where you'd buy it though, and the ones I use are typically $hundreds per ounce, Mercedes stuff would be much cheaper.

zsmith29 · #6 09-10-2008, 09:11 AM

Is the titanium lube for the cable or rails?

Jeremy5848 · #7 09-10-2008, 10:35 AM

The Mercedes grease that Phil sells is not that expensive -- I think I paid $12 postage paid for enough to last my 3 Benzes the rest of my life. The grease is special because it is less likely to attract dirt (which turns the grease into grinding compound) and it is less likely to be washed off by rainwater and car wash water getting into the sunroof area. You can use any kind of grease if you check it every few weeks and change it when it starts to get dirty. Even the Mercedes grease should be cleaned off and replaced annually or more often if you regularly drive in dusty conditions with the roof open.

As for the "teleflex cable," the Mercedes service manual (section 77 -- Sliding Roof) does not say anything about greasing the cable so I would conclude that it is not necessary. This would apply to all 1981-85 model 107, 123, 124, 126, and 201 cars (that is what my manual covers). The manual is entitled "Maintenance manual – Volume 2 – Supplement 5 – Revision – December 1984" and also "extension – December 1984" to cover the sliding/tilting roof in the model 124.

zsmith29 · #8 09-10-2008, 12:01 PM

Thank you for the informative reply Jeremy.
I am encouraged to hear that I am not supposed to lube the cable for the sunroof b/c it started to take out the motor and cable and I was noticing how difficult it looks like it would be to get to the cable.

I will consider buying the grease for the rails.

toomany MBZ · #9 09-10-2008, 04:06 PM

I have a kit to clean the SR tube. It's quite involved, as you need to remove the cable from the tube, and run a brush through it to clean out all the gunk.

compress ignite · #10 09-10-2008, 04:41 PM

'Does the SR Cable come from Stuttgart/Sindelfingen with Lubricant applied?
(YES)
Then, It will behoove the Frugal,Sensible Operator Clean and Re-lube the cable.

Jeremy5848 · #11 09-10-2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compress ignite

'Does the SR Cable come from Stuttgart/Sindelfingen with Lubricant applied?
(YES)
Then, It will behoove the Frugal,Sensible Operator Clean and Re-lube the cable.

I agree, so why doesn't the FSM mention it? The Germans tend to be anal about such things; I can't imagine them leaving out something like that if it was important.

The [paper] FSM for the W123 cars (section 77) says that when installing a new cable, you should "lubricate coil at end of new teleflex cable with Anticorit PRC II thoroughly and run it into teleflex tube carefully." The FSM otherwise says nothing about lubricating the cable. The "Anticorit PRC II" is also used to lubricate the sliders so it may in fact be the expensive grease we have been talking about.

The [CD-ROM] FSM for the W124 cars (section 77) says almost the same thing as the older manual does. It gives the "lubricating paste" the Mercedes number 001 989 14 51. It again makes reference the lubricating a new cable only.

To avoid a family fight, I'll end by noting that it certainly wouldn't hurt to remove the cable and coat it (or at least the end) with the special Mercedes grease before re-installing it.

Jeremy

babymog · #12 09-10-2008, 08:44 PM

All of the ones I've pulled out have lube on them, it closely resembles the clear silicone (synthetic) "Plumber's Grease" I buy from Ace Hardware.

pmari · #13 09-11-2008, 09:05 AM

The one I was going to use is called "Quantum hot sauce grease". Used for fishing reels, it's safe to use on plastics and a very low drag coefficent. Set you back about 5 or 6 bucks. Here's the sales pitch;

The engineers at Quantum worked with lubrication specialists to develop a grease specifically for reels and called it Hot Sauce. Standard greases break down from heat and wear and will migrate out of the critical friction areas. The carrying agents in Hot Sauce prevent structural breakdown in the grease and the low-friction polymers and exclusive tackifiers hold the grease on the wear surfaces and prevent migration. Hot Sauce’s hydrophobic formulation pushes water away from gears and drags preventing corrosion. The bright red color lets you know Hot Sauce grease is where it should be and is doing the job you intended it to.

whunter · #14 09-11-2008, 12:29 PM

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=199429