Viano gearbox issues and transfer case oil wear

I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing these issues. I have a Mercedes Vito, and I encountered a very similar problem not long ago. The symptoms you describe align with what I experienced. Have you checked the transfer fluid level? Low or degraded transfer fluid can exacerbate gear wear and lead to shifting problems.

I haven't checked the fluid level myself. I assumed the workshop did before diagnosing defective gears. So, was it definitely the transfer case in your case too? Did you also have the oil wear message? And did you get a similar repair cost?

Yes, the issue was indeed the transfer case, and the oil wear was advanced. The garage confirmed the same defective gears issue. Given the relatively low mileage, I would strongly advise consulting with the workshop again. Ask them to clarify the extent of the gear wear and whether a fluid change might offer a temporary solution, though replacement may be inevitable.

Thanks, I appreciate the confirmation. That's really helpful to know it's a similar issue. I pushed back with the workshop and, after a bit of negotiation, they agreed to cover part of the cost. Apparently, a faulty batch of gears was used in some models, which they forgot to mention initially. I got it sorted for the agreed price.