Hi has anyone had a problem with the bearing in the balancing shaft gear giving up, brought my car to the mechanic today due to a bad grating bearing noise coming from the bottom end, I’ve been quoted €1000 to change the bearing witch I don’t know is accurate to the work needed. Would anyone have a diagram of the bottom end for a mk3 Octavia vrs diesel or any other insight into it 

On the petrol tsi the balance shaft bearings were known to fail. Usually through a oil supply issue or blocked passages, they're really fine or the gauze mesh on the cam bridge falling apart and blocking the passages.

 

I don't know ghe design on the tdi but there will probably be something available. What is the engine code up to 4 letters at start of engine number on v5c for example.