I read the comments on the Skoda Octavia 2-litre TDI PD oil pumps with alarm. I then dug into the detail on the engines in the VAG manuals and spares catalogues that I have. It appears that the 2-litre TDI comes with both balancer shafts and without. The BKD engine, which the Octavia has, does not have a balance shaft unit/oil pump arrangement. However, Volkswagen Passats appear to, along with the hex drive shaft. I was not aware of this until now, and believe that you have over-simplified this and may alarm people without due cause. Please review the accuracy of your information, which I have taken to be accurate in the past.