zip,\
Thank you for your reply. After reading your comments I went out and crawled under the car again and did some further sleuthing. As you suggested, the U-joint is tight. The noise and play seems to originate between the transmission output shaft and the driveshaft at the spline. I am very surprised that the Germans would allow that kind of play at that spline. I cannot recall noting that play in several U.S. cars that I have owned.