BMW enhances customer satisfaction with their new driveshaft maintenance strategy

[Grumpy Goat]

Here's the test.

Thanks Lee.

   

Watching the video from the point where he shows the test itself, I don't think that they are testing for whirling, but instead may be testing for slop in the driveshaft ...? That appears to be a speed ring that is attached in place of the wheel, and since he says that the ECU is also connected the diagnostic software, they may be comparing driveshaft rotating speeds from two different inputs at either end of the driveshaft. Of course, if there is play in the universal joint then that would contribute to a jerking load in the yoke, possibly leading to overstress. Wished I knew for sure what they were testing for ...

That said, I am not convinced that this check is a predictor of overload at the yoke which, based on the photos I have seen, is what is where the catastrophic failures tend to occur.