Cool, will definitely quiz any prospective mechanics on their expertise around the M62. It's a horrible cost to have to endure, but the alternative is even worse...

Would rather have the job done right rather than trying to save a few hundred here and there and not get the complete job done. I know that my thermostat, water pump, and some radiator hoses were replaced about 10k miles ago, but what other items should I be addressing once they've taken things apart to do the timing chain job? I don't want the cost to blow out to $5k if I can avoid it, but if there are some other major items that should be preventatively replaced while the engine is apart, then it's probably worth looking at...

Just anything that is rubber or plastic. There is an oil separator behind the timing covers that I also replaced. Get the vanos done as well