Following my new mantra of "The best thing you can do to a BMW is not fuck with it" I am tracking down BMW pros in my area. Which brings me to another "Ask a pro" topic.
I only ask this of you because you're many states away. When looking for a BMW mechanic, what should I ask ? How can I tell if they're worth a hill of beans ?
Look and see what they've got in stock as far as parts and materials, for one - if they've got a buncha off-brand or parts-store-brand parts and fluids laying around and if their trash cans are full of Auto Zone boxes, or if (like my shop) they've got tons of OEM parts in OEM boxes, factory fluids, Mobil 1 / Pentosin / Febi-Bilstein / cases of OEM BMW oil/ etc.
Also ask them if they've got the specialty tools to do timing on an M52/M54, and ask to see it. Most common specialty tool for BMW's there is, and if they don't have one then that raises a HUGE eyebrow, because you cannot time one of those motors without it. If they're a shop that borrows special tools like that from other shops, you may want to reconsider. Cheaping out and not buying the right tools is one of my biggest pet peeves.
Also ask what type of diagnostic scanner they use. If they have a GT1 or a full-blown Autologic, good deal. If all they have is a generic scanner like a Solus Ultra or a Launch(which I have, but not as my 'primary' scanner) or a (gah! run away!) Alltel generic scanner, don't use them. Period. They won't have the technology necessary, and a shop that refuses to equip themselves properly is a shop that A. won't be able to properly fix your vehicle, and B. has already shown you their work ethic by demonstrating their refusal to purchase the proper tools to work on these vehicles.
Look at the cars that they have in the shop, and come back by a week or so later and see what cars they have in the shop then. If they have the exact same cars in the shop every time you come by, or if they look like a storage lot for broken-down cars that never leave, ask yourself if you want YOUR car to live there for weeks at a time. My shop, for example, usually has cars out the door in 48 hours at the most - we aren't big on being a storage lot. That could also be an indicator of their techs not knowing what the fuck they're doing.