Major work going on. Anything I should check while it's torn down?
 

Winter has arrived so the MINI finally got parked and I'm now doing a huge list of repairs/mods.

Thermostat
Oil Change
Transmission Fluid Change
Intake Valve clean
Valve cover gasket
Modify AEM for PCV block off
Oil catch can installation
Upgraded clamps on charge pipes
Brake Ducts
Change Rear Sway bar setting
Rear wheel bearing
Rotate tires
Upgrade fog lights
Upgrade DRL
Downpipe
Build secondary cat delete pipe
Modify inlet of exhaust resonator
Mount exhaust correctly
If all above gets done and car runs good, up the AP tune to Stage 4

I just ordered the tool so I can check the timing chain, but I was told that was done already when I bought it. It had 37k on it then.

While I've got the valve cover off, is there a way I can tell if it's the new upgraded valve cover? Is there a way to clean the PCV system inside it without damaging it? The dealer told me they did this once, but didn't say how.

Anything else I should dive into while it's apart?