...has anybody recommendations for sourcing used parts preferably locally in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area?
www.car-part.com
has anybody recommendations for a TDI guru, in the event I am unable to wrench on it myself?
TDIClub member greengeeker is in Cambridge, north of Minneapolis
has anybody an opinion on the quality of the AVH code engine?
Your car has an ALH, not an AVH. It is one of the most desirable/reliable TDI engines out there...