Can anyone provide a cross sectional view of the oil pulse damper used in conjunction with oil coolers in cars with M116/117 engines? Any service and test info (spring force@x-length, screw torque, inspection standards) would be much appreciated also.

To the best of my knowledge only the M16/117 engines are equipped with this device. M110 engines which have similar oil pump pulse frequencies are not so equipped. The principal purpose of the device, it seems, is noise reduction.
Potential pressure spikes due to thermostat movement would be the same for both applications, and in any event the oil thermostat moves quite slowly.