I am unable to remove bracket nearest starter it is also part of transmission dip stick bracket, the top most mount is unreachable, The nut on the shared bracket was a monster to get loose. 17mm had to use breaker bar. I am about ready to destroy bracket to get grommets out of it. every other part is done and ready to come out. Did any one else run into this issue mine is 1995 E420. The harness is no longer available I will have to run new wires and solder them to connectors. The tip of using ratcheting wrench with Phillips worked perfectly

I have decided to cut the harness bracket, so as to remove harness and leave bracket attached to transmission fill tube bracket. It seems to me the harness bracket should have been over tube bracket so as to have it the easiest to remove, so one must have worked on this before and switched brackets position. Also it seems to me to be over engineered, the harness bracket could serve best as a holder that is a 200 degree circle and not full so as to make removal in installing simpler yet maintaining its intended purpose

Cut bracket got harness free, restored harness new wires and solder connections. Recovered in rubber hose, did the string thing and had my daughter help me fish harness up to the top look for channel it feeds through, just above where bracket farthest from starter is. reconnected all and started and drove. Very pleased. Thanks again for this detailed post. Just a word about you will need 10mm, 13mm, 14mm, 17mm sockets with extensions and universal . all else is just patience and persistence.