That is one absolutely awesome looking engine, I hope I can get mine looking like that....
Anyway if you happen to have photos showing how the hard line clips are supposed to look, especially with the intake off, would you mind sharing?

PO used zip ties and whatever else to hold the lines, I want to do it right. The exploded view in EPC helps but some details are lacking.

Yes I see now that you don't have to pull the hard lines to remove the manifold. I think my problem is that the PO tied the hard lines off to the manifold so I thought it was needed.

So I will go back and revise post above.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech