X5 M62 Valve Cover Removal Advise

[rt7085]

Took on a valve cover gasket replacement job on my X5 M62 V8 engine today. Successfully replaced the gaskets on passenger side bank (Cyl. 1-4). When I moved on to the driver side bank, I found to my dismay that some engineer in Munich decided to tightly wrap the alternator B+ cable over the valve gasket and then route it UNDER the intake manifold to the fire wall jump point. Short of removing the intake manifold or disconnecting the cable from the alternator/starter motor, is there an easier trick to deal with this B+ cable?

Also, I have a tube coming up from below the engine right next to the B+ cable. It is unterminated. But there is nothing around to connect it to. Engine runs fine; no light. It looks like a vacuum style tube. Anybody any idea?

BTW: On earlier X5 models, the battery jump notch was on the valve cover itself (the mouning holes are still there on my engine) and it could be removed and folded away. BMW must have decided to move if for some reason. Anybody know the story?