OM606 NA breather plumbing question

[Jeremy5848]

While I have the intake off of the '96 E300D (W210, OM606 NA) to replace all of the fuel lines, return hoses, and o-rings with biodiesel-resistant materials, I'm looking at the breather plumbing, as it is leaking oil all over the valve cover, especially (see attached diagram from EPC) in the area of #30 (606 010 00 91 "differential pressure valve"). The "molded hose" #35 (606 016 04 81) feels like hard plastic and I suspect I'll have to break it to get it out of its hole in the valve cover. Hopefully I can do so without getting a lot of scraps inside!

Is this part #35 (and #38 and perhaps others) supposed to be rubbery and somewhat flexible? My parts are hard plastic -- age and heat maybe? but I have never seen new ones to compare. I don't see any o-rings in the EPC so I would think the parts would have to be somewhat rubbery in order to seal properly. There have been threads here before talking about the importance of replacing these parts with new ones but I have never seen anyone mention what the parts are like.

None of the parts are broken, just somewhat loose and leaking. I don't want to spend any more money than necessary.

Caveat: the diagram has been Photoshopped to remove bits and pieces that do not apply to my engine, so it will not look exactly like the picture in the EPC.

Jeremy