That's what I did on my '95 E300D, a somewhat different engine with the same kind of intake throttle. You should be able to remove two Phillips screws holding the flap to the rod, pull out the flap, and leave everything else in place.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970