Yes, the tube and valve *must* have zero resistance when you blow through them, remove both and clean with purple de greaser cut 50/50 with tap water, be careful to not drop the two small & thin copper crush washers on the banjo bolt at the rear end of the intake manifold nor the hard to reach sheet metal screws holding the valve to the firewall .

Once this is all done, the plastic pipes to the ALDA from the valve go: top one to the ALDA, bottom one to the intake manifold, yes it makes a difference .

All done ? good ~ now with the engine fully warmed up and hot, apply vacuum to the EGR valve's nipple, the engine *must* stumble as the vacuum is applied and smooth out as the vacuum is released .

It's very common for these EGR valves to stick part way open, they're easy to clean using a tooth brush and the same purple degreaser and water mix....

Unless you have a sink in the garage be VERY CAREFUL about making sure SWMBO is gone long enough for you to do serious cleaning of the kitchen / washroom sink after you're all done, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better