air intake element

[Sebastian Costin]

Hi, 

On my 1988 A80, 1800cmc injection, there is a cone-shaped rubber...
something in the right headlamp assembly that connects to a wide hose going
to the air filter casing (the thing looks to me like it's narrowing the air
intake path). 

The question is: what effects would removing this item could have (in terms
of how the engine would perform, mpg, something, anything?), as I've done
some work on the headlamp assembly and I can't seem to be able to refit this
rubber thing properly (it always ends up strangulated or twisted) - so I'm
contemplating removing it entirely. 

Any thoughts? 

Thx, Sebastian