"Air clean pump" V40 2.0i

Hello!

I have just brought my '97 V40 2.0i back from its annual service (at 107,000 miles). A few months ago a vacuum cleaner-like noise started under the engine when cold starting, which cuts out after 1 or 2 minutes. The independant Volvo specialist diagnosed it as the "Air cleaning pump" (actually, he said "Luftspuhlpumpe" because I am currently temporarily living in Germany, but that is what it literally translates as. It might be called something different in English!).

Anyway, he said that it is not important and I shouldn't waste my money on repairing it. He explained (and my German is not 100%, so I might have got a few details incorrect) that it sucks in extra air when cold starting to improve emissions. He said that not having it working will make no difference to anything, MOT test included, as long as I can put up with the noise. I am inclined to trust him, as he could have insisted I needed to spend large sums of money with him, but didn't; however does anyone know whether there will be any other considerations of which I should be aware. I am inclined to keep the car for the next few years, as I have had it from new and has, by and large, given me almost no problems.

Thanks for any comments.

"Archie"