I have done quite alot of these myself, like Carl says when you get the plastics out of the way there not to bad, take the whole valve off with the egr cooler still connected and split on bench.

The earlier cars didnt bring the man. light on even though there would be egr related codes present , you can buy £15 blanking plates that you could just slip under the pipes that go to the throttle body housing 15 min job each side.

i can only pressume the later vehicles must be looking for the egr "sweep" or air mass difference when egr activated ,if its not seen flags man. light on .
Hth Lee