A suction pipe unit (10) for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine has a pipe-shaped intake distributor (12) at least long suction pipes (13) extending from said distributor and leading to the individual cylinders. Short suction pipes (14) also extend from the distributor (12) and lead into the corresponding long suction pipe (13). The intake distributor (12) and the long and short suction pipes (13, 14) are made from a single-component housing (11), one of which has an opening (21) which cuts through the short suction pipe (14). A switch (15) is housed in said opening (21). Said switch has butterfly valves (16), a valve holder (17), an axle (19) and a switch holder (18). Rotation of the axle (19) opens or closes of the short suction pipe (14). The switch (15), in contrast to the prior art, does not have seals which can jam during assembly. A space saving solution is provided by placement of the butterfly valves (16) on the universal axis (19).