After I picked up my new MINI last week, I discovered this cable/accessory thingy that was left in the trunk. When I followed up with my salesman, he thought it might be some kind of a solar charger which may have been used to keep the battery charged during transport? However, that seems a little strange to me, since the plug ends looks like it would only interface with the vehicle's OBD port?

In any case, the dealership hasn't asked for it back, so before I toss it, does anyone know if it has any purpose worth keeping?

 

Can you take more pics of that device? And does the plug actually plug into the obd port in your car?

 

Unfortunately I left the cable thingy back at my other home, so I'm unable to provide additional photos at the moment.

As far as the plug is concerned, it's my guess that it would plug into the OBD port. Otherwise I can't think of anywhere else that it would? It definitely won't plug into any AC outlet.

 

Its a dealer battery monitor
Give it back it them

 

Where/how does it plug in? And why would the dealer not want it back?

 

Salespeople don't usually know anything that goes on in service department.

 

It probably will cost a mechanic some money to replace. They often have to buy their own tools, so it would be kind to return it to the service department.

 

It plugs into the OBDII port to monitor battery condition while car sits on the lot.