Just purchased this 2006 S and saw this connector by the hood latch. Don't remember seeing it on my previous mini's. Don't know if it's OEM with the cover missing or an add on by a previous owner. As you can see by the Vibra Technics mount, at least one previous owner did some non OEM work under the hood.

Thanks for any help.

 

Ground comb. Mine looks like that on my R52

 

Huh... guess I just missed seeing it on my previous Mini. Last one was dark gray, and this one is pepper white. So everything seems a bit more visible in the engine bay. Really seems like it should have a cap on it though. LoL. Thanks for the info!

 

I have an '05 R53 and it looks the same. I always wondered if a cap was missing as well