I spent all day trying to figure out what this is and used for. 1975 450SL

My driver has this sitting there with 2 whitish leads running from this, and a 3rd with 2 wires going to the wire block under the resistors on the drivers wheel well. One of the leads goes to a black cylinder with a hole thru it, the other was unknown, it has a screw cap with a electrical receptacle under it.

The bracket that hold this mounts to the power steering pump.

After looking at the one on my parts car I see 1 lead goes down and is mounted to a bracket by the crank timing pulley, so mine was broken there.

what is it used for and is it needed?

I have a few pics but do not know how to add them here. I do not see a manage attachments button