just thought id post a quick update. Sourced a silver facelift bootlid, and got the switch pack, seems the boot release works thro the circuitry, hence no seperate plug for it, so it must be canbus controlled.
havent really had time to work on it, but will look at a seperate switch for the boot release. having talked to my mb tech whos also a clifford alarm installer, he seems to thing it might be a fairly easy job to fabricate a new release for the catch. i`ll keep u all posted!