Actually Bigdaddy, your car isn't quite as complicated as you think. 1997 was the last year MB vehicles DIDN'T use the extensive CAN network in use today. Of course, engine management, traction control, transmission, etc. use high speed CAN, but the interior accessories don't involve much CAN at all.

A simple rule of thumb is that if an MB has a standard type blade key/ignition switch, it doesn't have interior CAN (as we know it). If it has a "smart-key"/electronic ignition switch, it's got interior CAN. Old ML's are a different story, but that's a topic for another thread.