Got a 98 a4 got a new box off eBay cause screen went bad, clips in back are the same ever thing works but ac and circulation button.
So I take them apart thinking can put new screen in my old one. Open them up completely different the new one must be from a different year maybe a 99,but is box bad or 99 don't work in 98.

 

You can't always just trust the year. You should shop by part number. There are lots of parts that change during a model year. 1999 is well known on B5's as a year of change on a grand scale, but other parts change during the years too.

 

Think found my own answer, as I was trying to combine both boxes which did not work by the way, the sticker on out side said a C, with a quick the a c is the convertible, so just for reference either they are not interchangeable or was broken the begin with.