i own a 98. are the instrument panels interchangeable from 96-01 w/o mods? or do i absolutely have to buy one from another 98 model?

 

I don't think it has to be from a 98 per se, but I'd try to get one configured like yours (ie, with or without the driver information screen) and to get one from a car with the same engine that you have (so you don't have to sync the ECU and cluster via vagcom).