Not quite this century and not much different than the 4th Gen Mustang or Camaro. Maybe that's why they run about the same lap times but cost triple to build (hence Records waffling). And people were tuning cars with computers in the 80's but you weren't alive then? Ever changed a chip? hah.

"In 1993, the development programme for the E46 began under chief engineer Wolfgang Ziebart and head of R&D Wolfgang Reitzle." Credit Wiki.