I remember it well: a Saturday in October 1993, a huge bouquet of flowers, a cool bottle of champagne, the dog gambolling in the autumn sunshine, anxious to get in on the party.

It was the ceremony of the keys, but instead of locking up the Tower of London this was all about unlocking our new BMW 3 Series Coupé, just delivered by Alan, the salesman, who was clutching the goodies — and the keys to the shiny blue machine.

Some BMW dealers do things such as this and it is a great start to a relationship with them and with the car, but mostly the champagne helped to reduce my shock at spending so much money.

Now, in its fourteenth year and with more than 140,000 reliable miles beneath its mildly scuffed alloys but still looking remarkably smart, the aged Coupé has become a family fixture, handed from one member to another and now owned by Patrick, who graduated to it from a weary old Metro that had seen him through university. Insurance costs him almost as much as the car is worth, but the Coupé’s image, all these years on, is still as cool as that bottle of champagne.

But what if it had been an old diesel — would it still be cool, would he be seen anywhere near it? In the early 1990s, there was no diesel 3 Series Coupé; even the thought would have been anathema to most BMW owners.

How things have changed. Today, the star of the latest generation of 3 Series Coupés is the diesel 335d. Its 3.0-litre, 286bhp, six-cylinder, bi-turbo engine even eclipses the petrol-powered 335i. Not in outright performance — although it is only slightly behind — but in its overall ability to accelerate with determination.

It barely pauses for breath as the smaller of its turbochargers gets things moving before handing the booster baton to the larger to continue the power delivery, engine and six-speed automatic gearbox working in slick harmony to serve up maximum benefit from the 580Nm of torque available from only 1,750rpm.

“Sporting diesels”, as BMW calls them, are thoroughly satisfying to drive and people who continue in their cloth-eared determination to write off diesel power as noisy, smelly, lugubrious and fit only for vans, rep-mobiles and people who make every journey an economy run are just plain wrong.

Well, almost, because the 335d Coupé is very economical. Official combined fuel consumption figure is 37.7mpg and I averaged 41mpg for a 250-mile trip on a mix of motorway, main and rural roads.

But this car is not only about frugal high performance. Its handling is a revelation, with a lashed-down feeling that makes the car feel controllable and precise. Steering is slightly heavy but exactly right for the car. Ride, though, is very firm for a luxury coupé. The planned M Sport version will be even firmer.

More than just a 2+2, the Coupé will carry four adults, but rear seat knee-room is limited. The rear seat backrest folds down to expand the already large (430 litres) boot.

Standard equipment is comprehensive, with lots of safety-enhancing chassis electronics, plus hill-start assistance, cruise control, run-flat tyres, automatic transmission, electric sports seats — and a seatbelt, with Jeeves mode, that hands itself to you when the door closes.

Price is £35,475, but many buyers will opt for extras including Bluetooth telephone preparation (£535), navigation system (£1,970) and a sunroof (£675). As for the Coupé’s exterior aesthetics, they are impressive at the front, rather heavy and bland at the rear. However, it passed the “look at me I’m cool” test on a busy M25, attracting and nods of appreciation. The M Sport Coupé will have added styling details.

Did the mobile audience know that it was a diesel? In 2007 it makes no difference; it is cool and I suspect that, like our old car, will always be — even on the run-up to its fourteenth birthday.

Specification

Car BMW 335d SE Coupé
Engine Diesel, 3.0-litre with 286 PS, 580Nm of torque
Performance 0-62mph in 6.1sec, top speed 155mph
Economy combined 37.7mpg
Emissions 200g/km
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Price £35,475
On sale Now

The rivals

Peugeot 407 Coupé
Stylish, comfortable, excellent 2.7-litre V6 diesel engine

Mercedes-Benz CLK Coupé
Elegant 320 cdi 224bhp, seven-speed auto gearbox. Styling showing its age

Audi A5 Coupé
Coming this summer, should be very good and includes a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel

Explore Driving

• Jeremy Clarkson

• New Car Reviews

• Used Car Reviews

• News

• Features

• In The Showroom

• Buying Guide

• Car Clinic