There was a time when talking about your diesel car wouldn't have impressed the lads around the braai but a diesel Audi winning last weekend's Le Mans 24 Hours squashed any lingering doubts about using the words "sport" and "diesel" in the same sentence.
OK, Audi gets the official bragging rights, but its victory was great PR for diesels in general and rubs off on rivals such as BMW's 330d.
If I'd told you a week ago that the 330d gets from 0-100km/h in only 6.9sec and that its top speed was 246km/h you'd have said hmm, not bad. But now that you know a diesel car's won the legendary Le Mans, those numbers get a bit more attention.
That's sports sedan territory, not far off the petrol-engined BMW 330i that does 100km/h in 6.3sec and a top speed of 250km/h.
You'd be even more impressed to hear that the 330d overtakes quicker than its petrol cousin. The diesel Beemer is more than a second faster than the 330i from 80-120km/h and in the real world it's overtaking power that counts more than sprint figures.
The trump card is the 330d's fuel thirst, or lack thereof. Our test car burned 9.3 litres/100km which is the fuel economy you'd expect from a 1.8-litre petrol hatchback.
BMW claims 6.5 litres/100km, which is maybe possible if you drive it like your Aunt Mavis. We drove it somewhat more vigorously, however, as most owners of this high-performance diesel car are likely to do.
It's a very strong engine with a lusty burst of torque when you stomp on the throttle. There's very little evidence of turbo lag even at Gauteng altitude and the grunt comes on song at just above idle.
It also makes a fairly decent noise for a diesel, a kind of grunting howl that sounds distinctly un-tractorlike.
The only part you miss is really revving it when you're in a red-mist mood. There's something viscerally rewarding about thrashing a petrol engine and getting it to sing at 6000rpm-plus.
This three-litre turbodiesel needs no more revs than a Ferris wheel to make mountains of torque and at just over 4000 the show's over and you have to select another gear.
Other than that the 330d feels every bit the sports sedan. The Bavarians know how to bolt together a decent driver's car (besides making darn good beer) and the 330d excels in the braking and going-around-corners departments along with its impressive straight-line performance.
Great agility
BMW says the new 3 Series is nine seconds a lap faster than its forerunner around the famous Nuerburgring circuit in Germany - the benchmark test for many automakers - and we can believe it.
It changes direction with great agility and BMW's hallmark sharp steering; the new generation 3 Series is larger and more refined than its forerunner but this hasn't blunted the car's character.
If you're in a racy mood the car feels exhilarating in a twisty mountain pass, yet with stay-safe gadgetry such as anti-lock brakes with cornering brake control and dynamic stability control keeping matters in hand.
You can switch off the DSC if you're feeling brave but there's also an intermediate DTC (dynamic traction control) setting that lessens the level of traction assistance.
The brakes are terrific, with good feel; they took a lot of repeated punishment without fading.
Sporting accent
The 330d has run-flat tyres (now standard on all 3 Series) that allow the car to be driven for up to 250km at 80km/h on a flat. However, there's no backup spare tyre in the boot in case one of the runflats becomes too badly damaged.
The tougher sidewalls of the run-flats also make the ride a bit harsh on a poor road.
BMW pulled its punches with the styling of the latest 3 Series; it's a conservative look compared with the riskier 1 and 5 Series. Even so, it looks classy and expensive; hotel parking attendants will probably gush when you hand them the keys.
The cabin is uber-opulent with its leather seats and neatly manicured finishes, though it too has a rather plain design that doesn't match the flair of an Audi.
The new 3 Series cabin has grown; besides hauling ass, the 330d hauls people and their luggage very comfortably too. It's become roomy enough to make you wonder whether you really need to buy a more expensive 5 Series.
Mutifunction mouse
Gadget freaks have plenty to keep them occupied, including a push-button system to start the engine and an iDrive interface system that bundles the climate, audio, navigation (if fitted) and communication settings into a single mouse-type controller, limiting the number of buttons on the dash. Several features can also be operated from the multifunction steering-wheel.
At R361 000, the 330d comes with a decent amount of bells and whistles but you'll have to pay extra for gadgets such as parking and rain sensors, power seats and Bluetooth cellphone preparation.
I think at least the electric seats should be standard as BMW's lever style manual seat adjusters are not what you'd call user friendly.
BMW offers a huge amount of personalisation and you can pimp your ride with Dynamic, Sport, Individual and Exclusive packages.
SUMMARY
The 330d is a car that hauls ass like a sports sedan but has the fuel economy of a compact hatch, combined with BMW's famed luxury and driver appeal. You can't really go wrong.