BMW: I enjoy Bangle's design. I think that the 5er and 6er are extremely beautiful cars. However, I do see where everyone is coming from and I think that the new design direction is a double edged sword. BMW picked up many more customers (record sales), but they have created so much contraversy! I don't know for how long they can keep pulling this game because if they come up with sometime way too hard to swallow, then it might be the beginning of something bad. BMW has bad enough reputation for being too "crazy" with their designs although I like it. I personally they are #1 when it comes to design as of right now

Audi: Would come second in my book. Although the shield grill doesn't get approval from some people, I like it, not as much ons maller models. But it looks awesome on the A6 and A8. Very consistent line up as Merc1 said. I'd keep an eye on them.

Benz: 3rd but not because they are bad. 3rd in German comparison in my book but still very highly ranked in the world in my opinion. The reason? I don't find their lineup consistent. CLS and ML (especially AMG version) look gorgeous. Didn't like them at first, but I'm falling for them now. But then there's the A class and B class which I just don't like at all. So like someone said about the BMW lineup, some great, some horrible.

I think BMW are going in the right direction, it has modern designs and sales are going up and up.

Audi comes next, they have put new trademarks for Audi, such as the new grill and the designs look expensive. I like all audis apart from the Q7.

Some MB designs look great, such as the CLS and M class, but the new S and A class loook too bland and boring to me, MB need to become more radical!

1) Audi - despite the extremely conservative designs, they're elegant, catchy, futuristic and instantly remind people of "AUDI". All their cars have "that look" that hints at family-type design. Cars like the A3, A4, A6 and A8 all have a family resemblance. The Q7 also looks very "Audish" thanks in part to that grille but also the design of the doors and front lights.

2) Mercedes - from usually conservative designs, MB has gotten more bold, particularly with the new S-Class, CLS-Class, R-Class and of course the SLK-Class. I'm a bit worried about the styling of the rear of the S-Class but other than that, I'm ok with most designs. They're still elegant and beautiful and despite their boldness (S-Class), I still detect some conservatism in them. I don't really think most new Mercedes' designs look Japanese at all. The W221 S-Class for example still has a very Germanic appearance, and it looks like a bold evolution of the W220, which I never thought looked Japanese at all.

3) BMW - not a fan of Bangle at all. Most current BMW's aren't to my liking, with the exception of the 6-series which I feel looks pretty sweet. I just think these designs are way too futuristic, having perhaps been introduced in the wrong time period. Maybe in 2015, such designs will be acceptable but for now, I feel that they were perhaps introduced to early. Can't hide the face though that the E60 5-series looks good from the side and rear (the front isn't nice IMO), but in M5 / Alpina form looks really hot.