Thank you. If I understood correctly the Sept/Oct switch is for dealers only, followed by switch in production say up to 8 weeks later.

 

That is production date not dealer. Salt N' Pepa was a october 3, 08 production date for a 09 model MINI. I think the 09 started produciton sometime in september 08. If you order a car in september and can get a dealer "spec car" slot converted to your car you should be able to get MY. If you order in september and the dealer has only future production slots available you might not get it as the next slot might be a 10 car. I ordered MR B. and he took a dealer slot and started production 3 hours after I ordered him but that is not allways the case. I would ask your dealer, they should know what the last produciton week for MY is and be able to let you know what slots they have so you can figure how late you can still order and get MY. MY is a great color I am sure once it gets cold I will wish I got it vs Hzb as I had to give up the cold weather package it order to pay for blue(wifes orders)

 

Up in LA the most common colors I see around (obviously not a scientific survey), in order:

Pepper White
Chili Red
Dark Silver

Rarely see a black R56. (I'd say the number of black cars is probably directly proportional to the number of people with driveways to wash their own cars in every weekend, which in LA is quite low). I feel like I see quite a lot of Mellow Yellows, moreso than Pure Silver or BRG, for example. Of course they stand out more so that could tilt perceptions.