quick update
bought some NGK iridiums i had fitted today. (big shout out to National Tyres in Newcastle-under-Lyme for fitting them for free once i'd got the coil packs off.) incidentally one of the coil packs looked fubared:
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thing is, it's from the 4th cylinder from left to right when looking into the engine bay i.e.
UK driver's side --- 1 --- 2 --- 3 ---
4 --- UK passenger side
if i'm not mistaken that's cylinder 4, and my misfire is on cylinder 3. all the other 3 looked shiny and new