ok just a follow up on this... did an oil change and thought I'd check out the plugs/coil packs but I couldn't get the long bit of plastic off without pulling a million other things off so i gave up, stupid bitch of a thing..
Anyway... as well as an oil and filter change, I cleaned and re-oiled my pod, which was FILTHY.. and the problem has gone
It's really bizarre and I don't know why, but I'm happy that I don't seem to need coil packs after all!