Blinking CEL on hard accel, misfires when cold, even at 4k
 

I've been noticing that after a cold start even on a warm day I have really bad sluggishness and what almost feels like misfires when taking off. I know that it has a fuel cutoff to prevent engine damage until it gets warmer, but I thought that was at 5k and 7k progressively. Even at about 4,000 I can feel it lurch a bit, so I'm forced to shift like a ninny until it gets much warmer.

I've also noticed three times now where I get a blinking CEL under hard acceleration, usually getting onto the highway in 3rd, right around 6500 - 7000. It's happened twice in that situation and once just accelerating hard through the gears - all three instances the car has been at operating temperature.

I'm thinking these two issues might be related, like a bad or weak spark, or coils. Anything else it could be?

Final random issue, and it's something I don't know if it's an issue without driving another 8, but it seems to idle a little strange. Once the car is warm it idles exactly at the RPM without any fluctuation, but I can feel a strange kinda vibration from the seat. It's not a uniform idle.. it feels like once every 15 seconds or so theres a little bit more of a stutter to it.. hard to explain. It's minor enough that you wouldn't notice it with anything else going on, even the radio on at small volume. It's hardly audible, and can barely feel it, but there's something there that's stopping the "purr"...

I had the same issue you are experiencing, new coils eliminated the problem :) . Was a simple process for changing them too, only took about 15 minutes and the problem was solved. How old are your plugs and coils?

The second issue is normal for the engine.

Yea just hit 40k and I think they're the OEM coils. It took it into the dealership today because the CEL came on and stayed on after the last set of misfires. They quoted me $430 and said it's time to replace all four coils. :(

Really torn on putting OEM coils back in, especially when I could get the BHR kit for that much.. but I guess this way it includes the labor, I get a bit of a warranty and I get my DD back sooner.

Unfortunately my 8 is my DD and my *only* car, so I'm already having issues just waiting until tomorrow for them to install the coils. I can't really afford (time and money) waiting for the BHR coils, even with the threads I've seen here about how good they are. Additionally, if I somehow botched it I'd have a real problem on my hands, whereas if they botch it I know I at least have the engine warranty to fall back on.

Perhaps the next time the OEM coils fail (often, so far as I've seen) I'll get the kit... :)

wow 430$ for a simple install that takes about 20 minutes? do em yourself and get priority shipping on em...and itll still come out way less than 430