metabo 602358840 Review

Not every drilling and screwdriving task calls for maximum power and a heavy tool. Sometimes what you need is a compact, lightweight drill driver that fits comfortably in one hand, spins fast enough to make quick work of pilot holes and small fasteners, and disappears into a tool bag without weighing you down. Modern brushless motor technology has transformed what compact drill drivers can do — they run cooler, last longer, and extract more work from each battery charge than the brushed tools they replace. And for anyone already invested in a cordless platform, buying a bare tool without batteries or a charger makes enormous financial sense: you get a high-performance drill at a significantly lower price by using the batteries you already own. Whether you are a professional who wants a dedicated second drill for pilot holes while your combi handles the heavy work, or a serious DIYer building out a matched set of tools, a quality brushless drill driver is one of those tools that you will wonder how you ever managed without.

Shopping for a bare-tool drill driver means you need to think about two things: the tool itself, and the battery platform it belongs to. Brushless motors are now the baseline expectation for any professional-grade drill — they are more efficient, produce less heat, and have fewer wear parts than brushed motors. Torque, measured in Newton-metres, tells you how much twisting force the drill can apply; 20 Nm is ample for most screwdriving and drilling tasks up to about 38 mm in wood and 13 mm in steel. Speed matters too — a top no-load speed around 2,000 RPM gives you fast drilling while lower speeds handle precision screwdriving. Some drills add clever electronic features like pulse mode, which delivers rapid bursts of torque to loosen stubborn screws or drive fasteners into tough materials without camming out. Metabo's LTX platform has earned a loyal following among European tradespeople, known for robust build quality, excellent ergonomics, and batteries that interchange across a wide range of tools from angle grinders to circular saws.

In this review we look at the Metabo BS 18 LTX BL I, a brushless 18V drill driver sold as a bare tool — meaning no batteries or charger are included and you will need existing Metabo 18V Li-Ion packs to use it. We examine the activatable pulse mode, build quality, handling, and whether this drill driver earns a place in your tool collection alongside — or instead of — a heavier combi drill.

At the core of the BS 18 LTX BL I sits a brushless motor that produces 350 watts of maximum power and 20 Nm of torque — respectable figures for a compact drill driver that prioritises speed and handling over raw grunt. The 2-speed gearbox delivers 0 to 500 RPM in low gear for controlled screwdriving and 0 to 2,000 RPM in high gear for fast drilling, with a 13 mm quick-release chuck that makes bit changes a one-handed operation. Maximum drilling capacities are 38 mm in wood and 13 mm in steel, covering the vast majority of everyday drilling tasks. The standout electronic feature is the activatable pulse mode: engage it and the drill delivers rapid, controlled bursts of rotational force that excel at two specific jobs — loosening stubborn or corroded screws without stripping the head, and driving fasteners into tough materials where a steady torque application would cause the bit to cam out. This is a genuine productivity feature that you will reach for more often than you expect.

Physically, the Metabo is compact and well-proportioned at a claimed 1.7 kg — though this is the bare tool weight without a battery, and a typical 5 Ah or 4 Ah Li-Ion pack will add roughly 600 to 800 grams. The body is designed with a narrow grip circumference that suits a wide range of hand sizes, and the rubber overmould extends across all the contact points for a secure hold even with sweaty or gloved hands. The quick-release chuck deserves special mention: a single-handed pull on the outer collar releases the bit instantly, and inserting a new one is equally fast — no twisting, no key, no fuss. The belt hook is positioned so the drill hangs naturally at your side without the chuck digging into your leg, and the LED work light illuminates the work area without casting harsh shadows.

In day-to-day use, the BS 18 LTX BL I reveals itself as a drill you instinctively reach for when you do not need the bulk and weight of a full-size combi. The 2,000 RPM top speed makes pilot holes in timber and metal fast and clean, while the low gear with its progressive trigger gives precise control for setting screws to exactly the right depth. The pulse mode is not a gimmick — engaging it when faced with a seized or painted-over screw genuinely reduces the effort needed to break it free and dramatically lowers the chance of rounding out the head. The electronic overload protection cuts in before you can damage the motor or battery, and the tool runs noticeably cooler than a comparable brushed drill during extended use. One minor ergonomic note: the forward/reverse switch is positioned for right-handed thumb operation and left-handed users may need to adjust their grip to reach it comfortably.

As a bare tool, the BS 18 LTX BL I comes thoughtfully equipped rather than stripped down. Inside the robust MetaBox 145 L carry case you will find the drill itself, a quick-release chuck, a bit holder, an additional auxiliary handle for when you need extra control during high-torque operations, a belt hook, and a clever bit feeder that keeps your most-used bits right on the tool. The MetaBox system is stackable and compatible across Metabo's range, so your tools and accessories stay organised as your collection grows. The included auxiliary handle is a welcome addition — when you are drilling larger diameters in steel or using hole saws near the drill's capacity limit, the extra leverage and control make a real difference to both safety and accuracy.

At a price of €168.87 as a bare tool, the BS 18 LTX BL I positions itself in the premium professional segment. You are paying for brushless efficiency, Metabo's reputation for durability, and the pulse mode feature that sets this drill apart from more basic offerings. The 4.9 out of 5 stars rating from 39 reviews, while a smaller sample size, reflects very high user satisfaction. It ranks at #48 in Rotary Hammers on Amazon — an odd categorisation since this is clearly a drill driver rather than an SDS rotary hammer, but the ranking still places it among the top-selling tools in its broader category. Metabo provides a standard manufacturer's warranty with 2-year EU spare part availability, and the tool is made in France — a reassuring detail for those who value European manufacturing. For anyone already owning Metabo 18V batteries, this bare tool represents a smart way to add a dedicated high-speed drill driver to the toolkit without paying for batteries you do not need.

The Metabo BS 18 LTX BL I is the ideal second drill for Metabo platform users who want a fast, lightweight brushless drill driver for pilot holes and precision screwdriving, with the unique advantage of pulse mode for stubborn fasteners.