Bosch PS82-02 Review

Not every bolt in a car or around the workshop needs the intimidating 2,000 newton metres of a full-size pneumatic impact wrench. In fact, for the vast majority of fasteners you encounter — engine covers, undertrays, battery terminals, brake caliper bracket bolts, and coil packs — a compact 3/8-inch drive impact wrench is faster, lighter, and far less likely to snap a bolt head off. The 12-volt cordless platform has become the sweet spot for these smaller impact wrenches: the batteries are tiny enough to keep the tool light and manoeuvrable, yet powerful enough to deliver genuine impact torque that leaves a manual ratchet in the dust. Bosch's 12V Max range, with its distinctive compact battery form factor, has been growing steadily, and the PS82-02 is their brushless 3/8-inch impact wrench — designed to be the tool you grab for 90 percent of the fasteners on a modern vehicle. This review looks at how this pocket-sized powerhouse performs in the real world, from weekend brake jobs to professional engine bay work.

Compact 3/8-inch cordless impact wrenches occupy a distinct niche between manual ratchets and full-size 1/2-inch impact guns. They are small enough to fit into an engine bay without banging into every hose and wiring harness, yet powerful enough — typically 100 to 170 newton metres — to break free most non-seized fasteners. The key specifications are torque output, speed settings (two or more speeds with an auto mode are ideal), and the quality of the LED lighting around the anvil, which makes a surprising difference when working in shadowed areas. Bosch's EC brushless motor technology — EC stands for electronically commutated — provides the efficiency and longevity benefits of brushless design in a compact 12-volt package. The PS82-02 comes as a complete kit with two batteries, a charger, and a carry bag.

This review examines the Bosch PS82-02 12V Max brushless 3/8-inch impact wrench kit. We cover torque and speed performance, the brushless motor's efficiency, the LED ring light and ergonomics, battery life, and how it compares to similar compact impact wrenches from Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita.

The Bosch PS82-02 is built around a brushless EC motor that delivers up to 115 newton metres (85 foot-pounds) of maximum torque through a 3/8-inch square drive. Two speed settings let you choose between maximum power for breaking fasteners free and a lower, more controlled setting for running bolts down without over-tightening. In the lower speed mode, the tool functions almost like a powered ratchet — spinning fasteners quickly but stopping before the torque ramps up to impact level, making it safe for delicate work like valve cover bolts and coil pack fasteners. The brushless motor means longer runtime per battery charge, less heat build-up during extended use, and a motor that should outlast a brushed equivalent by a significant margin.

The PS82-02 follows Bosch's 12V Max design language: a compact body with the battery integrated into the handle rather than hanging below it as a separate pod. This keeps the overall length short — approximately 140 millimetres from the anvil to the back of the grip — allowing the tool to reach into spaces where a full-size impact would hit the firewall or inner wing. Weighing just 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) with a battery fitted, it is light enough to hold at arm's length without fatigue and small enough to slip into a tool bag's side pocket. The 3/8-inch square drive uses a friction ring to retain sockets, and the forward/reverse switch is a simple push-through button accessible by thumb. A belt clip is included for hands-free carrying between tasks.

One of the PS82-02's standout features is the LED ring light — a circle of LEDs surrounding the anvil that casts even, shadow-free illumination around the socket. This is genuinely useful when working under a vehicle on axle stands, inside a dark engine bay, or removing undertray fasteners in a poorly lit garage. The ring design means the light hits the work area from all angles rather than casting a shadow from a single-point LED. The two 12-volt 2.0 amp-hour batteries included in the kit provide enough runtime for most DIY brake jobs and engine work — expect to remove and refit several sets of wheels or dozens of engine bay fasteners on a single charge. The charger is a standard Bosch 12V Max unit that tops up a depleted battery in under an hour.

The kit includes everything needed to start working: the impact wrench body, two 2.0 amp-hour lithium-ion batteries, a 12V Max charger, a belt clip, and a soft carry bag. The two-battery setup is essential for uninterrupted work — keep one on the charger while using the other, and you will never be waiting for power. The carry bag is compact and fits the tool, both batteries, the charger, and a small selection of 3/8-inch impact sockets. Bosch's 12V Max platform also includes drills, drivers, ratchets, and inspection cameras, so the batteries and charger you get with this kit can power other tools if you expand your collection.

The Bosch PS82-02 holds a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating from 98 customer reviews on Amazon France. The strong rating on a meaningful sample size — approaching 100 reviews — suggests consistent satisfaction. At approximately €216 for the complete kit, the PS82-02 is priced competitively within the 12-volt brushless impact wrench segment. When compared to the Milwaukee M12 Fuel 3/8-inch impact (typically €200-250 for a kit), the Bosch offers similar torque, comparable build quality, and the advantage of the LED ring light. For DIY mechanics working on their own vehicles, or professional technicians who want a lightweight 3/8-inch impact for engine bay work that does not require 1/2-inch torque levels, the PS82-02 represents excellent value — especially if you are already invested in the Bosch 12V ecosystem.

The Bosch PS82-02 is a compact 12-volt brushless 3/8-inch impact wrench ideal for DIY mechanics and professional technicians who need a lightweight, manoeuvrable tool for the majority of engine bay and under-vehicle fasteners — where full-size 1/2-inch impacts are overkill and manual ratchets are too slow.