Bimmer bargain: 12 V Impact Wrench

[Mark Williams <williamh@xxxxxxx>]

I have recently found a tool which I have been using for the last
few months and now feel is worthy of recommendation.. I  autocross
my E30M3 monthly (or more often) and change wheels and tires at the
track.. I have purchased a Campbell-Hausfeld RL1002 12V Impact
Wrench kit and it has been marvelous in its operation.. This impact
has an electrical cord and plugs into one's cigarette lighter.. It's box
proclaims it is rated for 250 ft.lbs but I would guess it truly only operates
up to 150 ft-lbs with respect to removing wheel lugs..  It comes with an
extension, 3/4, 13/16 and 17mm sockets and a hard plastic carrying case for all.
I purchased it for $50 at Meijer's (for those of you in the midwest) after
seeing it in the tool section. I began to look for this after using a similar model
a friend of mine  owns  made by Chicago Electric I believe..

  This is an electrical device, so it is nowhere near the force and bpm that
an air driven tool has. When you push the button it spools up for it's impact...
It takes about 4 seconds to get up to speed, an inertia lock engages the ratchet
with an audible "click" and it  generally makes one impact THWACK! when
you are working on  wheel lugs.  This  is enough torque  to work my lugs off
in  most  cases when I torque them to 75-80ft-lbs with the torque wrench...
If the first THWACK! doesn't break the lug  free then it  winds up for another
impact and goes thwack!  and the lug spins all the way out..
.   An air driven tool just goes bratatatatatatatatatatatatatatat and has given you
about 25 impacts in 2 seconds..... VERY different.  This unit has nowhere near the
force but works methodically and flawlessly thus far... I am aware that there is a
SNAP-ON unit that is cordless but it runs about 6X more expensive than this
unit, although surely is a better unit while also enabling one to work without being
attached by a cord.

I looked for this tool at the local Walmart and while they carried nearly every Campbell
Hausfeld item they did not stock the 12V Impact..  YMMV.
Mark Williams
Dallas, TX
91 ///M3

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