Originally Posted By: kschachn
Here's my $0.02 on spring clamps. I like them very much, they never leak for me whereas the gear type (BMW OEM) will leak. On my Toyotas and the Honda, I have never had one of the spring clamps leak.
Now having said that here is what I found. The dealer does not carry them in stock. I always have to order them. Maybe this is a sign that they don't need to be replaced when putting on new hoses? I don't know.
Second, I have found that the clamping range of the spring clamps is extremely limited. That is why you don't find many aftermarket ones. On one of my Toyotas I bought aftermarket hoses for the radiator. The OEM clamps would not fit because the aftermarket hoses were slightly thicker, so I had to use a gear clamp (which eventually leaked). I went out and got an OEM hose and new spring clamps and it has been dry ever since.
Very good points, I agree spring clamps are better but their limited adjustability and differeing hose diameters from OE can be problem. So they're not as cost effect in the aftermarket.