[thstone]

First, its unlikely that you'll get the dealer to fully replace your engine if the car is out of warranty. The best that you can probably hope for is a substantial discount.

To get that substantial discount, you're going to have to leverage/capitalize on your relationship with the dealer. You have a good relationship, right?

What I mean is, you had the dealer do almost all of the work on your car since the day that you bought it from them and you know the service advisor well enough to have him on speed dial. Still yes? If not, then forget it, you might talk the dealer into 10% off but that's about all.

However, if you have a good relationship with your dealer, speed dial your service advisor and set up a time to talk with him and explain that you're looking for some help in the matter because you bought the car there and have been a long-term loyal customer as proven by the records of having all of the service done there too. While the service advisor can't actually authorize something like this, you need to have to have him in your back pocket for the next step.

Then get the service advisor to set up a meeting with service manager and use your relationship with the service advisor combined with the records from all of your service visits to your advantage. Be nice and courteous. Let them know that you're asking for a favor and that you fully intend to continue to bring the car to the dealer for ALL of its needs because you have always relied on them. The point isn't whether the dealer is going to do the repair but what the price is going to be and you want some help on that.

If you do this correctly, then you will convince the service manager that it would be a good business decision for him to work with you as a long term customer by helping you out in this once instance where the costs are really high. My guess that you might get the dealer to split the total cost.

Good luck.