Virtually every engine I've examined over many decades, has the country of manufacture on the engine data plate. The problem is not so much where the block was made, but how good the QC was when it was finish machined. Under German management, a factory in China producing Deutz engine components would have a good record, as the German management ensures proper QC is in place.
Left to their own devices, the Chinese factories will corrupt any proper QC practices, shortcut the practices, acquire substandard components from unauthorised suppliers, and generally "cheapen" the end product.
Fat profits are the aim of every Chinese, they worship wealth, and business and personal gain - and if corruption is part of that gain, then they're happy to include corruption in the move for more gain.
God knows we have enough corruption in the Western world - but in the East, it's a way of life. Even Caterpillar got seriously burnt with their first Perkins engine manufacturing venture in China in the 1990's.
Here's an extract (below) from a business article dated Jan 8, 2019. The article states that Deutz pulled out of their manufacturing JV in China in that year, and are now reliant on the Chinese-run factory to supply their requirements.
On that basis, seeing as the Germans have now departed from that manufacturing facility in China, and have left everything, including QC, totally up to the Chinese, I'd suggest that Deutz component quality has more than likely declined since that date, and an older block would provide a better guarantee of quality, as it would have been produced under German management - or have been manufactured in Germany.
"Remaining in China, German off-highway diesel engine manufacturer DEUTZ has sold its 50% stake in DEUTZ Dalian, its Chinese joint venture, to JV partner First Automotive Works (FAW). The parties have agreed not to disclose any commercial details, and the transaction is subject to approval by the Chinese authorities.
Despite ending the long-running JV, DEUTZ and FAW will continue to collaborate on the basis of a customer-supplier relationship. DEUTZ can still procure engines for off-highway applications from FAW upon request. To this end, the two companies have reached an agreement to explore further possibilities for collaboration in future. The withdrawal from the DEUTZ Dalian joint venture is not expected to significantly impact on earnings this year.
'This step allows us to realign our Chinese activities. We are now reorganising our presence in China in order to generate stronger growth and be even more successful there. Talks on new alliances with major local partners in the construction equipment and agricultural machinery industries have already reached an advanced stage,' said chairman of the DEUTZ board of management, Dr Frank Hiller. The company plans to publish further details in the current year."
There's a book written over 20 years ago, called "Poorly Made in China". It was written by an American who managed manufacturing facilities in China, and goes into depth about the Chinese problem of "quality fade".
Nothing has really changed in over 20 years in China, they will still put profits first over consistent quality, and the building of a good brand name.
Some good reading here, too ....
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2019/06/a-look-into-manufacturing-in-china/
