Part of a complete printing system, this long-lasting Drum Unit works in tandem with Brother Genuine TN229 series toner cartridges. With yields up to 20,000 pages, it works together with Brother Genuine toner to produce professional-looking, laser-quality prints. For the consistently superior results you rely on Brother Genuine to provide, use this Drum Unit with Brother multi-function and all-in-one digital color laser-quality printers: HL-L3220CDW, HL-L3280CDW, HL-L3295CDW, HL-L3300CDW, HL-L8245CDW MFC-L3720CDW, MFC-L3765CDW, MFC-L3780CDW, and MFC-L8395CDW
Frequently Asked Questions
Three sizes of TN229 cartridge, one drum — which parts of that claim should I check?
Check the drum code, because it is the constant. The newest Brother compact colour platform — HL-L3220CDW, HL-L3280CDW, MFC-L3780CDW and their siblings — runs three toner tiers: TN229 (1,500 pages black, 1,200 per colour), TN229XL (3,000 / 2,300) and TN229XXL (4,500 / 4,000). Every one of those cartridges works against the same DR229CL drum unit, rated at 20,000 pages. So whether you feed the machine the smallest or the largest cartridges Brother makes for it, the imaging component underneath is this one part, at $187.99 against a $281.99 list price.
What is the per-page drum cost on this platform?
At $187.99 — a saving of $94.00 on list — and a 20,000-page rating, the DR229CL runs at a little under one cent per page. That is the cheapest colour-drum economics in Brother's current compact range, bettered only by the big departmental DR433CL. It reflects the platform's design: these are current-generation machines built to be cheap to keep, and the drum is a long-interval part rather than a routine purchase.
When in the machine's life will I actually buy this?
Later than you might think. Twenty thousand pages is roughly thirteen TN229 black cartridges, or about four and a half TN229XXL blacks, or five full sets of the largest colour cartridges. A home office printing a few hundred pages a month may not reach a drum change for the better part of a decade; a busy small office might see the drum message in year three or four. When it comes, it will likely be the first non-toner purchase the machine has asked for.
Which printers use the DR229CL?
Ten current models: the DCP-L3560CDW; the HL-L3220CDW, HL-L3280CDW, HL-L3295CDW, HL-L3300CDW and HL-L8245CDW printers; and the MFC-L3720CDW, MFC-L3765CDW, MFC-L3780CDW and MFC-L8395CDW multifunctions. Do not confuse this platform with the one before it — the HL-3230CDW generation takes the DR223CL, a different unit for a different (if similar-looking) machine. The L3xxx model numbers with the extra "L" after HL or MFC are the giveaway for this drum.
What should I do when the drum message finally appears?
First, finish the current cartridge if print quality still holds — the message is a life warning, not a lockout, and there is usually useful life left. When quality slides or the message turns persistent, fit the DR229CL, transferring your existing toner cartridge into it, and reset the drum counter through the settings menu so the new unit starts its own 20,000-page count. Keep the new drum in its packaging until the moment of the swap, and out of direct light while it is exposed.
What warranty and returns back this drum?
Purchases of genuine Brother products here are covered by a 30-day return window from delivery, whatever the reason, and by Brother's manufacturer warranty for defects — full details are on our shipping and returns page. If anything arrives wrong or damaged, our support team can help Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST.
About This Genuine Brother DR229CL Drum Unit
The genuine Brother DR229CL is the 20,000-page drum unit for Brother's current compact colour generation — the HL-L3220CDW, HL-L3300CDW and MFC-L3765CDW / MFC-L8395CDW platform — priced at $187.99 against a $281.99 list. One drum serves the whole TN229 toner range, from the standard cartridges to the TN229XXL tier. Browse the platform's genuine cartridges in our Brother catalogue at Clever Supplies. We ship from warehouses in IL, PA, GA and CA.
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