2013 Scion FR-S Camera & Shark Fin Antenna Upgrade: Front Camera, Rear Camera & Interface Install

We've been sitting on this one for a while — and now we're finally putting it all together on camera. A 2013 Scion FR-S came into our shop with only 8,361 miles on the odometer. Yes, you read that right. A 13-year-old sports car with barely any miles, and the owner wanted it upgraded the right way.

The ask: add a front camera, a rear backup camera, and swap that old pole antenna for a clean shark fin. All of it working through the factory head unit display. Here's exactly how we did it — and what it took to make it happen.

Why Upgrade a 2013 Scion FR-S in 2026?

The FR-S (and its twin the BRZ / 86) is still one of the best driving sports cars money can buy. Balanced chassis, naturally aspirated boxer engine, rear-wheel drive — it never got old. But the factory tech? That aged. No backup camera, no front camera, and a pole-style antenna that screams 2013. These upgrades don't touch the driving feel, but they dramatically improve the daily usability and look of the car.

If you're daily driving an FR-S, BRZ, or 86 and you've been putting off these upgrades because you weren't sure they were possible through the factory screen — this post is for you.

Products We Used in This Install

Every product in this build is a direct plug-and-play Beat-Sonic solution. No cutting factory wiring. No permanent modifications. Here's what went in:

• Beat-Sonic Front Camera (BCAM10) — Mounts behind the front bumper lip and feeds a live view to the head unit display so you can see exactly where your front lip ends when parking.
• Beat-Sonic Rear Camera (BCAM7) — A clean backup camera solution that integrates with the factory radio. When you drop into reverse, the screen switches automatically — just like a factory system.
• Beat-Sonic Backup Camera Interface (BCUS3) — The CS module (Camera Selector). This adapter is what makes both cameras work off a single head unit. It's what used to be one of our top sellers back when the FR-S was new — and for good reason. It's the brains behind the dual-camera setup.
• Beat-Sonic Shark Fin Antenna (FDX4) — Replaces the factory pole antenna with a modern shark fin profile. Comes with a template for centered placement and installs with adhesive and a single screw mount to the factory antenna base.

Want to browse our full camera and accessory lineup? Check out all Beat-Sonic products or see what's new in our catalog.

Front Camera Install: Routing Through the Frunk and Firewall

The front camera mounts on the left side of the front bumper area. We screw it in just enough to hold it steady while routing the cable, then run the wiring through the factory grommet on the firewall — no drilling needed. With the FR-S, the engine bay is compact (small engine, not much to route around), so the cable runs cleanly through the grommet and sidewall and drops down behind the dash.

Tapping the Reverse Signal Wire

Once the front camera wiring is routed, we remove the lower dash panel to access the reverse signal wire. The wire we're after is the pink one behind the panel. We tap into it using a quick-splice connector, tighten it down, and that's what tells the head unit when to switch between camera views. The purple wire from the BCUS3 interface connects to this tap. Route it cleanly, wrap with electrical tape, and reinstall the panel.

Rear Camera Install: Plug, Route, and Done

The BCAM7 rear camera uses a female-to-male extension connector. You plug the camera harness into the extension, then route the combined cable from the rear of the vehicle forward toward the head unit area. The camera output connects into the BCUS3 interface module, which handles switching between front and rear views.

The BCUS3 (Camera Selector) also connects to the factory head unit using the camera input port — meaning no aftermarket head unit required. Everything works through the original display screen, just like it came from the factory.

How the Dual-Camera System Works

Once everything is wired up and installed, here's what the driver gets:

• Reverse gear: Drop into reverse and the factory screen automatically switches to the rear backup camera view. No button press needed — it's automatic just like a factory system.
• Camera button (press once): Switches to the front camera view. You can see exactly where the front lip of the FR-S ends — critical when parking in tight spots or pulling into a garage.
• Camera button (press twice): Shows the rear backup camera manually — even while driving. You can pull up the rear view at any speed, including highway speed, which is useful for checking what's behind you without using mirrors.
• Camera button (press again): Returns to the factory display.

The whole system works fluidly. No lag, no glitchy switching — it performs exactly like a factory-integrated camera system, which is exactly the point.

Shark Fin Antenna Install: 15 Minutes, Clean Result

The FDX4 shark fin antenna comes with an alignment template so you can nail the center placement on the roof the first time. Here's the process:

1. Use the included template to find and mark the center of the roof above the factory antenna location.
2. Clean the mounting surface with an alcohol wipe.
3. Unscrew and remove the factory pole antenna (just twist it off).
4. Thread the FDX4 connector through the factory antenna hole and route into the headliner.
5. Use the included screw to secure the base, then peel the adhesive backing and press the shark fin body down onto the roof.
6. Apply firm, even pressure for 1–2 minutes. Do not press too hard — there's a gasket that prevents it from fully compressing, and excessive force can dent the roof panel.
7. Avoid car washes for the first 24 hours to let the adhesive fully cure.

The result is a clean, modern antenna profile that matches how new Toyota and Subaru vehicles look from the factory today.

The Takeaway: Old Car, Modern Features

This 2013 Scion FR-S has 8,361 miles. It's not going to a museum — it's going back to its owner with a front camera, a fully integrated rear backup camera, and a shark fin antenna. Total time on the install with three people: under an hour. The difficulty wasn't the products — they all went in cleanly. The tight quarters of the FR-S cabin and routing through the firewall is what made it a three-person job.

If you're driving an FR-S, BRZ, or Toyota 86 and want these upgrades, every product we used ships direct from Beat-Sonic USA with full installation support. These are plug-and-play solutions built specifically for these vehicles — no guesswork, no splicing factory harnesses.

Shop the products used in this build:

• BCAM10 — Front Camera
• BCAM7 — Rear Camera
• BCUS3 — Backup Camera Interface / Camera Selector
• FDX4 — Shark Fin Antenna

Questions about fitment or the install process? Leave a comment on the video or reach out to us directly. We build and sell these products — we know them inside and out.