DIY - 2015 OEM Sharkfin antenna retrofit

[kbye]

DIY - 2015+ OEM Sharkfin Antenna Retrofit

I bought the FDA9 beatsonic antenna during a groupbuy, but didn't end up liking it too much. So, I opted to replace it with the 2015 oem part instead.
If you are an OEM+ guy, or a perfectionist that hates trying to perfectly center align aftermarket antennas, this DIY is for you.

You will need:

• flathead screwdriver
• 22mm socket wrench
• oem antenna

The part numbers for the OEM antenna are:

FR-S (USDM):
SU003-05514 - Ultramarine (E8H)
SU003-05515 - Asphalt (61K)
SU003-05516 - Hot Lava (H8R)
SU003-05517 - Firestorm (C7P)
SU003-05518 - Steel (G1U)
SU003-05519 - Raven (D4S)
SU003-05520 - Halo (K1X)

BRZ (global):
86321CA610W6 - Crystal White Pearl (K1X)
86321CA610V2 - Crystal Black Silica (D4S)
86321CA610B5 - Galaxy Blue Pearl (E8H)
86321CA610E4 - World Rally Blue Pearl (K7X)
86321CA610EN - Dark Gray Metallic (61K)
86321CA610RL - Lightning Red (C7P)
86321CA610TQ - Ice Silver Metallic (G1U)

86/GT86 (JDM):
SU003-05507 - Galaxy Blue Silica (E8H)
SU003-05508 - Dark Gray Metallic (61K)
SU003-05509 - Orange Metallic (H8R)
SU003-05510 - Lightning Red (C7P)
SU003-05511 - Ice Silver Metallic (G1U)
SU003-05512 - Crystal Black Silica (D4S)
SU003-05513 - Crystal White Pearl (K1X)

The OEM BRZ antenna has an additional pin for XM, so it is a complete plug-n-play. If you own a BRZ you should get the parts from Subaru, not Toyota. Thanks @Trap63 for verifying this.

My part, courtesy of @Carson Toyota:

Notice there is only one wiring pin. The connector for the BRZ version will have another pin for XM radio.


World Rally Blue is a different shade for 2015, but it might be close enough that you may be able to get away without a repaint. Unfortunately, Satin White Pearl and Sterling Silver are discontinued for 2015, so you will have three options:

1. Repaint your sharkfin antenna
2. Repaint your car
3. Look like an idiot with a mismatched antenna

I opted for option 1.

Before:


After:
Perfectly paint matched by a local shop.


First, you need to remove the 3 push tabs holding the back of the roof liner. Use a flathead screwdriver to pry it off the black piece only, then use your hands to pull it off.



Next, there is a trim piece on the rear column that you will have to pull off. Pull from the top middle of the piece, towards you carefully. There are two tabs on the trim that are tucked under the roof liner, be careful not to break those.


Ideally you'd want to remove the B pillar trim in order to have the roof liner drop down more easily, but it seemed like too much work for me. I pulled the roof liner out of the pillar instead.

Notice the liner is popped out of the pillar trim.


The reason for doing this is so you can pull more of the roof liner down without creasing it. I have found the liner to be very forgiving, so don't be alarmed if you see big creases when you pull the liner down. It will pop back into shape once you fit it back in. However you still want to be very careful.

Here's what it looks like from underneath:


The connector is taped down to a bracket. Remove the tape, and then disconnect the antenna. Take a 22mm socket wrench and loosen the bolt holding up the antenna, then you can use your hands to unscrew the rest.

Bolt removed:

To remove the antenna, push in the two black tabs on the sides, and push up. It should come out fairly easily.


Removed:

Comparison:


Now, prep the roof for the sharkin. Use some warm soapy water to clean the surface, and rinse with normal water.


Now, just to be on the safe side, you may want to make sure that the phillips screws on the bottom of the sharkfin are secure before you mount it. Tighten, but don't overtighten.


Drop the antenna in, you will feel the tabs click in place. From underneath, put the 22mm bolt back on, making sure the connector passes through the hole on top of the bolt. Important: Do not overtighten this bolt! It pushes against the roof, so just make it snug enough. The service manual calls for 4.5 Nm or 40 in-lb (not ft-lb) of torque. I didn't have a torque wrench that could measure that small so I winged it. If you overtighten there is a chance you could damage your roof, and you don't want that.

Reconnect the antenna, and tape it back to the bracket.


Finally, tuck the roof liner back into the trim, push the rear trim pieces back into place, making sure the two tabs go back underneath the liner, and push the 3 roof tabs back into place.

Finished:

[kbye]

The beatsonic antenna ended up on my wife's Impreza sport. I think it looks better on the Impreza than my FR-S.

[johnnytsunami]

Thank you so much! Was waiting for someone to do this since I wanted oem rather than beatsonic

[wparsons]

Perfect, I was hoping there wouldn't be wiring differences.

[yaguphire]

how much was the OEM sharkfin? Bought from dealership?

[kbye]

Originally Posted by yaguphire

how much was the OEM sharkfin? Bought from dealership?

I bought it online from Carson Toyota, don't know if I'm allowed to post prices here but if you enter the part number on their website the price will come up. It was about 50 bucks more than the beatsonic antenna.

I also found the torque specs for the antenna bolt so I updated that section.

[xDBOYx]

any tape needed? is the rubber boot built in enough to seal mother nature out?

[kbye]

Originally Posted by xDBOYx

any tape needed? is the rubber boot built in enough to seal mother nature out?

No tape required. Look at the pic showing the underside of the sharkfin, there is a rubber ridge near the wiring harness that will keep the elements out. There should be no issues with sealing since this is an OEM piece.

[Shady195]

Awesome Writeup..

However am I the only one that prefers the old antenna over these sharkfins?

[Shindig]

Originally Posted by Shady195

Awesome Writeup..

However am I the only one that prefers the old antenna over these sharkfins?

IMO, old antennas make our cars look like toy RC cars... My wife even wants me to replace it with a shark fin even though she hates how much money I've sunk into it! lol. I have yet to get around to it, but this looks like a decent route.

[White64Goat]

Is 22mm correct? That seems huge........

Performance compared to original?

[ckkone]

Thanks for the info, I'm definitely doing this.

[PNW FRS]

Originally Posted by yaguphire

how much was the OEM sharkfin? Bought from dealership?

Quick Google Search on part number(s) shows pricing just a tad north of $140.00 (US) depending on company...

[hahaman86]

What are the chances I can get one in silver ignition?