Exterior rear view mirror for vehicles

The mirror comprises mirror head and mirror foot (3) where the head is prevented from striking against the vehicle body through detent means with gear wheel (14) which is connected flush through friction face (16) to a detent ring (17) between gearwheel and mirror foot. The detent ring has detent cams and recesses so that with external force acting in drive direction on mirror head the detent release moment is less than when external force acts against drive direction on mirror head. The friction moment between gear wheel and detent ring is greater than detent moment when external force acts in drive direction and is less than detent release moment when external force acts against drive direction.