Cleaning my windows I snapped my rear view mirror off. Putting it back together I see it is a break away system with spring clip designed to do just that and be reassembled. Little things like this and people wonder why I am still holding on to a 97.

 

Having to have folding and break away side mirrors is just one of the many laws dictating how a car must be built.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

 

^ Was gonna post the same thing, although he is talking about the rear view mirror, not the side mirrors.

 

This is the internal rear view mirror, not external side view mirrors.

 

Haha same thing happened to me a couple years ago... I was adjusting the mirror aggressively from the top and it snapped off... was easy to place it back.

 

Even though I misinterpreted the original post, the break away rear view mirror is also one of the many laws too.