A method for the operation of a vehicle light unit is provided. The light unit includes at least one light source module having several light sources and a control unit coupled to the light source module. The light sources each include a predetermined number of brightness levels. A predetermined number of light sources are combined by the control unit to form at least one controllable light source unit. In order to set a light distribution, the light sources that form the at least one light source unit are activated together and a brightness level of each light source of the at least one activated light source unit is set individually.