A method for operating a brushless electric motor of a motor vehicle, particularly an electromotive refrigerant compressor, with two sub-motors arranged in sections and each comprising n-phases, by means of a converter corresponding to the number of phases of the electric motor. On the basis of a performance requirement, first switching points are determined for the n-phases, of one of the sub-motors, and on the basis of the performance requirement, second switching points are determined for the n-phases of the other sub-motor. The second switching points are shifted by a first phase angle and the converter is controlled on the basis of the first switching points and the second switching points. The first phase angle is selected such that a resulting current flow over the converter is smaller than a first threshold value. A unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a brushless electric motor is also disclosed.