A method for heating a first exhaust gas purification device and a second exhaust gas purification device of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, has the following steps: determining a first actual temperature of the first device and a second actual temperature of the second device, determining a first setpoint temperature of the first device and a second setpoint temperature of the second device by means of a heating coordination device, determining a first heat demand of the first device and a second heat demand of the second device, creating a heating specification for the first device and for the second device, relaying the heating specification to an engine control device of the motor vehicle, and controlling the internal combustion engine by means of the engine control device as a function of the heating specification.