Electrocoat materials comprising bismuth compounds, further comprising (A) at least one self-crosslinking and/or externally crosslinking binder containing (potentially) cationic or anionic groups and reactive functional groups which (i) with themselves or with complementary reactive functional groups in the self-crosslinking binder, or (ii) in the case of the externally crosslinking binder, with complementary reactive functional groups present in crosslinking agents (B) are able to undergo thermal crosslinking reactions, (B) if desired, at least one crosslinking agent comprising the complementary reactive functional groups, and (C) bismuth subsalicylate of empirical formula C7H5O4Bi.