Method for operating a battery management system of a motor vehicle having a battery, an electric machine and a control unit, the method having the following steps: - establishing a prediction of a potential battery current load of the battery using the control unit, - determining an adaptive battery current limit of the battery using the control unit, wherein the adaptive battery current limit is determined on the basis of the established prediction of the potential battery current load, wherein the adaptive battery current limit is determined as an integral function of the time, such that the value of the adaptive battery current limit cannot decrease as time progresses, wherein a value greater than zero is selected for a starting time, - identifying a present battery current load of the battery using the control unit, wherein the present battery current load is identified by measuring a battery current and as an integral function of the time, such that the value of the present battery current load cannot decrease as time progresses, - generating a battery load indication value by comparing the battery current load with the adaptive battery current limit using the control unit, - restricting at least one electrical function of the motor vehicle using the control unit if the battery load indication value exceeds a predetermined load tolerance value, wherein a restriction weighting is provided for a plurality of electrical functions of the motor vehicle, wherein the at least one electrical function is restricted based on the restriction weighting. - establishing a prediction of a potential battery current load of the battery using the control unit, - determining an adaptive battery current limit of the battery using the control unit, wherein the adaptive battery current limit is determined on the basis of the established prediction of the potential battery current load, wherein the adaptive battery current limit is determined as an integral function of the time, such that the value of the adaptive battery current limit cannot decrease as time progresses, wherein a value greater than zero is selected for a starting time, - identifying a present battery current load of the battery using the control unit, wherein the present battery current load is identified by measuring a battery current and as an integral function of the time, such that the value of the present battery current load cannot decrease as time progresses, - generating a battery load indication value by comparing the battery current load with the adaptive battery current limit using the control unit, - restricting at least one electrical function of the motor vehicle using the control unit if the battery load indication value exceeds a predetermined load tolerance value, - identifying a present battery current load of the battery using the control unit, wherein the present battery current load is identified by measuring a battery current and as an integral function of the time, such that the value of the present battery current load cannot decrease as time progresses, - generating a battery load indication value by comparing the battery current load with the adaptive battery current limit using the control unit, - restricting at least one electrical function of the motor vehicle using the control unit if the battery load indication value exceeds a predetermined load tolerance value, wherein a restriction weighting is provided for a plurality of electrical functions of the motor vehicle, wherein the at least one electrical function is restricted based on the restriction weighting.