Method for controlling a hydrodynamic retarder disposed in a drive train of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle comprises a drive engine, the power output of which can be regulated by means of a foot pedal, a lever or a different actuator, wherein a rotor of the hydrodynamic retarder can be switched by means of a clutch into a drive connection to the drive engine and/or the drive train of the motor vehicle and the hydrodynamic retarder can be filled with a working medium in a braking mode in order to exert a braking force on the drive train of the motor vehicle and/or the drive engine and is emptied completely or to a residual amount of working medium in a non-braking mode and essentially delivers no braking force, and the adjusted braking force can be controlled or regulated at least indirectly by means of a brake actuator or a control device, characterized by the following steps: when switching the hydrodynamic retarder by means of the brake actuator or the control device from the braking mode into the non-braking mode, the disengagement of the clutch takes place with a time delay that varies depending on at least one of the following variables: - the switching state of an engine brake associated with the drive engine, by means of which the braking force can be exerted on the drive train of the motor vehicle; - the position of the foot pedal, of the lever or of a different actuator for regulating the power output of the drive engine; - the gear position of a gearbox disposed in the drive train of the motor vehicle; - the presence of a gear change command, with which a gear change in a manual gearbox of the motor vehicle is demanded; - the gradient of the revolution rate or of the torque of the drive engine, of a drive shaft of the gearbox or of drive wheels of the motor vehicle; - the current speed or acceleration of the motor vehicle. when switching the hydrodynamic retarder by means of the brake actuator or the control device from the braking mode into the non-braking mode, the disengagement of the clutch takes place with a time delay that varies depending on at least one of the following variables: - the switching state of an engine brake associated with the drive engine, by means of which the braking force can be exerted on the drive train of the motor vehicle; - the position of the foot pedal, of the lever or of a different actuator for regulating the power output of the drive engine; - the gear position of a gearbox disposed in the drive train of the motor vehicle; - the presence of a gear change command, with which a gear change in a manual gearbox of the motor vehicle is demanded; - the gradient of the revolution rate or of the torque of the drive engine, of a drive shaft of the gearbox or of drive wheels of the motor vehicle; - the current speed or acceleration of the motor vehicle. - the switching state of an engine brake associated with the drive engine, by means of which the braking force can be exerted on the drive train of the motor vehicle; - the position of the foot pedal, of the lever or of a different actuator for regulating the power output of the drive engine; - the gear position of a gearbox disposed in the drive train of the motor vehicle; - the presence of a gear change command, with which a gear change in a manual gearbox of the motor vehicle is demanded; - the gradient of the revolution rate or of the torque of the drive engine, of a drive shaft of the gearbox or of drive wheels of the motor vehicle; - the current speed or acceleration of the motor vehicle.