A method for carrying out a remote diagnosis in a motor vehicle is provided, including initializing the remote diagnosis, determining diagnostic data in the vehicle as a function of diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters available in the vehicle at the time of the diagnostic data determination, and transferring at least portions of the diagnostic data to an external service center which is designed to evaluate the transmitted diagnostic data. The diagnostic mechanisms and/or diagnostic parameters may be at least in part transferred from the service center to the vehicle upon execution of initialization.