The invention relates to surface-modified metal effect pigments covered with a metal oxide layer, wherein a silane layer including at least two different bifunctional silanes is bonded to this layer. The invention is particularly suitable for metal effect pigments made from aluminium, titanium, zirconium, copper, zinc, gold, silver, tin, steel and iron, especially aluminium pigments. The invention additionally also relates to a process for preparing the surface-modified metal effect pigments and to the use thereof in water-based, solvent-based or radiation-curing coating compositions.