A method for coating a screw element, in particular a screw element for connecting pipes, preferably motor vehicle pipes, wherein the screw element has at least one thread as well as at least one unthreaded contact surface. At least areas of the thread are provided with a first coating, and at least areas of the unthreaded contact surface are provided with a second coating. Both the first coating of the thread as well as the second coating of the unthreaded contact surface are applied to the thread or to the unthreaded contact surface via plasma coating.