Important you get the facts clear when you speak to your CAA.
ME/IR and MEP, don't have anything to do with each other.
You can renew your ME/IR 3 months before your expiry date on your ME/IR, and you get full credit for the renewal date.
First year in the sim. You do NOT have to have a valid MEP to renew your ME/IR in the sim.
From what I have been told by my FTO, when you renew in the aircraft, your ME/IR, you also do NOT need to have a valid MEP.
However I am a little uncertain if you get a new MEP when you renew your ME/IR in the aircraft, if you do the additional exercises, if that is required. Unless required to have an MEP I would not bother to renew that.