I hold an expired ME/IR and want to renew it as SE/IR, it expired May 2009.
FCL.625 IR — Validity, revalidation and renewal
(d) If the IR has not been revalidated or renewed within the preceding 7 years, the holder will be required to pass again the IR theoretical knowledge examination and skill test.
The 7 years began with your last revalidation/renewal in 2008,therefore; you have until May 2015 to renew it before you have to resit the exams etc. No requirement to test with CAA Examiner after 5 years.