I had something similar. I didn't drive the car for 2 weeks and yesterday went to the car and have lost the time & date plus message key fob battery needs charging. A red triangle on dash and error messages on idrive. I made 3 journeys and things were ok so assume it was the cold weather and 2 weeks not used. These cars don't like sitting about, best thing to do is to disconnect earth battery terminal when left unused.

 

Unlike earlier models, the E63/E64 has a electrically-activated steering lock. The problem is that it is quite feeble and can't retract again if the steering wheel is putting any strain on it - and if it can't retract you get the error message. In the old days you would fiddle with the key as you wiggled the steering wheel to release the lock - and the same is true today, just a spot of fiddling will do the trick - the error message is nothing to worry about - just normal operation!

 

Thanks all, these things can be right drama queens sometimes! Good to know nothing too unusual thanks

 

I had an "active steering fault" warning message yesterday. Car has not been used for a while and battery is the original still so going on 13 years now. Restarted the car and moved the steering wheel from lock to lock and the fault went away. Not seen it since, but im guessing cold weather and an ageing battery could be the cause for me.