We have been recommended the Ferroli Maxima High Efficiency or the Ferroli Optima High Efficiency Condensing boiler. Has anyone come across these and if you have then would you recommend them?
Thanks in advance!

Yes, they are Cr@p! You get what you pay for.
Stands-By for incoming!

We have to get new central heating system installed so we're getting a new boiler, after visiting Wickes and picking up a leaflet I'm tempted to buy the boiler myself and get the Plumber to install it. Sorry to say this but after watching people on TV get shafted I'm reluctant to trust tradesmen to supply anything.

Is it a good idea to buy it myself and what would you recommend for a small 3 bed 1 bath house with 7 radiators?

Look IF the plumbers supplies the boiler you rest assured he/she will put a mark up on it and re-sell to you.
MOST plumbers merchant.DIY stores sell boilers/plumbing bits to retail at the SAME price to the trade.

So buy it yourself..B&Q is quite good (No I dont work for them) and get a plumber to install for you

Cheers (Hic!)

Sorry to say you are mostly wrong on all counts on what you say designer. VAT Registered Companies dealing with Merchants on Monthly Accounts system receive a far greater discount than the Public walking in off the Street.
"Mark-Up" on Boilers etc.? Not really. Price for the whole installation is the quotation which the customer either accepts or rejects-their choice.
Wickes boilers are Halstead, not that good. If you buy the boiler and get the plumber to fit it will he come back to it if it has a problem or will he say well, you bought it I only fitted what you supplied.
You get what you pay for in this life and we all like a bargain but the horror stories you read about are mostly down to the customer trying to get something for nothing.

Are there any condensing boilers which you/Jon do recommend, Mel? (Or are you still fitting non-cond? ).

When we had a new boiler fitted two years ago, I told the plumber which one I wanted, and asked him to buy and install. I didn't feel he ripped me off - but I know and trust him as he has done work for me before. If I didn't trust him I wouldn't let him fiddle around with my plumbing anyway

I've read enough from melboy and others on here to know that the best route to go down is for your plumber to order all the parts for you and install. If you don't have a plumber/heating engineer already then the best way is to ask around, always go by someone else's recommendation. If a tradesman has done the whole job from start to finish, including sourcing, he is best placed to be contacted if there are any problems. A good, decent and honest plumber (though like gold dust and keep them once you find them) does not mark up the boiler price, but sets the labour charges appropriately.