| 1 | Jens-Peter Herold | GDR | 3:49,68 | Q |
| 2 | Johnny Krohn | SWE | 3:49,99 | Q |
| 3 | Herve Phelippeau | FRA | 3:50,01 | Q |
| 4 | Alessandro Lambruschini | ITA | 3:50,04 | |
| 5 | Uwe Mönkemeyer | FRG | 3:50,16 | |
| 6 | Vladimir Slouka | TCH | 3:50,40 |
| 1 | Han Kulker | NED | 3:45,86 | Q |
| 2 | Igor Lotaryov | URS | 3:45,86 | Q |
| 3 | Klaus-Peter Nabein | FRG | 3:46,22 | Q |
| 4 | Andres Vera | ESP | 3:46,31 | q |
| 5 | Yvan Perré | FRA | 3:46,47 | q |
| 6 | Luca Vandi | ITA | 3:46,51 | q |
| 7 | Slobodan Crnokrak | YUG | 3:47,97 | |
| 8 | Antonio Monteiro | POR | 3:53,14 |