| 1 | Karel Kolár | TCH | 47,45 | Q |
| 2 | Horia Toboc | ROM | 47,74 | Q |
| 3 | Alex Fortelny | AUT | 48,00 | q |
| 4 | Urs Kamber | SUI | 48,09 |
| 1 | Stefano Malinverni | ITA | 47,51 | Q |
| 2 | Peter Haas | SUI | 47,87 | Q |
| 3 | Zeljo Knapic | YUG | 47,94 | q |
| 4 | Frank Richter | GDR | 48,08 |
| 1 | Josip Alebic | YUG | 47,90 | Q |
| 2 | Michael Düsing | FRG | 47,96 | Q |
| 3 | Isidoro Hornillos | ESP | 48,00 | q |
| 4 | Christer Gullstrand | SWE | 48,03 |